Changing the Culture of Clinical Education in Massage Therapy

Much within the profession of massage therapy is done according to tradition. From an epistemological viewpoint, tradition is a way of knowing or, by extension, being, that is based upon both tenacity and authority and not always in best practices. As the profession of massage therapy moves in the direction of evidence-based medicine, or evidence-informed practice, the opportunity to re-evaluate massage therapy education presents itself

The Boy(s) Who Cried Wolf: Re-Visioning Textual Re-Presentations of Boys and Literacy

This paper presents a narrative analysis of some current educational textual representations, including provincial documents, publisher materials, and stories from the field, that demonstrate concern for boys has become a master myth that idealizes and reinforces neo-conservative notions of masculinity. This gender binary is not helpful for boys nor girls and we offer some alternative considerations. Résumé Cet article présente une analyse narrative de certaines représentations éducationnelles courantes, qui comprennent de documents provinciaux, matériel de publieurs, et des histoires du domaine du travail, qui démontrent que le soucis à l’égard des garçons est devenu un mythe - maître qui idéalise et renforce les notions néoconservatrices de la masculinité. Cette notion binaire n’est utile ni aux garçons ni aux filles et nous offrons quelques considérations alternatives

Facilitating Case Studies in Massage Therapy Clinical Education

The integration of evidence into reflective health care practice has been on the rise in recent years and is a phenomenon that has affected all health care professions, including massage therapy. Clinical case studies are a research design that follows one patient or subject, making the studies ideal for use in clinical practice. They are valuable for communicating information from clinical practice to the broader community. Case studies have face validity that may be more valuable to individual practitioners than homogeneous randomized controlled trials, as the practitioner may recognize a complex patient in the case report. At Humber College, Student Massage Therapists (SMTs) create, conduct, and communicate results of a clinical case study prior to graduation. This article describes the process and experience

A Commentary on the Role of Randomized Controlled Trials in Massage Therapy

Some massage therapists (MTs) view research as a way to demonstrate to other healthcare professionals (OHPs) that massage therapy is safe and effective and should be an integral part of patients’ health care.  This desire for credibility through research, however, requires studies that are acceptable to medical professionals.  Therefore, researchers have begun to study massage therapy, primarily using randomized controlled trials (RCTs).  Many of the RCTs of massage therapy, rather than proving efficacy, have been met with criticism, including their lack of reproducibility and lack of a suitable control.  The belief that RCTs will save the profession of MT, or any health care practice, by proving treatments work, is unfounded.  Evidence hierarchies suggest that practitioners should accept the results of RCTs, or the systematic review of RCTs, as the gold standard for efficacy research.  Privileging one methodology over another does not use the benefits of the multiple approaches to research available. Researchers should consider whether there are other methodologies that allow for rigorous investigation of massage therapy in a way that would be useful for stakeholders of this research.  It is only through research that is rigorously and authentically conducted that the credibility of massage therapy will be established.

Positive Effects of Massage Therapy on a Patient with Narcolepsy

Purpose: The purpose of this case report was to investigate the effects of massage therapy on the sleep patterns of a woman with narcolepsy. Participant: The 23-year-old woman’s primary symptoms included excessive daytime sleepiness and periodic leg movements (PLM), which were associated with her diagnoses of both narcolepsy and cataplexy. Intervention: Five 45-minute massage therapy treatments were administered over a five-week period. The patient’s sleep patterns were recorded each week before the treatment. A final measurement was recorded in the sixth week. The sleep patterns were monitored using the Leeds Sleep Evaluation Questionnaire, which included ten visual analogue scales. Results: The results of this case report included an improvement in getting to sleep by 148%, an improvement in quality of sleep by 1100%, an improvement in awake following sleep by 121%, and an improvement in behaviour following wakening by 28% using the Leeds Sleep Evaluation Questionnaire. Conclusion: This case report suggests that massage therapy had a positive effect on this patient with narcolepsy. Further research is needed to investigate the effects of massage therapy on narcolepsy and sleep patterns

Developing Capability: Transforming Massage Therapy Education through Inquiry-based Learning

Massage therapy education programs are responsible for preparing graduates for complex professional environments, while also ensuring graduates can access the profession by passing the regulatory body’s standardized certification or licensing examination. Massage therapists are regulated health care professionals in four Canadian provinces. They are autonomous practitioners and an integral part of the health care regime for patients with complicated health presentations. As such, they must think critically about patients’ presentations and determine the most appropriate care. This article describes the process undertaken by the faculty team of Humber College’s Massage Therapy Program in an effort to transform the existingteaching and learning strategies by incorporating principles of inquiry-based learning (IBL)

The Use of an Informational Video to Improve Patient Satisfaction, Preparedness, Mood, and Empowerment

Background: Massage therapy is commonly used in Canada for the treatment of a wide range of health concerns. Massage therapy is changing to meet the health care needs of Canadians. Rapid changes to the profession may create a gap between patient expectations of massage therapy treatment based on historic views of the profession and their experience in today’s practice. This gap could lead to patient confusion, dissatisfaction, or other negative outcomes. Purpose: This study sought to understand whether patient satisfaction, preparedness, mood, and patient empowerment are improved when new patients who attend a student massage therapy clinic watch an informational video, compared to those who receive the standard paper information sheet. Participants: The study used a convenience sample of new patients who presented for their first massage therapy appointment to the Humber College Student Massage Therapy Clinic.  Participants were randomized either to the intervention group (video and paper information) or the comparison group (paper information only). The outcomes of interest in this study were patient preparedness, satisfaction, mood, and empowerment. Data were collected using two questionnaires, one before treatment and one after. Results: A total of 108 patients participated in the study (55 comparison group; 53 intervention group). Demographic and clinical characteristics were comparable between the two groups. A statistically significant difference was seen between the two groups when comparing their responses to the pre-appointment statement: “I know what will happen in my initial massage therapy appointment” (p < .001). There was no statistically significant difference seen when comparing the responses of the related post-appointment statement (p = .63). Conclusion: This study found that an informational video improved perceived knowledge as patients entered the massage therapy treatment, but did not have a significant effect on satisfaction, mood, or patient empowerment. Other student clinics should consider the addition of an informational video to their procedures to increase patient knowledge of what to expect.

The Use of an Informational Video to Improve Patient Satisfaction, Preparedness, Mood, and Empowerment

Background: Massage therapy is commonly used in Canada for the treatment of a wide range of health concerns. Massage therapy is changing to meet the health care needs of Canadians. Rapid changes to the profession may create a gap between patient expectations of massage therapy treatment based on historic views of the profession and their experience in today’s practice. This gap could lead to patient confusion, dissatisfaction, or other negative outcomes. Purpose: This study sought to understand whether patient satisfaction, preparedness, mood, and patient empowerment are improved when new patients who attend a student massage therapy clinic watch an informational video, compared to those who receive the standard paper information sheet. Participants: The study used a convenience sample of new patients who presented for their first massage therapy appointment to the Humber College Student Massage Therapy Clinic.  Participants were randomized either to the intervention group (video and paper information) or the comparison group (paper information only). The outcomes of interest in this study were patient preparedness, satisfaction, mood, and empowerment. Data were collected using two questionnaires, one before treatment and one after. Results: A total of 108 patients participated in the study (55 comparison group; 53 intervention group). Demographic and clinical characteristics were comparable between the two groups. A statistically significant difference was seen between the two groups when comparing their responses to the pre-appointment statement: “I know what will happen in my initial massage therapy appointment” (p < .001). There was no statistically significant difference seen when comparing the responses of the related post-appointment statement (p = .63). Conclusion: This study found that an informational video improved perceived knowledge as patients entered the massage therapy treatment, but did not have a significant effect on satisfaction, mood, or patient empowerment. Other student clinics should consider the addition of an informational video to their procedures to increase patient knowledge of what to expect.

Evaluation of a Gait Assessment Module Using 3D Motion Capture Technology

Background: Gait analysis is the study of human locomotion. In massage therapy, this observation is part of an assessment process that informs treatment planning. Massage therapy students must apply the theory of gait assessment to simulated patients. At Humber College, the gait assessment module traditionally consists of a textbook reading and a three-hour, in-class session in which students perform gait assessment on each other. In 2015, Humber College acquired a three dimensional motion capture system.Purpose: The purpose was to evaluate the use of 3D motion capture in a gait assessment module compared to the traditional gait assessment module.Participants: Semester 2 massage therapy students who were enrolled in Massage Theory 2 (n = 38).Research Design: Quasi-experimental, wait-list comparison study.Intervention: The intervention group participated in an in-class session with a Qualisys motion capture system.Main Outcome Measure(s): The outcomes included knowledge and application of gait assessment theory as measured by quizzes, and students’ satisfaction as measured through a questionnaire.Results: There were no statistically significant differences in baseline and post-module knowledge between both groups (pre-module: p = .46; postmodule: p = .63). There was also no difference between groups on the final application question (p = .13). The intervention group enjoyed the in-class session because they could visualize the content, whereas the comparison group enjoyed the interactivity of the session. The intervention group recommended adding the assessment of gait on their classmates to their experience. Both groups noted more time was needed for the gait assessment module. Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, it is recommended that the gait assessment module combine both the traditional in-class session and the 3D motion capture system