2026 Case Report Contest Winners Announced

Posted:Monday, October 19, 2026

Massage Therapy Foundation Announces 2026 Case Report Contest Winners

The Massage Therapy Foundation (MTF) is excited to announce the winners of the 2026 Case Report Contest for students and practitioners. Three case reports were selected; one Silver Award, one Bronze Award, and one Honorable Mention. The authors of all three winning reports are in the student category and all are from Canadian schools.

Silver Award
Massage Therapy as Supportive Intervention for Pain and Quality of Life in Ankylosing Spondylitis
Diana Tymofichuk
MacEwan University, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Tymofichuk is a Registered Massage Therapist and graduate of MacEwan University’s Massage Therapy Diploma Program, where she graduated with First Class Standing. This case study was undertaken in her final year of the program. It evaluated the efficacy of massage therapy as a supportive intervention for pain and quality of life in a 65-year-old male patient with advanced ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The patient’s goal was to decrease pain and improve functional abilities. Results support massage therapy as a beneficial modality for symptom relief and improved quality of life for patients with AS.

Bronze Award
Massage Therapy and Therapeutic Exercise for the Management of Knee Osteoarthritis
Mya Willison
Okanagan Valley College of Massage Therapy, Vernon, British Columbia, Canada

This case report studied the effects of a six-week intervention of massage therapy in conjunction with therapeutic exercise in a 61-year-old female diagnosed with mild to moderate tibiofemoral osteoarthritis. The goal was to decrease pain and increase range of motion and function. Results indicated improvements in reported pain levels, function, and strength.

Honorable Mention
Effects of Massage Therapy and Remedial Exercise on Clients with Lumbar Spine Abnormalities
Nicole Marie Vigneault
Atlantic College of Therapeutic Massage, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada

Vigneault completed this case report in her second year as a massage therapy student. It aimed to evaluate the efficacy of therapeutic massage in conjunction with remedial exercise in reducing pain and improving lumbar range of motion in a 41-year-old female client with lumbar degenerative disc disease and lumbar osteoarthritis. Findings suggest improvement in lumbar range of motion, while changes in functional disability were not observed.

About the MTF Case Report Contest

Case reports play an important role in the professional literature, and contribute to future research and clinical practice. Open on an annual basis, the MTF Case Report Contest provides students and practitioners with an opportunity to enhance professional development and research skills while contributing to the scientific body of knowledge. Winners at the Gold, Silver, and Bronze levels may receive a cash prize after their case report has been submitted to a peer-reviewed academic journal for publication. Case reports are available to the public after publication. For more information, visit www.massagetherapyfoundation.org.

About the Massage Therapy Foundation

The Massage Therapy Foundation is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to supporting scientific research, education, and community service within the massage therapy profession. The Foundation publishes an open-access, peer-reviewed scientific journal and provides educational resources for massage therapists, educators, and students. MTF fosters international scientific collaboration through grants, resources, training, and services.

For more information, contact Annie LaCroix at alacroix@massagetherapyfoundation.org.