If you are a massage therapist, then you have more than likely heard about the Board Certification credential and the required courses. Research is a large portion of the continuing education materials. Board Certification was introduced on January 1, 2013. It was formulated by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, also referred to as the NCBTMB. Through the new Board Certification credential, massage therapy professionals who have an advanced level of education and experience can be recognized for their high level of expertise.
While the concept of utilizing research for massage therapy has received somewhat mixed reviews, many therapists are already utilizing the benefits. When consulting with a new client, it is vital to your business that you be able to educate the individual in the benefits of massage therapy for their health concerns.
For example, massage therapy has been proven to be especially effective for osteoarthritis of the knee. A study funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine showed that participants who underwent 60-minute sessions of Swedish massage once weekly for a duration of eight weeks had a significant improvement, with most of the pain eliminated. If you have a client who is suffering from this ailment, letting them know about this study would be beneficial for both of you.
In order to receive Board Certification status, a therapist is required to commit to specified continuing education courses. One requirement is to receive three hours of continuing education exclusively focused on massage therapy research. This course is necessary every two years for the biennial renewal of a therapist's certification.
After consulting with the Massage Therapy Foundation, the NCBTMB formulated a variety of classes that target massage therapy research. All of the education materials that are related to research include complementary, integrative, alternative, and healthcare information. The committee organized the material into three types of research classes:
Research Literacy- Students are able to build skills in reading related research, which involves finding information, evaluating it, and applying the learned findings to their everyday massage practice.
Research Capacity- Through these classes, students can develop their techniques by conducting various research projects, both small and large. Topics for this type of class include different fact finding methods, such as writing case logs, understanding data, and other experimental duties.
Research Findings- Participants who utilize these classes can learn how to best present their research findings. The material that is presented has to meet the standards in place for massage therapy research.
The NCBTMB has also stated that it will give research credit to any massage therapist who creates a complete case report and submits it to an acknowledged academic journal. Credit will also be given to any massage therapist who volunteers as a research participant for a study published in an academic journal.
You can find a list of continuing education providers who offer classes such as Research Fundamentals on the official NCBTMB website. Online continuing education classes for massage therapists are also available to make learning more convenient.
Hope you have a great day!
Michael Ames
LMT, CE Provider
NCBTMB PROVIDER # 451911-12
FLORIDA PROVIDER # 50-13930
Thanks for sharing this kind of useful information.
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