Massage Therapy Foundation Announces 2017 Student Case Report Contest Winners

Posted:Thursday, December 14, 2017

The Massage Therapy Foundation is pleased to announce the winners of the 2017 Student Case Report Contest. This year, the Gold Award goes to Michelle Lipnicki from MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Her winning case report is titled “Massage Therapy for Dystonia: A Case Report.” Lipnicki will receive a $2,500 cash award, contingent upon her report’s peer review by the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (IJTMB) or another scholarly journal. She will be invited to present her report at the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) National Convention in Washington, DC that takes place in August 2018.

“MacEwan University inspires creative thinking and values student empowerment,” said Cassie Prochnau, associate professor, Faculty of Health and Community Studies. “Participation in the Student Case Report Contest provides exposure that few undergraduate students have the opportunity to experience. Michelle is now afforded the chance to network with the greater massage therapy community, the confidence to meet with leading professionals in the field, and she is well situated to be a future leader in the profession.”

Melinda Lugo from the Center for Neurosomatic Studies in Clearwater, Florida has received the Bronze Award. Her case report was titled “Effects of Massage Therapy on Pain, Sleep Quality, and Breathing Function in a Sciatica Patient.” Lugo will be awarded a $1,500 cash prize, contingent upon her report’s peer review by the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (IJTMB) or another scholarly journal.

This year, the Foundation awarded three honorable mentions that went to the following students: Sadie Friesen from MacEwan University for her report titled “Massage Therapy as a Treatment for Medial Epicondylitis in a Guitarist: A Case Report,” Veronika Peycheva from MacEwan University for the project, “Massage Therapy Treatment for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: Case Report,” and Daniel Vidal from the Center for Neurosomatic Studies for his report titled, “Massage and Atlanto-Occipital Mobilization to Improve Symptoms in a Boy with Autism.”

The Foundation holds an annual case report contest for students. This contest provides an opportunity for students to learn how to deliver evidence-informed massage information to the public. More information about the MTF Student Case Report Contest can be found on our website: Student Case Report Contest.