Cost includes all materials. Shipping, if applicable, is a flat rate.
Learn how research and evidence can inform the practice of therapeutic massage. This 12-hour continuing education course introduces massage therapists to evidence-based massage, including the effects of massage on the body, relevant anatomy, palpation and assessment, treatment planning, massage techniques, and clinical applications.
Whether you are interested in understanding the research behind massage therapy or want to strengthen your ability to apply evidence-informed approaches in practice, this course provides a broad foundation in the science and clinical application of therapeutic massage. The course explores hundreds of massage-related research studies and discusses their implications for massage therapy practice.
In this course, you will learn:
The definition, history, and origins of massage therapy
Anatomy of the skin and connective tissues affected by massage
Therapeutic and reflex effects of massage strokes
Pathological processes including inflammation, edema, and pain
Palpation and assessment methods used in massage therapy
How to develop treatment plans based on client needs
Massage techniques and their evidence-based applications
Clinical uses of massage for relaxation and general wellness
Massage considerations for clients with illness and musculoskeletal disorders
Applications of massage therapy in sports and athletic settings
How research findings can inform massage therapy practice
How evidence-based practice can support outcome-focused treatment goals
Why take this course?
Understanding the research behind massage therapy can help massage therapists make more informed decisions about techniques, treatment planning, and client care. Evidence-based practice provides a way to evaluate what research supports, what remains uncertain, and how available evidence may be applied to massage therapy.
This comprehensive 12-hour course combines research with anatomy, assessment, massage techniques, and clinical applications. It is a useful option for massage therapists who want to strengthen their understanding of evidence-based practice while exploring the research behind therapeutic massage.
Define evidence-based massage and explain its role in therapeutic massage practice.
Describe the anatomy of the skin and connective tissues relevant to massage therapy.
Explain the therapeutic and reflex effects associated with massage techniques.
Describe the relationship between massage therapy and conditions such as inflammation, edema, and pain.
Apply basic palpation and assessment principles to massage treatment planning.
Identify evidence-informed massage techniques and their appropriate clinical applications.
Describe the use of massage therapy for relaxation, illness, musculoskeletal disorders, and sports.
Evaluate how research findings can be used to support informed massage therapy decisions and outcome-focused treatment goals.
Text: Evidence-Based Therapeutic Massage textbook by Elizabeth Holey and Eileen Cook, 283 pages
Course instruction guide
60-question multiple-choice final exam
Course evaluation
Certificate of Achievement upon completion
Unlimited phone support for course-related questions
The Center for Massage Therapy Continuing Education, LLC is an Approved Provider through the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB); Approved Provider number 409296-00.
Our massage online continuing education courses are also accepted by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP), and most state boards.
For more information on individual state requirements and approvals, please visit our Approvals page and click on your state.
Content was realistic and easy to follow. - Malinda Ambers
Loved this course! Great information, easy to follow, and fast shipping! - Cindy Hummel, LMT, LPN
The format was easy to follow and the exam questions followed in order of the textbook. - Min Nguyen
I liked the fact that the techniques presented were backed by research. I would recommend this course to other therapists. I learned a lot that I can incorporate into my practice. - Joanna Barton
I learned several new techniques that I don't use in my practice! - Jesse H.
Massage has been advocated (Jacobs 1960) for relieving the:
A. Muscle trigger point cycle
B. Self-perpetuating muscle spasm cycle
C. Non-continuing muscle spasm cycle
D. Tendon-ligament injury cycle
All of the following are purposes of friction EXCEPT:
A. To stimulate local circulation
B. The aid removal of chemical irritants
C. To decrease mobility between tissue interfaces
D. To restore mobility to specific anatomical structures
Prolonged stress may result in raised levels of __________, which can have further harmful effects, such as decreased immunity and hypertension.
A. Endorphins
B. Oxytocin
C. Oxygen
D. Cortisol
Course Author
About the Instructor
Corrine Rubida, BS, LMT
Corrine completed her massage therapy training at Gateway College of Massage Therapy in 1997 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Healthcare Administration in 2012. She has been practicing and teaching massage therapy since 1997 and currently holds a massage therapy license in South Dakota. She is also a member of the ABMP. In 2002, Corrine founded the Center for Massage Therapy CE to make professional massage continuing education courses available both online and by mail. Since then, she has developed more than 100 home-study massage continuing education courses and has taught live courses for AMTA and the Gateway College of Massage Therapy.
