Massage Therapy Journal Spring 2026

Spring 2026 • 75

References 1. Kazeminasab S, Nejadghaderi SA, Amiri P, et al. “Neck pain: global epidemiology, trends and risk factors.” BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2022;23(1):26. 2. Safiri S, Kolahi AA, Hoy D, et al. “Global, regional, and national burden of neck pain in the general population, 1990-2017: systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017.” BMJ . 2020;368:m791. 3. Munk N, Daggy JK, Evans E, Kline M, Slaven JE, Laws B, McCalley S, Foote T, Matthias MS, Bair, MJ. “Therapist Delivered vs. Care Ally-Assisted Massage for Veterans with Chronic Neck Pain: TOMCATT Study Methods and Modified Design of a Randomized Control Trial.” JMIR Res Protoc. 2022 Sep 27;11(9):e38950. doi:10.2196/38950 4. Munk N, Daggy JK, Evans E, Kline M, Slaven JE, Laws B, McCalley S, Foote T, Matthias MS, Bair, MJ. (2024). “Care Ally-Assisted Massage for Veterans with Chronic Neck Pain: TOMCATT Results.” Contemp Clin Trials. 2024 Jul:142:107561. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cct.2024.107561

research-informed framework for maintaining neck comfort and mobility. These techniques, such as lymphatic drainage, range-of motion movements and targeted neck stretches, can easily be integrated into daily routines to support physical resilience and reduce strain. Equally important is the opportunity to teach these techniques to clients. By incorporating massage-based self care into massage treatment plans, therapists can empower clients to take an active role in their healing, reinforce the effects of in-session work and foster a collaborative approach to wellness. The TOMCATT study demonstrates that even brief, well-structured self-care routines can yield meaningful improvements in pain and function. As massage therapists, embracing and modeling self care not only enhances our own practice—it strengthens the therapeutic relationship and helps clients build sustainable habits for long-term health. The TOMCATT protocol offers a valuable tool for doing just that.

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