Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1208028
Ta k e 5 a n d t r y A B M P F i v e - M i n u t e M u s c l e s a t w w w. a b m p . c o m / f i v e - m i n u t e - m u s c l e s . 49 SOMATIC RESE ARCH or lacking? How do we educate clients and handle their queries or concerns? How do we establish credibility? And how can we actually contribute to improving the situation? In the past 20 years, much has been written and discussed about the importance of research literacy and clinical research development in the context of massage therapy. Agendas have been carefully developed, issues clearly identified and articulated, and material produced and disseminated through numerous channels. The topic continues to be frequently raised at professional conventions large and small, and these questions continue to concern not only the massage therapy community but related professions across the spectrum of bodywork and holistic medicine. 7 Some useful perspectives are embedded in the Massage Therapy Research Agenda, 8 as a result of the specially convened working group (the Massage Research Agenda Workgroup or MRAW ) set up in 1999. In the introductory section, the authors outline four key domains of research, each of which includes specific methods and questions, such as: • Domain 1: Perception of the Field. The first domain covers the perception of the field within itself and by wider society. It includes questions regarding education, epidemiology, and related issues. Domain 1 questions might be "What do patients think of massage therapy?" or "What conditions do people normally seek help for from massage therapists?" • Domain 2: Practitioner-Patient Rapport and Relationship. The second domain deals with MT practice and technique, dosage, and the therapeutic alliance—the practitioner-patient rapport and relationship. Domain 2 questions might include "What techniques seem to work better when dealing with low-back pain?" or "What frequency and duration of sessions seem to have best results?" • Domain 3: Comparing MTs to Other Practices. The third domain compares massage therapy to other practices. Domain 3 explores questions such as "How effective is the addition of stretching to Swedish massage techniques?" • Domain 4: Physiological Mechanisms. The fourth domain looks at the physiological mechanisms. A Domain 4 question might seek to answer the question: "How does it work?" The first two domains require mostly observational, qualitative retrospective research (looking at existing records or conducting surveys), whereas the last two require a more formal laboratory trial setup. 9 Homework I encourage you to explore the endnotes and seek out the original sources—especially the four articles laying out the methodological issues in investigations of massage/ bodywork therapy. Then, consider the following questions: • What assumptions do I hold that are challenged by what I read here? • How comfortable am I with reconsidering new ideas? • Where do I feel resistance in considering new ideas? • Where does my resistance come from? • What questions remain unanswered, in terms of the way I understand my profession? Seasoned practitioners may already be familiar with much of this material, in which case it might be valuable to consider how their professional experience has changed in the past couple of decades. Yet, whether a veteran or a more recent professional, all readers may wish to ponder the additional questions: • What does massage/bodywork research mean for my practice, and how do I feel about it? • Do I want to contribute to the objectives of the MRAW agenda? Why? Why not?