Educational Webinars and Courses

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Increase your knowledge and improve your practice. Keep you up to date on the latest in massage therapy research.

Courses from MTF 2025 IMTRC now available!

Originally recorded at the groundbreaking 2025 International Massage Therapy Research Conference in Alexandria, VA, the courses cover a wide array of current massage therapy research and practice subjects. Each course qualifies for one NCBTMB-approved Continuing Education credit. Courses are available for purchase via the educational platform of 2025 IMTRC Presenting Sponsor, American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA).

Available Now:

Massage Therapy in Public Health, Rehabilitation and Palliative Care

As patient and practice delivery needs grow more complex, understanding where massage therapy fits within healthcare can help guide research, education, and practice. Drawing on evidence and professional experience, hear from three leading massage therapy practice and research experts as they examine how massage therapy aligns with public health, rehabilitation, and palliative care, and what each perspective offers to support continued integration into healthcare.

IMTRC: Massage and Pregnancy After Stillbirth: The HOPES Study

Pregnancy after stillbirth can bring increased emotional and physical challenges that affect maternal well-being. Explore findings from the HOPES Study, a Massage Therapy Foundation–funded feasibility trial examining Swedish massage as a supportive approach for women who are pregnant after loss. Learn how a series of massage sessions impacted anxiety, worry, and coping, and what participants found most helpful. This session also offers practical insights into safety and therapeutic relationships to help inform clinical care for this population.

MassageNet Research: Mental Health to Body Mechanics

Delve into three research projects from the Massage Therapy Foundation’s practice-based research network, MassageNet. Hear from Dr. Portia Resnick and doctoral candidate Samantha Zabel as they share key results from the Ergonomics Project and MassageNet’s first study examining massage therapists’ knowledge and attitudes related to mental health and how experience influences client care. Learn how these findings can inform practice and contribute to evidence development for the profession.

Advancing Massage Therapy Through Research: Highlights from AMTA-Funded Grants

Hear from principal investigators and participating massage therapists as they share insights from AMTA-funded MTF Research Grants, including randomized controlled trials and real-world clinical implementation:

    • Massage Service Integration in a Military Primary Care Clinic – Tracy Rupp, PhD, MAc, Lac;
    • Massage Therapy as a Preventative for Post-Irradiation Fibrosis and Neuropathy – Geoffrey Bove, DC, PhD;
    • Trauma-Informed and Culturally-Responsive Integrated Massage Therapy – Jennifer Esala, PhD & Cynthia Price PhD, MA, LMT;
    • Massage Impact on Sleep for Hospitalized Pediatric Oncology Patients – Cal Cates, LMT.

Practice-Based Research in Massage Therapy

Research that reflects real-world massage therapy practice happens where care is delivered: in clinical and community settings rather than in laboratory environments. Hear from researchers as they share current practice-based studies conducted in hospitals and community care settings. Explore how this research translates into meaningful patient outcomes and actionable insights for massage therapists.

    • Mindful Awareness in Body-Oriented Therapy (MABT) for Chronic Pain – Kathryn Hansen, PhD, MSN, ANP-BC
    • Massage Therapy During Chemotherapy Infusion – Christy DiCristofano, BCTMB
    • Abdominal Myofascial Release for Pediatric IBS – Tiffany Silliman Cohen, LMT, CPMT, BCTMB; Alain J. Benitez, MD, MSTR; Robin Miccio, MS, LMT, CEIM

Insights from the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (IJTMB) Editors

Published research is one way massage therapists can engage with and contribute to the profession’s evidence base, but scientific publishing and related processes can feel unclear or challenging, especially for clinicians new to academic writing. In this session sponsored by Registered Massage Therapists Association of British Columbia (RMTBC), hear from current and former editors from the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (IJTMB) as they share common challenges and practical strategies to turn your ideas into publishable work. Plus, learn how IJTMB supports reviewers, readers, and authors alike, making massage therapy research dissemination accessible for everyone in the profession.

Massage Therapy’s Impact: Evidence from Palliative Care, Chronic Neck Pain, and Addiction Research

Today’s patients are more complex than ever, often managing multiple health concerns such as chronic pain, serious illness, and substance use disorders. Hear from leading massage therapy researchers as they share findings from externally funded clinical trials focused on real-world massage therapy applications.

    • Mindful Awareness in Body-Oriented Therapy in Addiction Research – Cynthia Price, PhD, MA, LMT
    • Massage Therapy for Hospitalized Patients Receiving Palliative Care: A Randomized Clinical Trial – Hunter Groninger, MD
    • Massage Outcomes for Veterans with Chronic Neck Pain: Results from the TOMCATT Study – Niki Munk, PhD, LMT

Coming Soon:

Massage and the Whole Health Initiative

Massage Therapist Turned Researcher: Reports from Practice

Understanding BraveNet Outcomes: The Role of Practice-Based Research Networks

 

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