From the Background Paper for the Future of Bodywork Seminar
"Where Do We Go From Here?" held November 19, 2009
by Jack Blackburn, MTS-SD, LMP
Questions in Research
The Research Foundation of the AMTA is one example of the growing interest in proving and disproving many of the claims that have been made about bodywork over the years. In the past many of the research projects involving bodywork have come from outside our profession: e.g. Tiffiny Field’s research regarding medical effects of massage. Research is always guided by the kinds of questions that are asked. Much research is done in order to prove out certain hypotheses. Academically trained bodyworkers can learn research methodologies, develop their own research projects, and publish their own findings. So far there has been little self-guided research in our profession – especially by seasoned practitioners. In order to be recognized by the other caregiving professions, bodyworkers will have to support and conduct research that authentically investigates the effects we see in our sessions. We need to develop our own questions from our own experiences; we need to understand placebo effects, we need to use openness and curiosity about our work to guide us.
a. Placebo effects
Modern medical research is finding that placebo effects are much more significant than previously thought. Drug research over the years has been aimed at providing information on the performance of the drug and the side effects. Placebo effect has been largely overlooked in our haste to develop and use drugs to reduce symptoms. This has resulted in tremendous cost for development, production, and promotion of pharmaceuticals. We are vastly overmedicated because of these investments. Many of the principles that seem to contribute to placebo effects: trust, relaxation, stress reduction, lack of side effects, symptomatic relief, and caring relationship are regular parts of our work. To what extent will our profession move forward when promote understanding of placebo principles and their effects rather than try to rule them out?
b. Research funding
In general, research requires money and since bodywork is relatively unknown as a treatment modality, there are scant resources available. The AMTA Research Foundation has limited funds, some from grants, some from members, and some from outside contributions. The money pie of research in health care is quite limited, highly competitive, and many research grants require expensive oversight. Universities and medical facilities get the bulk of grant money. The advantage of bodywork is that it does not require expensive equipment or facilities. So perhaps our small under-financed research projects will produce large results. Perhaps bodyworkers could tithe in the future to create more monies for research… especially as that will allow more opportunities to choose our own research projects.
For more information about this event, or biographies of the panelists, please visit the Future of Bodywork.
