Massage Therapy Journal Winter 2025

Winter 2025 • 13

AMTA’s Partnership with the MTF: An Investment in Research Through our partnership with the MTF, AMTA has invested more than $16 million in massage therapy research since the foundation’s inception 35 years ago, and our commitment continues to grow. In January of this year, DŽĘɯƍŔĘđıĘđɯíşɯíđđĽƤĽŪşíŔɯɸǭȿǰɯ ŝĽŔŔĽŪşɯŪǃĘƐɯƤĸĘɯşĘljƤɯǰɯNJĘíƐƘɀ an unprecedented level of support for research projects that strengthen the evidence base for massage as an effective integrative health treatment, while empowering massage therapists with the knowledge and credibility to deliver safe, effective patient-centered care. Below are some of the ĊƬƐƐĘşƤɯíşđɯƐĘĊĘşƤŔNJɯ ĊŪŝƍŔĘƤĘđɯƐĘƘĘíƐĊĸɯĽşĽƤĽíƤĽǃĘƘɯ p¸ ɯĽƘɯİƬşđĽşıɯ ƤĸƐŪƬıĸɯƤĸĘɰDŪƬşđíƤĽŪşɁ • pNJŪİíƘĊĽíŔɯ£ĘŔĘíƘĘɯ¸ĸĘƐíƍNJɯİŪƐɯ ĘđĽíƤƐĽĊɯ QƐƐĽƤíĉŔĘɯ ŪDŽĘŔɯ«NJşđƐŪŝĘɯɐQ «ɑɯ ($299,465 grant in 2025): This randomized controlled study

evaluates abdominal myofascial release (MFR) for improving symptoms, quality of life and bowel function in adolescents with constipation predominant IBS, while using a Wireless Patch System to track gastrointestinal activity. By combining patient-reported outcomes with physiological data, it aims to reveal MFR’s therapeutic bene fi ts and mechanisms, advancing safer, developmentally-appropriate treatments for pediatric IBS. • píƘƘíıĘɯQŝƍíĊƤɯŪşɯ«ŔĘĘƍɯĽşɯLŪƘƍĽƤíŔĽǔíƤĽŪşɯ İŪƐɯ ĘđĽíƤƐĽĊɯ}şĊŪŔŪıNJɯíşđɯ«ƤĘŝɯ ĘŔŔɯ ¸ƐíşƘƍŔíşƤɯ íƤĽĘşƤƘ ($294,822 grant in 2024): This three-year study at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Children’s National Hospital is evaluating massage as a non-pharmaceutical intervention for pediatric oncology patients. The research aims to show that routine massage therapy can improve sleep quality and

Learn more about the Massage Therapy Foundation’s current research projects:

SCAN HERE

Massage Therapy’s Expanding Role in Health Care

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