Massage Therapy Journal Winter 2025

JOURNAL

DEPARTMENTS

Massage Therapy Journal® | Official Publication of the American Massage Therapy Association® Winter 2025 Vol. 64 No. 4 ISSN: 0895-0814 USPS 0010-218 Cover credit: Photo courtesy of China Facchini Michelle Vallet Senior Publications Manager AMTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS (effective March 1, 2025) Cindy E. Farrar President Rick Greely President-Elect Kimberly Kane Santos Immediate Past President

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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT My AMTA Touchstones

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SHAREABLE RESEARCH Updates in Research: Pain + Acupressure

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Jaime Bernardo, Jr. Director Heber J. Blackner Director Matthew Fecteau Director Donald Goodale Director Jane Horton Johnson Director Deb Kilty Director Cheryl L. Siniakin, Ph.D. Director Lee Stang Director

ADVOCACY Advancing Massage Therapy Through Research and Advocacy

74 RESEARCH

Massage Therapy Utilization in the Military Health System

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 . ADVERTISING: 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 © 2025 American Massage Therapy Association MTJ-024

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Winter Self-Care Regimens: Easy Ways to Boost Physical and Mental Well-Being

tanyaaleshevich / Yanya / Shutterstock.com

84 TOOLS OF THE TRADE

Three Simple, Effective Strategies to Help Keep Your Business Booming in the Winter Months

86 THE POWER OF VOLUNTEERING Inspire and Uplift your Professional Community

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