Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1078860
NEWS NOTES compiled by Brandon Twyford Editor, Online and Digital Strategy | brandon@abmp.com EFFICACY OF MASSAGE FOR PATIENTS WITH KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS In a randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, researchers examined the effects of whole-body massage on adults with knee osteoarthritis. Participants in the trial were randomized into three groups: massage, active control (light-touch), and usual care. Participants in the massage and light-touch groups received 60 minutes of protocolized whole- body massage or light touch in eight weekly INCREASE IN MASSAGE TABLE CLAIMS ABMP's insurance carrier has seen an increase in claims from massage tables collapsing or malfunctioning while a client is on the table. In the last few years, there have been more than 20 of these claims presented for review/payment, with a total payout approaching $200,000 from these types of client injuries. An incorrect setup could result in an expense of $10,000 or more. With this in mind, please take the following steps to protect your clients: 1. Maintain your equipment. Clean it and make sure all the pieces and parts are operating correctly. Equipment should be checked at least weekly. (Your inspection should include checking for loose screws or bolts that may cause your table to become unstable.) 2. Check to make sure your table legs, supports, and face cradle are free from any signs of wear or tear that may cause the table to break and/or collapse. 3. Keep track of your inspections in a recordable format. 4. Check the floors around your massage table or chair for hazards, obstacles, or any substance on the floor that may lead to a client slipping and falling. 5. If you are ever in doubt of your equipment's stability, find an alternative until repairs or replacement can be obtained. Yo u r M & B i s w o r t h 2 C E s ! G o t o w w w. a b m p . c o m / c e t o l e a r n m o r e . 23 ABMP MEMBER WINS THIRD PLACE AT WORLD MASSAGE CHAMPIONSHIPS As reported in the Boulder-based Daily Camera, ABMP member Jonathan Grassi of Lafayette, Colorado, took third place in the 2018 World Massage Championship in Denmark. Grassi's bronze medal was awarded in the "freestyle" category. The other four categories in the competition, which was established in 2017, are Swedish massage, Asian massage, wellness massage, and chair massage. Massage therapists are evaluated according to six criteria: technique, ergonomics, flow, client contact, recipient feedback, and innovation and development of new methods. For more information about Grassi and his unique approach to massage, read the full article in the Daily Camera at www.dailycamera.com/lafayette-news/ ci_32366099/worlds-third-best-masseuse-lives-works- lafayette. Also, be sure to check out Grassi's ABMP Member Profile on page 112 of this issue. treatments and were then randomized to either biweekly interventions or usual care to week 52. The original usual care group maintained treatment up to week 24. The authors observed improvement in symptoms in the massage group at week 8 versus the light-touch and usual care groups, but no significant improvement at week 52. The authors conclude that massage is a good short-term treatment option with few adverse effects. Read the full article in the Journal of General Internal Medicine at https://link. springer.com/article/ 10.1007%2Fs11606- 018-4763-5.