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Evidence-informed massage therapy - an Australian practitioner perspective.

Complementary therapies in clinical practice
May 1, 2018
Soo Liang Ooi et al. (3 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the evidence supporting massage therapy (MT) as an evidence-informed practice (EIP) and its efficacy for conditions like chronic low back pain.

Results Summary

The study highlights that MT has clinical evidence supporting its efficacy for various health conditions, including chronic low back pain, and emphasizes the importance of integrating research evidence with practitioner expertise for optimal client care. Despite its popularity, MT in Australia remains underutilized in evidence-based practice due to professional and systemic barriers.

Population

General public and massage therapists in Australia.

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (1)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
massage therapy
increase
chronic low back pain
-
-
supports the efficacies
#1
Abstract

Massage therapy (MT) is the most popular complementary and alternative medicine therapy used by the Australian public. With the growing emphasis by the Australian health authority on evidence-informed healthcare decision-making, there is an increasing demand for massage therapists to move towards the evidence-informed practice (EIP). With MT research gaining significant attention over the last 30 years, clinical evidence exists to support the efficacies of MT on many health conditions, including chronic low back pain. This growing body of research supports MT to become an evidence-informed therapeutic modality. The evidence utilization process of asking clinical questions, searching for available research evidence, and appraising the evidence critically can be incorporated into the clinical practice of MT. Moreover, integrating practitioners' skills and experience with research evidence enables the best treatment plan to address the clients' needs and stated goals. No dichotomy exists between scientific research and the humanistic client care of MT. A massage therapist can gain greater confidence in practice, improve critical thinking and decision-making skills, and increase career satisfaction through EIP. Despite its high public utilization, massage therapists in Australia remain a low-paying profession dominated by part-time workers who rarely utilize research evidence in practice. Professional associations of massage therapists in Australia need to play a key role in promoting EIP through continuing professional education, providing the access to research information and resources, as well as fostering a culture of EIP.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AustraliaEvidence-Based PracticeHumansMassage
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy75/10
Quality65/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations7
Citations/Year1.0
Relative Citation Ratio0.68
NIH Percentile36.6%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.50
Weight Score1.74
Normalized Score0.63
Related Supplements
Evidence-informed massage therapy - an Australian practition... | Panacea Index