The Canadian Massage Therapy Association membership recognizes that a strong health care system is guided by evidence‐informed decision‐making. Research evidence is essential to advance the knowledge related to massage therapy as a healthcare service in every community.
CMTA supports and promotes the development of effective and well‐resourced research capacity both within and outside the profession. The Association works to advance a collaborative research agenda, empower alliance member involvement in research, disseminate research knowledge and conduct research related to professional issues in order to inform the public/private health sector and to advance social policy.
MassageNet: Practice-Based Research Network
The Massage Therapy Foundation has created a new resource that CMTA members may be interested in accessing:
MassageNet is the Massage Therapy Foundation’s supported practice-based research network (PBRN). The goal is to create a member-driven community of massage-focused clinicians, researchers, and allies that allows massage therapists to engage in research at various levels.
Practitioners, Students, Instructors, and Administrators: The first step is to browse the site to learn more about MassageNet then complete the initial enrollment survey found here.
Researchers: Visit the collaborator’s tab to learn more.
Massage Therapy Foundation and Canadian Massage Therapy Association Enter into New Partnership
(Evanston, Ill., February 1, 2023) The Massage Therapy Foundation (MTF) announces a new partnership with the Canadian Massage Therapy Association (CMTA). This new partnership will allow both organizations to co-create new opportunities for expanding the global influence of MTF’s resources of massage therapy research, community service, and educational endeavors. This partnership will aid both non-profit organization’s stakeholders and the worldwide massage therapy profession. CMTA pledges an annual contribution of $10K Canadian dollars to MTF for support of the Foundation’s activities including, but not limited to, MTF’s educational offerings, Massage.Net (a practice-based research network), the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (IJTMB), research and community service projects, case report contests, and educational tools; and in doing so become a President’s Circle Supporter.
To access resources especially curated for CMTA members, visit:
A National Study on Canadian Registered Massage Therapists’ Experiences of Sexual Harassment and Assault by Clients
The final report of the cross-Canada research study to evaluate massage therapists’ experiences/lack of experiences of sexual harassment and assault by clients led by Morgan Richard (Principal Investigator, University of New Brunswick), Dr. Lucia O’Sullivan (University of New Brunswick), and the Canadian Massage Therapist Association has now been released..
MTAM Research Award: “FARMh: The Role of Registered Massage Therapists in the Assessment of Farmer and Rancher Mental Health”
FARMh: The Role of Registered Massage Therapists in the Assessment of Farmer and Rancher Mental Health is part of the larger multi-method study – The Farmer and Rancher Mental Health Initiative which seeks to identify key features needed for a mental health support system for farmers and ranchers.
The proposed study will use mixed methodology of which the quantitative analysis data will be derived from the Beck Depression Inventory and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, which will be followed by qualitative semi-structured interviews with clients and RMTs.