Thursday, August 27

When the End Is Near: Massage Therapy and End-of-Life Care

In this course, therapists will discover the professional and personal rewards of working with clients with a terminal diagnosis and guiding them through the end-of-life. This course will discuss the humanity of end-of-life circumstances and how to best navigate these complex and emotionally intense situations. As an End-of-Life Doula, Christine will bring real-world experience to this conversation that helps demonstrate the therapeutic benefits of massage therapy at any stage in life.

View Christine Bailor-Goodlander's Bio

Competency and Compassion: Massage Therapy for Special or Vulnerable Populations

Massage therapy for special or vulnerable populations can be very rewarding for both clients and practitioners, especially since the therapeutic benefits of touch are important for health and wellbeing. In order to meet the various needs of each client, a therapist must have in-depth training to fully understand the nuances of each population. In this 2-hour class, we will discuss the specific massage needs and helpful approaches for populations with these conditions: pregnancy, cancer, Parkinson's, and morbid obesity. Expand your massage practice and better meet the diverse needs of your clients by learning strategies to care for special populations.

View Ericka Clinton's Bio

Managing Liability Risk in Your Massage Therapy Career

Set yourself up for success and take a proactive approach to your career by learning common allegations made against massage therapists in malpractice lawsuits and State Board matters. This dynamic session will delve into typical risks within the profession and provide attendees with specific, actionable strategies to help reduce malpractice exposures. Prepare for career longevity by learning how to mitigate risks within your massage practice.

View Jennifer Flynn's Bio

View Patricia Harmon's Bio

Introduction to Sports Massage: History and Methods

A Roadmap to Supporting Post-Surgical Hip and Knee Clients with Massage

As knee and hip orthopedic surgeries become increasingly common, massage therapists are seeing more clients recovering from procedures such as ACL reconstruction, total knee replacement, and total hip replacement. This course provides a clear and clinically relevant roadmap for working with post-surgical clients, emphasizing biomechanics, surgical precautions, soft tissue considerations, and movement implications. Participants will learn how to safely apply massage therapy to support pain modulation, edema management, scar and patellar mobility, gait normalization, and long-term functional reintegration. The course bridges orthopedic and rehabilitation concepts to elevate clinical reasoning and interprofessional communication. It is ideal for massage therapists working in orthopedic, sports, medical, and active aging settings.

View Matthew Gavzy's Bio

Massage Therapy for TMJ-Related Headaches

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ-D), characterized by jaw pain, clicking, headaches, and movement impairment, affects millions of people each year. This session is focused on the relationship of TMJ-D and headaches brought on by the constant tension of the jaw. Focusing primarily on specific techniques, David will teach attendees how to support clients with TMJ-D as well as the importance of using awareness to shift out of this chronic holding pattern.

View David Goldeen's Bio

Mechanisms of Pain: Massage Therapy for Chronic Conditions

Chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and more can be challenging to treat, and even more challenging to live with, especially when they involve central sensitization. Understanding the mechanisms behind the pain experience can help massage therapists find ways to improve the quality of life for clients who struggle with these difficult, and often invisible, conditions. In this session, expand the scope of your practice by exploring the complexities of pain and how they affect clients, particularly those with chronic conditions.

View Ruth Werner's Bio

Advancing Practice-Based Research: Massage Therapists’ Role in MassageNet Case Series Studies

1:30-3:30 session

This 2-hour session introduces participants to MassageNet, the largest Practice-Based Research Network for massage therapy professionals, supported by the Massage Therapy Foundation. Together, we will discuss the purpose, structure, and evolution of MassageNet, including its role in fostering a research-informed massage therapy community. The session will highlight the launch of MassageNet’s inaugural Case Series Study, a member-driven research initiative designed to explore how massage therapists approach and care for specific populations or conditions in real-world practice. Participants will also learn how to contribute as clinician-researchers and receive an overview of the study protocol, data collection tools, and current project status.

View Robin Miccio's Bio

Research Discussion: Trauma-Informed, Culturally-Responsive Massage Therapy for Survivors of Violence

3:30-5:30PM session

This session reviews a recent study funded by AMTA through the Massage Therapy Foundation that evaluated Trauma Care Integrative Massage for reducing symptomatic distress in culturally and linguistically diverse refugee populations. Learn about the research design, key outcomes, including chronic pain, sleep quality, cardiovascular health, PTSD, anxiety, depression, interoceptive awareness and the intervention itself – emphasizing the importance of trauma-informed care in massage therapy.

A practicing clinician will share their experiences with the study, including clinical vignettes that illustrate real-world application and client outcomes. Attendees will gain practical strategies for integrating somatic awareness and trauma-informed massage practices with highly traumatized and diverse populations.

View Jennifer Esala's Bio

View Diane Long's Bio

View Sara Phillips's Bio

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