I have been observing and participating in discussions about the Evidence-Based Practice of Massage Therapy on several different Internet groups lately. It’s interesting to see the interactions between those who think the scientific approach is the only way to go, and those who think the fact that massage makes people feel good is the only evidence that’s needed. And of course there are some who take the middle ground. I probably belong to the latter group.
I think research is important, and the more scientific evidence we have about the efficacy of massage, the better off we are. It can only enhance our credibility in the eyes of physicians and other health care providers. Still, we all work on people every day who get up off the table saying how much better they feel, and that validates us. We feel better because we have helped someone else to feel better.
The Canadians are miles ahead of the US when it comes to performing scientific research on massage. They have gone far beyond most of the studies that have been done here, and that’s probably directly related to the fact that their educational requirements are for the most part, way higher than ours.
I think it’s a huge detriment to our profession that training in how to perform research is not even mentioned in most massage schools here. I own a huge collection of school catalogs, and hardly any of them include anything about research in their curriculum. Unless a therapist has a college degree and prior experience in conducting a proper research project, the average student doesn’t have a clue on how to go about conducting, documenting, and validating a study. Evidence-Based Practice will never be the norm here until that is corrected.
I’d be interested to know how school owners and program directors feel about this. Do you think it’s important for students to have any research skills? Do you think Evidence-Based Practice is the way to go, or do we just maintain the status quo that currently exists here? Do you think more people need to take up the cause?
Peace & Prosperity,
Laura Allen
Once again, our professional membership organizations have spoken, and once again, the NCBTMB (National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork) is not paying heed. I reported back on June 25 that the NCB has a new initiative in the works to expand their scope from a certifying body into a membership organization.
ABMP (Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals) was the first to respond, and AMTA (American Massage Therapy Association) has now followed suit in expressing their concern that this is a move that is not in the best interest of our profession.
There is no little irony in the fact that the NCBTMB was in fact started by AMTA, who initially gave them a $250,000 loan to get off the ground. The NCB is now going to be a direct competitor of the organization that gave birth to them to start with. Talk about a show of gratitude…that kind of thing happens all the time in the corporate world; someone leaves a company and starts up their own competing firm. That’s free enterprise at work, but I don’t think such actions have been as common in the world of professional associations and non-profits.
The NCB hasn’t released details yet, but they have indicated they will be offering liability insurance and other member benefits. I don’t think AMTA or ABMP has any worries about a mass defection of their membership to the NCB. For one thing, both AMTA and ABMP have a reputation for good service and timely response to their members, and many people take a lot of pride in belonging to one or the other or (like me) both. For another, as more and more states adopt the MBLEx as the path to licensure, it’s entirely possible that fewer people will be taking the national certification exams. If they would get on with the business of offering advanced certifications, that tide might turn, but for now, they seem to be swimming against it.
As I indicated in my previous post, the NCB also appears to be swimming against their own mission statement, which is to define and advance the highest standards in the profession through a recognized credentialing program. This latest move has nothing to do with that, as far as anyone can tell. And as Les Sweeney, president of ABMP pointed out, the NCBTMB has no experience in administering an insurance program, nor have they been known for their efficiency in running their own program in recent years, although the leadership does claim that their service has improved of late.
AMTA, ABMP, and the FSMTB (Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards) have repeatedly made the statement that they all recognize certification as a cornerstone of the profession. It appears that the NCB doesn’t get that message, nor do they reciprocate in honoring the value and mission of our professional organizations. This initiative seems deliberately contrived to make it clear that they have no intention of coming to the table. In fact, it seems like they’re determined to take over the whole picnic. According to the American Medical Assocation, obesity is unhealthy.
Peace & Prosperity,
Laura Allen
