Alt Med - Massage Therapy (6 of 20)

(From PT and Alternative Medicine)

Introduction

Massage therapy involves skilled application of manual techniques that include applying fixed or moveable pressure, holding and/or causing movement of body tissues, using primarily the hands and may include instruments. It has been an accepted physical therapy treatment for reducing pain or discomfort, reducing edema and improving function and is based on fairly sound evidence.

So why include massage therapy under “alternative” medicine? Many therapists make claims that go far beyond what massage can accomplish.

Claims and Services

The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) Web site has claimed that that therapeutic massage can help with allergies, asthma, bronchitis, spastic colon, constipation, diarrhea, and sinusitis.

The AMTA Web site also suggests that "massage is to the human body what a tune-up is to a car" and that "therapeutic massage can be part of your regular healthcare maintenance."

A 1997 AMTA booklet falsely states that massage can promote easier breathing, assist with removal of metabolic wastes, strengthen the immune system, and help prevent disease.

Many massage therapists provide at least some of the following, which have no rational place in the practice of massage therapy: acupressure/shiatsu; colonic irrigation; CST; polarity therapy; reiki; reflexology; therapeutic touch. Aromatherapy is also used, which is fine if no medical claims are made and care is used with those who may be allergic to the products used.

Groups and Publications

AMTA's official publication, Massage Therapy Journal, has four issues per year. Most issues contain articles that advocate quack treatments, and all issues contain ads for dubious courses and products.

The second largest professional group, the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP), has about 37,000 members and publishes an equally low-quality magazine called Massage & Bodywork. A 2001 survey of ABMP members found that 44.6% of respondents said they used reflexology, 37.9% said they used "energy healing," and 30.4% said they used shiatsu.

In 1989, AMTA established the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA) which accredits massage therapy training programs. COMTA's accreditation standards do not required that teachings be scientifically valid or that quack assertions be accompanied by disclaimers.

As of May 7, 2002, 19 schools were participating members of the American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia (AOBTA)'s Council of Schools and Programs (COSP). The AOBTA Web site describes 13 methods which it says are "based upon traditional Asian medical principles for assessing and evaluating the energetic system and use of traditional Asian techniques and treatment strategies to primarily affect and balance the energetic system for the purpose of treating the human body, emotions, mind, energy field and spirit for the promotion, maintenance and restoration of health”.

In 1992 AMTA initiated creation of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB). More than 40,000 massage therapists are now certified. NCBTMB’s candidate handbook indicates that certification candidates are expected to answer approximately 15 questions about metaphysical concepts of traditional Chinese medicine, palpation to assess "craniosacral pulses" and "energy blockages," therapeutic touch, "energetic effects of nutrition," "manual contact and manual manipulation to affect . . . the energy system," and several other practices based on quack concepts.

Summary

“Massage increases circulation, gives temporary relief to pain, provides a sense of well being, and promotes relaxation, but I don't know of anything (other than the blues) that it has ever cured. People need to realize that just because it is a wonderful pleasure that does not make it good medicine.” (a massage therapy patient)