Massage Therapy Journal Spring 2026

FEATURES 64 MASSAGE THERAPY PROVIDES GOLD MEDAL RECOVERY FOR PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES

Massage Therapy Journal ® | Official Publication of the American Massage Therapy Association ® Spring 2026 Vol 65. No 1 ISSN: 0895-0814 USPS 0010-218 Cover credit: Photo courtesy of alia.kurianova / Shutterstock.com Michelle Vallet Senior Publications Manager AMTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS (effective March 1, 2025) Rick Greely President Cindy E. Farrar Immediate Past President

Massage has been shown to help improve recovery and performance of world-class athletes.

68 A CONVERSATION WITH DR. MIRIAM KIRMAYER Learn more about what connection means, and how you can build stronger relationships,

from AMTA’s 2026 Schools Summit Keynote speaker.

Bernadette Binns Blount Director Heber J. Blackner Director Pamela M. Blazek Director Matthew Fecteau Director Donald Goodale Director Jane Horton Johnson Director Deb Kilty Director Cheryl L. Siniakin, Ph.D. Director Lee Stang Director

DEPARTMENTS

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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT We Grow When We Put People First

9

SHAREABLE RESEARCH Updates in Research: Massage + Sleep

EDITORIAL REVIEW OPERATIONAL COMMITTEE Jacqueline Herbach, LMSW, LMT President, Momentum Massage, Jane Neumann, BS, LMT, NCTMB Private Practice

Fitness, & Mind New York City Steve Jurch, MA, ATC, LMT Director of Allied Health Training at the Community College of Baltimore County

AMTA Illinois Chapter Communication Chair

Jessica Libero, LMT, NCTMB Connecticut and New York Licensed Reiki Practitioner Martha Brown Menard, Ph.D., CMT

Publication Management SPARK Publications sparkpublications.com

Project Manager: Jaclyn Yepsen Creative Director: Larry Preslar

Massage Therapy Journal is published quarterly by the American Massage Therapy Association (address below). Periodicals postage paid at Evanston, Illinois, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Massage Therapy Journal , 500 Davis St., Suite 900, Evanston, IL 60201-4695. SUBSCRIPTIONS: All subscription matters and notice of change of address should be sent to: Massage Therapy Journal Subscriptions, AMTA, 500 Davis St., Suite 900, Evanston, IL 60201-4695 (877-905-2700). Subscription rates: U.S. and Canada, $25 for one year (four issues); $45 for two years (eight issues). Foreign, $70 for one year; $120 for two years; available on a limited basis. Contact AMTA Member Experience, 500 Davis St., Suite 900, Evanston, IL 60201-4695. Phone: 847-864-0123 info@amtamassage.org EDITORIAL COPY: Queries should be sent to Michelle Vallet via email: mtj@amtamassage.org . Visit amtamassage.org/mtj for writer guidelines. Information contained in Massage Therapy Journal does not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of AMTA and/or the staff of Massage Therapy Journal . ADVE RTISING: Contact the AMTA sales team at Smithbucklin to learn more about advertising and exhibitor opportunities: (301) 215-6710 Ext.130 or hbrown@smithbucklin.com. Copyright © 2026 American Massage Therapy Association MTJ-024

photosbelkina / Shutterstock.com

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ADVOCACY AMTA Supports the Revised Massage Compact Following Finalization of Updates by CSG and DoD

72 RESEARCH

Self-Care Massage Techniques from the TOMCATT Study for Neck Comfort

76 SOOTHE

Quick Recovery Exercises to Boost Physical and Mental Health

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