Key points about research literacy for massage therapists

What are the key points about research literacy for massage therapists?

Research literacy is very important for massage therapists to stay up-to-date on the latest scientific findings about massage therapy and how it can help clients. 

Massage is highly valued by clients, so massage therapists have an ethical responsibility to convey accurate information when asked about how massage therapy works. Research helps inform evidence-based practice, which combines research findings, clinical expertise, and client values for best practices. 

There are different types of research studies organized in a hierarchy of an evidence pyramid. At the bottom are case reports about an individual client, then small preliminary studies, larger controlled trials, and at the top are systematic reviews of multiple studies. Each type provides useful information, but higher-level studies with more participants offer findings that are more generalizable.

To find research, PubMed and Google Scholar are great databases of studies. Look for "free full text" availability. Paywalls for accessing studies can sometimes be avoided through libraries, contacting authors, etc. Reading studies takes practice - knowing the IMRAD structure of the abstract, introduction, methods, results, and discussion sections. Evaluate studies for limitations like biases, lack of controls, inappropriate comparisons, etc. 

Ultimately, research should inform clinical decisions and help build relationships. Make sure to match the study population to your clients, consider safety issues noted, connect measurements to client goals, and consider how you could apply the findings. Ways to get involved include writing case reports or posters to share your clinical experience.