Massage Therapy Journal Spring 2026

Spring 2026 • 73

assisted massage intervention offers a simple approach to support neck self-care for massage therapists and their clients. Self-Care Research: TOMCATT Study and CA-M Approach Summary The TOMCATT study was a large randomized controlled trial conducted with U.S. veterans experiencing chronic neck pain. Initially designed as a three-arm study, TOMCATT compared therapist-treated massage (TT-M) and care ally– assisted massage (CA-M) to a waitlist control (WL-C). The CA-M arm involved training veteran and care-ally dyads to perform a standardized 30-minute massage routine three times per week over 12 weeks. This training for participants to learn the 30-minute massage routine included an in-person workshop, instructional DVD and printed treatment manual. Although the CA-M arm faced engagement challenges and was eventually removed from the main trial, a secondary analysis comparing CA-M to WL-C (N=203) revealed significant improvements in neck pain-related disability and pain severity for those who engaged in the intervention. 4 The TOMCATT study CA-M routine included approximately 10 minutes of self-massage and self-care techniques that were taught during the training workshop and reinforced through multimedia materials. These self-applied components were designed to be simple and accessible, making them ideal for massage therapists to incorporate into their own self-care routines and to teach clients for use between professional sessions as applicable. Self-Massage Components of the TOMCATT CA-M Protocol 3 The total 30-minute CA-M routine consisted of 13 progressive components, structured to reflect a logical seated massage progression. Several of the routine components were specifically designed for self-application (see table on the next page). All CA-M routine components were taught with attention to safety, technique and adaptability, allowing participants to tailor the routine to

their own comfort and needs. Techniques such as effleurage (gliding strokes), petrissage (kneading), and compression were emphasized, with clear guidance on depth of touch and tissue engagement. The easiest, and in this researcher’s opinion, most effective self-care component from the TOMCATT CA-M intervention is the front of the neck stretches included in the stretching component of the routine.

The easiest, and in this researcher’s opinion, most effective self care component from the TOMCATT CA-M intervention is the front of the neck stretches included in

the stretching component of the routine.

To self-apply this stretch: 1. Secure the tissue just underneath your clavicle with wide, reinforced hands, the palm of your bottom hand on the skin of your chest. 2. Firmly press in and down, pulling the skin somewhat tight. 3. Hold your skin here, and with lips and teeth together, bring your chin straight up. 4. Stretch to your comfort and hold for a slow 10 count. 5. Repeat twice more, bringing your chin up and first to one side and then the other. The up and side stretches can be further enhanced by pressing your hands in the opposite diagonal direction.

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