MassageNet Case Series Study

MassageNet is working on its inaugural member‑driven internal research study which will utilize a practice‑based Case Series Study design. The effort has been steadily taking shape through a series of collaborative in-person and virtual convenings initiated at the April 2025 International Massage Therapy Research Conference (IMTRC 2025) in Alexandria, VA through December 2025. These sessions have brought numerous MassageNet members and stakeholders together to help determine study priorities, refine the research question, and test early components of the data‑collection process. Related activities to date are summarized below.

IMTRC 2025 In‑Person MassageNet Convening (April 2025)

The first‑ever MassageNet research convening launched the member‑driven study effort. Attendees generated initial topic ideas, reviewed MassageNet’s mission and structure as a PBRN, and began shaping a unifying research question to guide the internal study:
“How do massage therapists approach/treat XX in practice and to what effect?”
This researcj question became the foundation for all subsequent design work.

Potential topics to serve as XX in the research questions that derived from the collaborative engagement work during the IMTRC 2025 MassageNet Convening  for the research question were:

  1. Massage therapists themselves

  2. Menopause‑related symptoms

  3. Touch deprivation/touch hunger

  4. Veterans

 

Virtual Convening #1 (August 2025)

MassageNet members who attended the 1st virtual convening session reviewed the case‑series framework and discussed practical issues relevant to practice‑based research, including record‑keeping variation, measurement needs, and balancing broad relevance with feasible data collection.

Through an open‑space consensus activity, attendees added additional topics to those in contention for fucus in the Case Series Study (mental health/emotional well-being, anxiety, scoliosis, and an open option) and ranked all potential study topics once barriers and facilitators for each topic were considered within the group. The top ranked options for the research question’s XX emerging from this collaborative prioritization were :

  1. Massage therapists themselves

  2. Mental health/emotional well-being

  3. Scoliosis

These rankings helped narrow the universe of possible study populations and opened a period of detailed discussion on inclusion criteria and measurement strategies for each.

 

Virtual Convening #2 (November 2025)

The second virtual session expanded on the developing case series study framework by introducing the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System (RTSS)1 and its relevance for describing massage treatment “ingredients,” mechanisms of action, and desired targets of change.

Attendees also piloted early versions of the therapist and client data‑collection instruments using the APROS.io platform. Breakout groups provided input on logistics, feasibility, and clarity of the proposed data inputs.

 

Virtual Convening #3 (December 2025)

The December convening built on earlier work by:

  • Reiterating and integrating RTSS elements to improve clarity around treatment description.

  • Conducting deeper breakout work on baseline treatment descriptors, treatment‑note data collection, and client pre/post measures.

  • Refining content related specifically to emotional wellbeing/anxiety, one of the promising topic directions.

Participants also tested additional data‑collection forms and discussed ways to support massage therapists in integrating study procedures into varied practice environments.

By the end of this session, the group had improved key design components of the case‑series study protocol and prepared for the formal public comment period.

 

Next Steps

1.       Member Comment Period — February / March 2026
MassageNet members are invited to review draft study design elements and provide feedback to ensure the final protocol reflects real‑world practice and collective priorities.

2.       Protocol Finalization — Late March 2026
The study team will integrate member feedback and finalize the protocol and procedures for submission to the Massage Therapy Foundation (MTF) Research Committee.

3.       IRB Submission — Late March / Early April 2026
A complete protocol will then be submitted for institutional review board approval.

4.       Study Launch — Late April / Early May 2026
Following IRB approval, MassageNet will initiate one year of data collection (projected through spring 2027).

5.       Analysis & Dissemination — 2027–2028
After data collection concludes, analysis and manuscript development will begin, with anticipated dissemination, including IMTRC presentations, beginning in 2028.

Why This Matters

The Case Series Study represents MassageNet’s first full member‑driven internal research study and intends to demonstrate the power and purpose of a practice‑based research network (PBRN) exclusive to the massage therapy field. By centering the expertise and lived practice of massage therapists, this project will help to generate meaningful, practice‑informed evidence for the massage therapy field.

We thank all members who have contributed their time, insights, and creativity to shaping this landmark study and look forward to having more massage therapists and MassageNet members continue to join and contribute to these efforts!

 

References

1. Van Stan, J. H., Dijkers, M. P., Whyte, J., Hart, T., Turkstra, L. S., Zanca, J. M., & Chen, C. (2019). The rehabilitation treatment specification system: implications for improvements in research design, reporting, replication, and synthesis. Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 100(1), 146-155.