Massage Therapy Journal Summer 2026

56 • Massage Therapy Journal

AMTA Continuing Education

• The effects of massage are temporary; relief from medication side effects, for example, will return at some time following the massage, for as long as the causative medication is taken. • Initial relief following a massage may occasionally be followed by a rapid return or even exacerbation of symptoms, for reasons that are not understood. • Positive effects from one massage treatment may not be duplicated after any subsequent

CONTINUE THIS COURSE ONLINE! This is the first half of AMTA’s Continuing Education course “ Rheumatoid Arthritis: Techniques for Massage Therapists .” Want credit? Log on to amtamassage. org/learn and take the full course. References 1. Eileen Davidson. “What’s A Real Day in the Life With Rheumatoid Arthritis?: Here’s A Look at Mine.” https://creakyjoints.org/ 2. Goodwin, J. (2013). Touch & Movement: Palpation and Kinesiology for Massage Therapists. Clifton Park, NY: Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. 3. Salvo, S. Mosby’s Pathology for Massage Therapists, fourth edition. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier 4. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Autoimmune Diseases. https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/ conditions/autoimmune/index.cfm 5. Healthline, Autoimmune Diseases: Types, Symptoms, Causes, and More. https://www. healthline.com/health/autoimmune-disorders 6. Aletaha D, Blüml S, Therapeutic implications of autoantibodies in rheumatoid arthritis. RMD Open 2016 . https://rmdopen.bmj.com/content/2/ 1/e000009 7. Arthritis Foundation, Rheumatoid Arthritis: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments and More. https://www.arthritis.org/ 8. Mayo Clinic, Rheumatoid Arthritis. https://www.mayoclinic.org/ 9. Medical News Today, Still’s Disease vs. Rheumatoid Arthritis https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/ articles/stills-disease-vs-rheumatoid-arthritis 10.Arthritis Foundation, Reactive Arthritis. https://www.arthritis.org/ 11. Mayo Clinic, Reactive Arthritis. https://www.mayoclinic.org/ 12. Mayo Clinic, Rheumatoid Arthritis. https://www.mayoclinic.org/ 13.Arthritis Foundation, Understanding Rheumatoid Arthritis Flares https://www.arthritis.org/ 14. Mayo Clinic, ANA Test. https://www.mayoclinic.org/ 15. Healthline, The 4 Stages and Progression of Rheumatoid Arthritis. https://www.healthline.com/

massage. The many variables that exist in a chronic, complex medical condition can preclude positive results following every massage. Careful notes completed by the massage

therapist after every appointment may possibly help the therapist to plan massage sessions likely to produce the hoped-for relief. Discussing these massage limitations face to-face provides the opportunity to answer client questions and to clarify any concerns, and reassures the client about what to expect from the massage experience. When time constraints disallow time for the discussion, a handout describing the limitations of massage therapy that also offers contact information for client questions and concerns can be helpful.

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