Featured Blog Posts - massage and bodywork professionals2024-03-29T15:59:09Zhttps://massageprofessionals.com/profiles/blog/feed?promoted=1&xn_auth=noGoogle Scholar Vs. Googletag:massageprofessionals.com,2014-03-08:2887274:BlogPost:3380242014-03-08T22:03:35.000ZWalt Fritz, PThttps://massageprofessionals.com/profile/WaltFritzPT
<p style="text-align: justify;">I came upon a <a href="http://searchengineland.com/bing-ends-2013-with-all-time-high-in-us-market-share-but-google-also-up-comscore-181876" target="_blank">statistic</a> which showed that in the December of 2013, Google garnered a 67.3% share of search engine queries, while Bing (18.2%) and Yahoo (10.8%) trailed considerably. My favorite search engine, <a href="http://scholar.google.com/" target="_blank">Google Scholar</a>, did not make the list. Google has…</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I came upon a <a href="http://searchengineland.com/bing-ends-2013-with-all-time-high-in-us-market-share-but-google-also-up-comscore-181876" target="_blank">statistic</a> which showed that in the December of 2013, Google garnered a 67.3% share of search engine queries, while Bing (18.2%) and Yahoo (10.8%) trailed considerably. My favorite search engine, <a href="http://scholar.google.com/" target="_blank">Google Scholar</a>, did not make the list. Google has proven itself as a favorite means to access information of all sorts in a very quick manner. What is missing? Reliable sources of information are scattered randomly among less than reliable sources. For some uses, such as shopping for a “s<a href="https://www.google.com/search?num=100&safe=off&q=%22self-cleaning+cat+litter+box%22&oq=%22self-cleaning+cat+litter+box%22&gs_l=serp.3..0i7i30l2j0i30l8.37158.41235.0.42310.13.13.0.0.0.0.149.1239.6j7.13.0....0...1c.1.37.serp..1.12.1089.gzY1rhnwFnU" target="_blank">elf cleaning cat litter box”</a> or to “<a href="https://www.google.com/search?num=100&safe=off&q=%22daily+horoscope%22&oq=%22daily+horoscope%22&gs_l=serp.3..0i7i30l2j0l8.78966.81912.0.82929.15.15.0.0.0.0.216.1790.2j11j2.15.0....0...1c.1.37.serp..2.13.1463.XO8QNM00Jq0" target="_blank">find your daily horoscope”</a>, Google meets the need perfectly.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">(Did you notice that I put each search in quotation marks? Doing this will narrow your search. For instance, if I type self cleaning litter box without the quotations marks, I get 414,000 hits. As long as the four words are found anywhere on the website/page, Google will give you this page as a result. Narrowing the search by placing quotation marks around the four words lessens your hits to 156,000, as Google will only display pages/websites where those four words appear in the order that you bunched them inside the quotation marks. Use this feature to narrow your options and improve accuracy.)</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">If scientifically reliable information is needed, however, Google is often not the place to start. Let me give you an example and please do not take offense to my choice here. We all know that there are modalities within our professions that lack full scientific validation. Ionic foot baths have become quite popular, supposedly for removing toxins from the body simply by placing your feet in the product and turning it on for a set time period. <a href="https://www.google.com/search?num=100&safe=off&site=&source=hp&q=%22ionic+foot+bath%22&oq=%22ionic+foot+bath%22&gs_l=hp.13..0l10.2851.2851.0.4638.1.1.0.0.0.0.167.167.0j1.1.0....0...1c.2.37.hp..0.1.167.axbOKz3j3PI" target="_blank">Search “ionic foot bath” on Google</a> and you get 1,530,000 hits. Click the link yourself to read the hits. They range from websites where you can buy one of these products, to websites talking about the benefits of the product, and finally to websites telling you how worthless they are. You can read and decide for yourself, or can you? How do you weed out the sales pitches made to sound scientific? This is where Google Scholar comes in. Google Scholar is a subset of Google. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Scholar" target="_blank">Wikipedia describes Google Scholar this way</a>:</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em><b>Google Scholar</b> is a freely accessible web search engine that indexes the full text of <span class="mw-redirect">scholarly literature</span> across an array of publishing formats and disciplines. Released in <span class="mw-redirect">beta</span> in November 2004, the Google Scholar index includes most peer-reviewed online journals of Europe and America’s largest scholarly publishers, plus scholarly books and other non-peer reviewed journals. It is similar in function to the freely available Scirus from Elsevier, <span class="mw-redirect">CiteSeerX</span>, and getCITED. It is also similar to the subscription-based tools, Elsevier’s Scopus and <span class="mw-redirect">Thomson ISI</span>‘s Web of Science. Its advertising slogan – “<span class="mw-redirect">Stand on the shoulders of giants</span>” – is taken from a <span class="extiw">quote</span> by Isaac Newton and is a nod to the scholars who have contributed to their fields over the centuries, providing the foundation for new intellectual achievements.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Let’s repeat our <a href="http://scholar.google.com/scholar?as_vis=1&q=%22ionic+foot+bath%22&hl=en&as_sdt=1,33" target="_blank">search for “ionic foot bath” on Google Scholar</a> and, if patents are excluded, you will get exactly eight hits. Eight. Google Scholar is not perfect, it does report on citations in books where the search terms are found and four of the eight citations are from books, where it is impossible to determine if fully objective information is presented. Of the four remaining hits, two are from class notes from a college class on learning the scientific method, which actually debunks the foot baths, another hit debunks the myth of the ionic foot bath’s ability to clear toxins, and the final hit is an abstract from the International Journal of Social Psychiatry, and the ionic foot bath is not mentioned in the abstract so one can not determine if any validation of the ionic foot bath’s efficacy is presented. It took me only a few minutes to show to myself that little scientific proof has been published by credible sources showing that ionic foot baths work as they say they do. If one relied only on Google, I doubt if one could ever get the full picture.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">(Note: <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed" target="_blank">PubMed</a> is another excellent search tool that even further narrows the range of search results. I have often found it to be a bit more prickly to use, but many people rely on PubMed for accurate, reliable information.)</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Our patients frequently come to us with information obtained from Google, or similar sources, much of which is often dangerously wrong. But how is the average person supposed to know? One by one, we can share the news. Google is fine when shopping for litter boxes or finding your horoscope, but if they are trying to find reliable, credible information regarding their health, steer them to Google Scholar.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">For Now,</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Walt Fritz, PT</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.waltfritzseminars.com/myofascialresource/foundations-in-myofascial-release-seminars" target="_blank">Foundations in Myofascial Release Seminars</a></p>CAMTC: Under the Gun, ABMP says "Declare Victory and Move On"tag:massageprofessionals.com,2014-03-19:2887274:BlogPost:3381192014-03-19T02:51:56.000ZLaura Allenhttps://massageprofessionals.com/profile/LauraAllen
<p>I’ve spent the past day or so reviewing the <a href="https://www.camtc.org/FormDownloads/2013_sunset_review.pdf" title="CAMTC Sunset Review Report">CAMTC Sunset Review Report</a>…at over 200 pages, it’s a narrative of the who, what, where, when, and why of the organization, which is now in its fifth year.</p>
<p>California operates differently from the other regulated states. The <a href="http://www.camtc.org" title="CAMTC">CAMTC</a> is not officially a state regulatory board. It is a…</p>
<p>I’ve spent the past day or so reviewing the <a title="CAMTC Sunset Review Report" href="https://www.camtc.org/FormDownloads/2013_sunset_review.pdf">CAMTC Sunset Review Report</a>…at over 200 pages, it’s a narrative of the who, what, where, when, and why of the organization, which is now in its fifth year.</p>
<p>California operates differently from the other regulated states. The <a title="CAMTC" href="http://www.camtc.org">CAMTC</a> is not officially a state regulatory board. It is a non-profit organization, offering voluntary certification. It is just my opinion that this is a big improvement over the previous state of affairs there, when there was nothing at all, other than each municipality regulating as they chose, which more often that not meant that legitimate massage therapists were classified along with sex workers and treated the same way. I’ve heard horror stories from therapists who have in the past been made to take a test for STDs, along with paying money to each individual town in which one was practicing. Someone doing outcalls may have been looking at a separate license and another financial burden in many different places. The CAMTC aimed to put a stop to this by getting it into the statutes that if you had the CAMTC certification, you were allowed to skip all the local hoops. It was a very hard battle.</p>
<p>During the Sunset hearing process last week, <a title="ABMP" href="http://www.abmp.com">ABMP</a> Chairman Bob Benson testified. Benson served the CAMTC Board for four years, including a term as the initial Vice Chair. He attended 51 of the 52 meetings held during his tenure. His complete <a title="Bob Benson Testimony" href="http://www.abmp.com/downloads/BobBensontestimonyCAsunset.pdf">testimony may be read here.</a> Benson’s opening remarks referenced the Vietnam war, in speaking to the present state of affairs at the CAMTC, and he urged the organization to “Declare victory and move on.” I have heard from several veterans who were very upset about that analogy and feel that Benson’s remarks showed a great disrespect for the people who served in Vietnam and a cheapening of those who lost their lives there. I have met Benson personally on several occasions and I don’t think he would intentionally insult veterans, but I have to agree it was not the best choice for comparison.</p>
<p>Beyond that opening faux pas, Benson brings up the following points about the weaknesses he perceives in the CAMTC. One is that CEO Ahmos Netanel is wearing too many hats. There is no controller or operations officer or chief financial officer; Netanel is doing all three jobs, apparently. There’s no doubt he’s a busy man; I run into him myself at national meetings. <a href="http://lauraallenmt.com/blog/2014/03/17/camtc-under-the-gun-abmp-says-declare-victory-and-move-on/" target="_blank">READ MORE....</a></p>The Financial Health of Our Organizations: NCBTMBtag:massageprofessionals.com,2014-01-02:2887274:BlogPost:3347002014-01-02T23:55:36.000ZLaura Allenhttps://massageprofessionals.com/profile/LauraAllen
<p>Thank you for your interest in my annual reports on the financial status of the major non-profit organizations of the massage therapy profession. I am not an accountant or a financial expert. This information was taken directly from FORM 990, the Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax, which is published on Guidestar. This filing is for NCBTMB‘s fiscal year ending12-31-2012. Non-profits are on a different tax filing schedule than the rest of us.</p>
<p>This has not been a banner year…</p>
<p>Thank you for your interest in my annual reports on the financial status of the major non-profit organizations of the massage therapy profession. I am not an accountant or a financial expert. This information was taken directly from FORM 990, the Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax, which is published on Guidestar. This filing is for NCBTMB‘s fiscal year ending12-31-2012. Non-profits are on a different tax filing schedule than the rest of us.</p>
<p>This has not been a banner year for the NCBTMB. Revenues are down, no big surprise since they have been steadily declining every year since the MBLEx was introduced in 2007. During 2007, the revenue of the NCB was at an all-time high of $8,655,003. During 2012, the revenue was down to $4,616,227, a decline of over 4 million dollars in the past five years. If that isn’t the handwriting on the wall that it is past time for the NCBTMB to get out of the entry-level licensing exam business, I don’t know what is. AMTA, AFMTE, and ABMP have all supported the MBLEx as the licensing exam of choice. They just refuse to give it up.</p>
<p>In the past year alone, since my 2011 report, the examination revenue dropped over a million dollars. Recertification income actually went up by a little over $241K, but fees from the approved providers went down by almost $50K. Sales of their study guide for the exam is down by almost $33K as well. While sales of their mailing list remained stable at just over $40K, the revenue listed as “other” went down by $20K.</p>
<p>Executive compensation reflected then-CEO Mike Williams’ salary of $237,500, about $20K less than Paul Lindamood received on his best year. Board members at the NCB are compensated; the Chair during this period, Alexa Zaledonis, received $33,400. I won’t complain about that. In fact, I haven’t complained about any of the BOD compensation since the day Donna Feeley (now deceased) left office…during her two years at the helm, she got more than $100,000 a year. Legal fees were higher during Feeley’s term (2207-2008) than they have ever been before or since, hitting an all-time high of over $925K during her first term. <a href="http://lauraallenmt.com/blog/2014/01/02/the-financial-health-of-our-organizations-ncbtmb-4/" target="_blank">READ MORE...</a></p>Exciting Massage Opportunity in California in 2014tag:massageprofessionals.com,2014-02-10:2887274:BlogPost:3364592014-02-10T04:49:37.000ZJennifer Hartleyhttps://massageprofessionals.com/profile/JenniferHartley
<p>Hello my massage therapy peeps,</p>
<p></p>
<p>There is an exciting massage therapy volunteer opportunity the week of October 22nd-25th in Anaheim, CA. It is the Phoenix Society's annual World Burn Congress. Over 900 burn survivors from all over the world will be in Anaheim for this meeting and the AMTA is comprising a team of volunteers to provide both chair and table massage sessions for this unique event.</p>
<p></p>
<p>This being said, you DO NOT have to be a member of AMTA to…</p>
<p>Hello my massage therapy peeps,</p>
<p></p>
<p>There is an exciting massage therapy volunteer opportunity the week of October 22nd-25th in Anaheim, CA. It is the Phoenix Society's annual World Burn Congress. Over 900 burn survivors from all over the world will be in Anaheim for this meeting and the AMTA is comprising a team of volunteers to provide both chair and table massage sessions for this unique event.</p>
<p></p>
<p>This being said, you DO NOT have to be a member of AMTA to participate. he only pre-requisites is to have a current CMTC license, insurance AND to have taken Handle with Care's (HWC) 8hr Burn Scar Massage Therapy CEU course. This unique course is not only taught by two highly recognized massage therapist, but they are also burn survivors as well.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Jen Hartley and Chris Hallwas have been twice featured in Massage & Bodywork Magazine chronicling their work with burn survivors in the United States as well as abroad in Nicaragua and South Africa.</p>
<p></p>
<p>HWC has two dates coming up in California. March 3rd at NHI in Studio City, CA and May 4th at NHI in Sacramento, CA. Both of these classes are 8hrs and there is still room to sign up for either date. Also, there is a special rate for Cali therapists taking this class in order to volunteer at World Burn Congress.</p>
<p></p>
<p>There is nothing like the gratitude you get from working on a burn survivor. Other opportunities open to you as a result of Burn Scar Massage Therapy is being on call for major burn units, working children's burn camps, adult/young adult burn retreats and work abroad. Come and join us. If you have questions feel free to message me here or email me at <a href="mailto:jen@handlewithcaremassage.com">jen@handlewithcaremassage.com</a></p>NCBTMB: At Least They're Consistent in Bending the Rulestag:massageprofessionals.com,2013-12-07:2887274:BlogPost:3342612013-12-07T04:54:59.000ZLaura Allenhttps://massageprofessionals.com/profile/LauraAllen
<p>I’ll say one thing for the <a href="http://www.ncbtmb.org" title="NCBTMB">National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork</a>: at least they’re consistent in bending the rules.</p>
<p>The NCBTMB has a new Government Relations Liason, Billie Shea of Nevada. Shea has been a massage therapist for 14 years. She has previously served as the chair of the Nevada State Board of Massage Therapy, and has also served as a delegate and later as a board member on the Federation of…</p>
<p>I’ll say one thing for the <a title="NCBTMB" href="http://www.ncbtmb.org">National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork</a>: at least they’re consistent in bending the rules.</p>
<p>The NCBTMB has a new Government Relations Liason, Billie Shea of Nevada. Shea has been a massage therapist for 14 years. She has previously served as the chair of the Nevada State Board of Massage Therapy, and has also served as a delegate and later as a board member on the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards.</p>
<p>I’ve pitched a few fits recently about the NCBTMB ignoring their own bylaws and breaking their own rules, and I feel compelled to pitch one more. The NCBTMB website <a title="Billie Shea Government Relations Liason for NCBTMB" href="http://www.ncbtmb.org/news/ncbtmb-announces-billie-shea-government-relations-liaison">announcement about Shea</a> being hired as the new Government Relations Liason states that she has been Nationally Certified for 13 years. According to several of my sources, that is not true.</p>
<p>She was initially certified in 2000 and renewed one time before letting her certification lapse. I contacted Shea by email yesterday to ask her how she became Board Certified since she was not currently Nationally Certified, which is one of the requirements unless you are taking the new exam, and she responded to me that she had been contacted by the NCBTMB and offered the opportunity to become Board Certified early this summer. Her response stated that she forwarded my email to the NCBTMB so they could make a response, and they have not responded. <a href="http://lauraallenmt.com/blog/2013/12/07/ncbtmb-at-least-theyre-consistent-in-bending-the-rules/" target="_blank">READ MORE....</a></p>The Financial Health of Our Organizations: FSMTBtag:massageprofessionals.com,2013-11-22:2887274:BlogPost:3335902013-11-22T00:56:09.000ZLaura Allenhttps://massageprofessionals.com/profile/LauraAllen
<p><strong>Note: For the past few years I have done a series of reports on the financial status of the non-profit organizations that represent the massage therapy profession. I obtain this information from <a href="http://www.guidestar.org" title="Guidestar">Guidestar</a>, a financial information clearinghouse for non-profits. The organizations can provide their Form 990 (Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax) to Guidestar, and if they don’t, the IRS does it for them. I will state for…</strong></p>
<p><strong>Note: For the past few years I have done a series of reports on the financial status of the non-profit organizations that represent the massage therapy profession. I obtain this information from <a title="Guidestar" href="http://www.guidestar.org">Guidestar</a>, a financial information clearinghouse for non-profits. The organizations can provide their Form 990 (Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax) to Guidestar, and if they don’t, the IRS does it for them. I will state for the record that I am not an accountant or a financial analyst; I just report what I see (and maybe offer a few opinions). I usually get asked the question every year why I am not reporting on ABMP. Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals is a privately-owned for-profit company, and they are not obligated to release their financial information. Non-profits are on a different filing schedule than the rest of us, and there is variance amongst them in when their fiscal year ends.</strong></p>
<p></p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.fsmtb.org" target="_blank">Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards</a> is as usual, in excellent financial condition. For the fiscal year ending 06/30/2012, they are showing revenues of almost $5.2M, up about $857K from 2011. Their expenses were slightly over $3.3M, leaving their net revenue for the year at over $1.8M. They also have assets of over $3.8M. Not too shabby for an organization that isn’t even ten years old yet.</p>
<p>Unlike some of our other organizations, the Board of Directors of the Federation are not compensated, with the exception of being reimbursed for travel expenses. They’re all volunteers. The Executive Director, Debra Persinger, was paid reportable compensation of $231,472 and a little over $49K in other compensation. Non-profits have to report the salaries of the directors, trustees, and the highest-paid employees and there were no others listed. Other wages and salaries were less than $74K total. <a href="http://lauraallenmt.com/blog/2013/11/21/the-financial-health-of-our-organizations-fsmtb-3/" target="_blank">READ MORE...</a></p>Gobsmackedtag:massageprofessionals.com,2013-10-07:2887274:BlogPost:3322422013-10-07T20:53:04.000ZLaura Allenhttps://massageprofessionals.com/profile/LauraAllen
<p>Gobsmacked: <em>adjective</em>: shocked, astounded, astonished.</p>
<p></p>
<p><em>Gobsmacked</em> is my favorite word of late, and unfortunately, myself and many other people in the massage world have been gobsmacked recently, to learn that a colleague who was admired and trusted has let us down. I am addressing this because I have had a very public relationship with this person. I have appeared on a blog she owns for several months, which incidentally she refuses to remove my picture from,…</p>
<p>Gobsmacked: <em>adjective</em>: shocked, astounded, astonished.</p>
<p></p>
<p><em>Gobsmacked</em> is my favorite word of late, and unfortunately, myself and many other people in the massage world have been gobsmacked recently, to learn that a colleague who was admired and trusted has let us down. I am addressing this because I have had a very public relationship with this person. I have appeared on a blog she owns for several months, which incidentally she refuses to remove my picture from, as well as the pictures of the other women on the blog who would also like to be removed from it. It’s a childish and petty game designed to continue the illusion of credibility by association. She has announced many times over the past couple of years that I am her mentor. I am also addressing this now because I have just now received a thick letter from the MN Attorney General’s Office suggesting additional avenues of complaint for those who have been affected.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The first inkling I had that anything was wrong was a couple of months ago. A therapist attending a class I taught stayed after class to discuss a problem. She had ordered a book (and received it). Months later, she noticed another charge on her credit card. When she questioned it, she was told it was for shipping for a book–one that she had not ordered. It took several emails and messages to get the money refunded. Still, since that was the first report I had personally heard of any problem, I viewed it as an isolated incident.</p>
<p></p>
<p>If only that were the case. About a month ago, I started receiving emails with similar–and in some cases much worse–stories from therapists reporting incidents of unauthorized charges as high as $850 appearing on credit card statements.</p>
<p></p>
<p>There have been reports of therapists waiting as long as six months for books that have been paid for to be shipped, which they have been told were backordered. The books are actually print-on-demand from Amazon’s publishing arm, Createspace. There is no such thing as a back order. You pay, they publish and ship immediately. I have published four books there myself. I order books, they arrive within two to three days. That’s how it works.</p>
<p>There have also been many reports of therapists paying $350 for websites she was offering to build during a promotion, many of which are reportedly sub-par, full of grammar mistakes, have non-functional features, and to the un-web savvy out there, many have not realized that they were not the owners of their own websites, but rather that ownership was retained by the contractor. I received an email from her stating that anyone could request to have their website returned to their ownership. I have also personally seen correspondence that was extremely rude and hostile to a person who had requested that. <a href="http://lauraallenmt.com/blog/2013/10/07/gobsmacked-4/" target="_blank">READ MORE...</a></p>NCBTMB Elections: Massaging the Rules?tag:massageprofessionals.com,2013-10-21:2887274:BlogPost:3323982013-10-21T02:03:04.000ZLaura Allenhttps://massageprofessionals.com/profile/LauraAllen
<p>NCBTMB is holding their Board of Directors elections, and I must say, I think the Election Committee is massaging the bylaws of the organization. One of the open Board positions is for the public member.</p>
<p>According to the bylaws, a public member shall not be a certificant, or a practitioner of massage therapy and/or bodywork within three years of election, and shall have no material financial interest in the field of massage therapy and/or bodywork.</p>
<p>I am curious as to how the…</p>
<p>NCBTMB is holding their Board of Directors elections, and I must say, I think the Election Committee is massaging the bylaws of the organization. One of the open Board positions is for the public member.</p>
<p>According to the bylaws, a public member shall not be a certificant, or a practitioner of massage therapy and/or bodywork within three years of election, and shall have no material financial interest in the field of massage therapy and/or bodywork.</p>
<p>I am curious as to how the committee arrived at the choice of Stuart Watts as a candidate for public member. I don't know Watts, personally. According to his bio, he is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, licensed in New Mexico and Hawaii. He is also the founder of five institutes of Asian medicine, co-founder of the American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AAAOM), and the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM), two entities that ultimately created the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) and the national testing organization, the National Commission for Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). Among other things, he also has a background in accounting and for the past 16 years, has served as the treasurer of the American Organization of Bodywork Therapies of Asia (AOBTA).</p>
<p>According to his bio, Watts also has extensive training in various forms of Asian bodywork therapy, among other things. He has in the past been a site reviewer for COMTA. In his status as someone who is currently licensed in two states, that would seem to shoot a hole in his eligibility as a candidate, at least from where I'm sitting. <strong><a href="http://lauraallenmt.com/blog/2013/10/21/ncbtmb-elections-massaging-the-rules/" target="_blank">READ MORE...</a></strong></p>Calling All Massage Organizations: 911tag:massageprofessionals.com,2013-10-28:2887274:BlogPost:3327632013-10-28T23:19:16.000ZLaura Allenhttps://massageprofessionals.com/profile/LauraAllen
<p>I’ve seen some ups and downs since joining the massage profession about 15 years ago, but never, in all that time, have I been as disgusted and dismayed with one of our organizations as I am today. I feel as if I have a vested interest in all of them, so I have the right to complain—and to call on them for help.</p>
<p>The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork was the only path to licensing in many regulated states for a lot of years. Their exams are written…</p>
<p>I’ve seen some ups and downs since joining the massage profession about 15 years ago, but never, in all that time, have I been as disgusted and dismayed with one of our organizations as I am today. I feel as if I have a vested interest in all of them, so I have the right to complain—and to call on them for help.</p>
<p>The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork was the only path to licensing in many regulated states for a lot of years. Their exams are written into the statutes of about 40 states, as is the MBLEx, which has soared in popularity as the exam of choice in the past 7 years. The exam revenue at the NCBTMB has been steadily declining ever since the MBLEx debuted. The “National Certification Exams” as they formerly existed are the same exams being used for the NESL.</p>
<p>It used to be that taking one exam gave you the status of being Nationally Certified and being able to use that to get your license, but that’s no longer the case. There’s no attraction there anymore. The Federation has been in a position for several years to help solve this problem by buying out the NCBTMB’s entry-level exams; they certainly have the money and the infrastructure in place, but they have apparently preferred to stand by and watch the NCBTMB die a slow painful death rather than be in collaboration. Although I have favored the idea of such a deal in the past, at this point in time I am not going to blame the FSMTB for their refusal to play ball.</p>
<p>The majority of regulated states also have it written into their statutes that the continuing education required for maintaining licensure must be from a provider of CE that is approved by the NCBTMB. <strong><a href="http://lauraallenmt.com/blog/2013/10/28/calling-all-massage-organizations-911/" target="_blank">READ MORE...</a></strong></p>An Interview with Steve Kirin, New CEO of the NCBTMBtag:massageprofessionals.com,2013-07-28:2887274:BlogPost:3251222013-07-28T12:55:00.000ZLaura Allenhttps://massageprofessionals.com/profile/LauraAllen
<p><em><strong>I recently had the opportunity to meet with Steve Kirin, the new CEO of the NCBTMB. This is the interview I did with him. </strong></em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>1. You were just appointed CEO in May, but you’ve been on board for a year and a half. What do you see as the major challenges facing the NCBTMB at this time?…</strong></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2;"></p>
<p><em><strong>I recently had the opportunity to meet with Steve Kirin, the new CEO of the NCBTMB. This is the interview I did with him. </strong></em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>1. You were just appointed CEO in May, but you’ve been on board for a year and a half. What do you see as the major challenges facing the NCBTMB at this time?</strong></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span> I believe there are several key challenges.</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo2;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal;"> </span></span> I feel the primary challenge that we continue to face at NCBTMB is defining and communicating the importance of certification. I have had the pleasure of speaking with hundreds of dedicated therapists during the past year and a half, and believe the profession deserves and needs a credential that symbolizes a commitment to the highest standard of education and practice within the profession of massage therapy.</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo2;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal;"> </span></span> We have rolled out an entirely new suite of products and services over the past 18 months; ensuring that our constituents understand those products and find them valuable in advancing their own professional credentials is essential as well.</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo2;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal;"> </span></span> NCBTMB means different things—good and bad—to different people. I am committed to defining NCBTMB in a singular way—as the organization committed to providing a pathway for those who value excellence. Our new programs—which were rolled out and not just promised—are designed to do just that.</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal;"> </span></span> We are fortunate to not have significant directional challenges as are sometimes evident in CEO transitions. Fortunately, Mike and I worked closely together in crafting our direction and our programs. Our customers and those with whom we do business should expect a consistent direction from NCBTMB.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>2. What kind of progress have you seen since coming into the organization?</strong></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span> “Listening to the Profession” is without question the one progressive change in philosophy that I am most proud of since joining NCBTMB. Through the development of our social media platform, Quarterly CEO Webinar (coming soon) just to mention a few of the new initiatives, we will continue to demonstrate our desire to listen to the profession.</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal;"> </span></span> There was a great deal of market confusion between licensing and certification. By separating our certification product, we have put real value behind the certification credential. Further, we have had the opportunity to totally recraft every point of interaction between the profession and NCBTMB. Now our programs not only raise the standard across the profession but give our certificants a means to differentiate themselves to their customers. I am thrilled with this change in programs and look forward to rolling out further enhancements over the next year.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>3. What do you have to say about the mass protest that happened over the revised CE/AP rules? <a href="http://lauraallenmt.com/blog/2013/07/28/an-interview-with-steve-kirin-new-ceo-of-ncbtmb/" target="_blank">READ MORE...</a><br/></strong></p>Report from the AFMTE 2013 Annual Meetingtag:massageprofessionals.com,2013-07-21:2887274:BlogPost:3244172013-07-21T14:35:48.000ZLaura Allenhttps://massageprofessionals.com/profile/LauraAllen
<p>I just returned from attending the fourth annual meeting of the Alliance for Massage Therapy Education, held this year in St. Charles, MO. I’m a founding member of this organization, and once again, it was a fabulous event. I would have to say that this was the best one in the history of the organization. Kudos to Cherie Sohnen-Moe, who has spent the last year organizing the event, along with the other board members–all volunteers, I might add. This is the kind of thing that can’t be pulled…</p>
<p>I just returned from attending the fourth annual meeting of the Alliance for Massage Therapy Education, held this year in St. Charles, MO. I’m a founding member of this organization, and once again, it was a fabulous event. I would have to say that this was the best one in the history of the organization. Kudos to Cherie Sohnen-Moe, who has spent the last year organizing the event, along with the other board members–all volunteers, I might add. This is the kind of thing that can’t be pulled off by just one person. Many people worked behind the scenes to make it happen.</p>
<p>I arrived on Wednesday night in time to visit with Ryan Hoyme (aka the MassageNerd), Greg Hurd, Allissa Haines, and Ralph Stephens. The Embassy Suites puts on a heck of a nice free happy hour, as well as a nice breakfast, and their staff was very efficient and attentive to our group. The meeting kicked off Thursday morning, and the next two days were filled with informative keynote speakers, great classes for educators, and plenty of visiting with friends, old and new.</p>
<p>During the annual reports, President Pete Whitridge reported that the organization now has over 300 members. About half were in attendance, and the rest missed out on a great time! Treasurer Sue Bibik reported that the organization is debt-free, which is quite an accomplishment since the Alliance is less than five years old. <strong><a href="http://lauraallenmt.com/blog/2013/07/21/report-from-the-afmte-2013-annual-meeting/" target="_blank">Read More...</a></strong></p>ELAP: Stop Insulting Our Intelligence!tag:massageprofessionals.com,2013-06-25:2887274:BlogPost:3228872013-06-25T10:04:06.000ZLaura Allenhttps://massageprofessionals.com/profile/LauraAllen
<p>I spent a big part of last week responding to the first draft of the Entry Level Analysis Project (ELAP). I shared it on my social media several times and encouraged everyone in the massage profession to respond. While I do still encourage everyone to respond, I must say that I have some distress at the way this is being presented.</p>
<p>The powers that be seem to be worried that the massage community is lacking enough intelligence and ability to comprehend information.</p>
<p>The framework…</p>
<p>I spent a big part of last week responding to the first draft of the Entry Level Analysis Project (ELAP). I shared it on my social media several times and encouraged everyone in the massage profession to respond. While I do still encourage everyone to respond, I must say that I have some distress at the way this is being presented.</p>
<p>The powers that be seem to be worried that the massage community is lacking enough intelligence and ability to comprehend information.</p>
<p>The framework being used to disseminate the first draft of the ELAP prevents anyone outside of the closed-door system that launched and produced this document from being able to read, comprehend and comment on it as a whole. Being restricted to viewing one learning objective at a time does not allow the reader to place individual elements in a larger context, which is vital for being able to properly evaluate this kind of work. We are finally being shown the Curriculum Map that the ELAP Workgroup developed, but only in small bits through a keyhole. This strategy is sure to reduce the number of people who would otherwise want to take the time to read and comment on something that is of potential importance to the field. <a href="http://lauraallenmt.com/blog/2013/06/24/elap-stop-insulting-our-intelligence/" target="_blank">READ MORE...</a></p>ELAP First Draft and Call for Comments Releasedtag:massageprofessionals.com,2013-06-16:2887274:BlogPost:3225832013-06-16T00:55:31.000ZLaura Allenhttps://massageprofessionals.com/profile/LauraAllen
<p>The first draft of the <a href="http://www.elapmassage.org/index.php" title="ELAP">ELAP (Entry-Level Analysis Project)</a> has finally been released. It’s been more than a year since <a href="http://lauraallenmt.com/blog/2012/04/30/behind-closed-doors/" title="Behind Closed Doors">I first blogged about it.</a></p>
<p>This research project proposal was introduced by <a href="http://www.abmp.com" title="ABMP">ABMP</a> and has come full circle from the first statements put out about it, which…</p>
<p>The first draft of the <a title="ELAP" href="http://www.elapmassage.org/index.php">ELAP (Entry-Level Analysis Project)</a> has finally been released. It’s been more than a year since <a title="Behind Closed Doors" href="http://lauraallenmt.com/blog/2012/04/30/behind-closed-doors/">I first blogged about it.</a></p>
<p>This research project proposal was introduced by <a title="ABMP" href="http://www.abmp.com">ABMP</a> and has come full circle from the first statements put out about it, which put <em>me</em> out quite a bit. The initial proposal stated<em>: There is no step in this proposal to obtain input from the broader massage profession or from other health-care or bodywork organizations during this project. The reason is simple—the work group is simply performing a work task in writing learning outcomes and objectives for job tasks defined by surveys already conducted by <a title="FSMTB" href="http://www.fsmtb.org">FSMTB</a> and <a title="NCBTMB" href="http://www.ncbtmb.org">NCBTMB</a>. It doesn’t matter what stakeholders, or other groups think should be taught or shouldn’t be taught. The work group would be responding to what therapists report they do, on a day-to-day basis, in their massage-related environments as part of their jobs.</em></p>
<p>They had to back up and punt on that. The <a title="ELAP" href="http://www.elapmassage.org/index.php">ELAP</a> website now contains the following statements clarifying the purpose and scope of the project:</p>
<p><em>The Entry-Level Analysis Project (ELAP) is a research project that defines the minimum number of training hours necessary to acquire knowledge and skills essential for safe and competent practice as an entry-level massage therapist. The project was initiated through conversations between the <a title="AFMTE" href="http://www.afmte.org">Alliance for Massage Therapy Education</a>, <a title="AMTA" href="http://www.amtamassage.org">American Massage Therapy Association</a>, <a title="ABMP" href="http://www.abmp.com">Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals</a>, the <a title="COMTA" href="http://www.comta.org">Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation</a>, the <a title="FSMTB" href="http://www.fsmtb.org">Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards</a>, the <a title="Massage Therapy Foundation" href="http://www.massagetherapyfoundation.org">Massage Therapy Foundation</a>, and the <a title="NCBTMB" href="http://www.ncbtmb.org">National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork.</a> </em> <em><a href="http://lauraallenmt.com/blog/2013/06/16/elap-first-draft-and-call-for-com/" target="_blank">READ MORE...</a><br/></em></p>Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards: All Talk and No Action?tag:massageprofessionals.com,2013-05-20:2887274:BlogPost:3204802013-05-20T09:43:55.000ZLaura Allenhttps://massageprofessionals.com/profile/LauraAllen
<p>I hear through the grapevine that the Nevada State Board of Massage Therapists has voted to terminate their agency's membership in the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards. Why the big thumbs down? The main reason was a failure to deliver on the many promises FSMTB has made to its Member Boards.</p>
<p>It’s been several years since I was a delegate to the FSMTB annual meeting, so I went to the website to see what’s happening. The page entitled “Member Services” is “under construction.”…</p>
<p>I hear through the grapevine that the Nevada State Board of Massage Therapists has voted to terminate their agency's membership in the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards. Why the big thumbs down? The main reason was a failure to deliver on the many promises FSMTB has made to its Member Boards.</p>
<p>It’s been several years since I was a delegate to the FSMTB annual meeting, so I went to the website to see what’s happening. The page entitled “Member Services” is “under construction.” That could be because the member services, many of which have been talked about since the Federation was first formed in 2005, don’t actually exist. Projects that have been launched but not completed include the national database of state board disciplinary actions , the practice exam and study guide for the MBLEx, the Model Practice Act, and a comprehensive solution to continuing education regulation. These are all basic services that a board federation should provide to its constituents.</p>
<p>Eight years after the creation of this organization, it’s hard to see exactly what has been accomplished, other than a well-used licensing exam and an annual meeting of Member Boards in generally pleasant locations like San Juan, New Orleans and Redondo Beach.</p>
<p>I’ve had my own concerns about the FSMTB for several years. While I support the idea of all the state boards coming together in the interest of seeking solutions to common problems, I am of the opinion that if you’re spending the money to have meetings, something concrete ought to arise from that. So far, we haven’t seen it. There are quite a few committees and task forces for all these as-yet-undelivered initiatives, but we don’t know what they’re doing, since they don’t publish their minutes for public scrutiny. <a href="http://lauraallenmt.com/blog/2013/05/20/federation-of-state-massage-therapy-boards-all-talk-and-no-action/" target="_blank">READ MORE...</a></p>Report from the International Massage Therapy Research Conferencetag:massageprofessionals.com,2013-04-29:2887274:BlogPost:3189802013-04-29T10:10:52.000ZLaura Allenhttps://massageprofessionals.com/profile/LauraAllen
<p>This past week I was blessed to attend the <a href="http://www.massagetherapyfoundation.org/massage-research/research-conference/international-massage-therapy-research-conference-poster-presenters/" target="_blank" title="International Massage Therapy Research Conference">International Massage Therapy Research Conference</a> for the first time. This event is only held every three years and it was my first time attending. It was held at the Seaport in Boston, a beautiful hotel right on the…</p>
<p>This past week I was blessed to attend the <a title="International Massage Therapy Research Conference" href="http://www.massagetherapyfoundation.org/massage-research/research-conference/international-massage-therapy-research-conference-poster-presenters/" target="_blank">International Massage Therapy Research Conference</a> for the first time. This event is only held every three years and it was my first time attending. It was held at the Seaport in Boston, a beautiful hotel right on the harbor and right across the street from the World Trade Center, in a great part of town. We enjoyed excellent service from the staff there, so kudos to them.</p>
<p>I arrived on Wednesday in time to view the DVD showing of the International Fascia Research Conference from Vancouver. The presentations from that conference were fascinating, and that event will be the next thing on my wish list. Nothing is better at a movie than popcorn and Milk Duds, which were provided…some of the science presented was above my head, but hey–I went there to learn!</p>
<p>The Conference officially kicked off on Thursday morning with Massage Therapy Foundation President Ruth Werner making some opening remarks, followed by a beautiful blessing from three Native American ladies who were present. Dr. Jeanette Ezzo was the opening keynote speaker. Her topic was “Mechanisms and Beyond: What is Needed to Prove the Effectiveness of Massage?” I must confess I was taken aback at one of her early comments regarding acupuncture. She stated that although there was no scientific proof the meridians exist, that “the efficacy of it gets us off the hook.” I was rather surprised to hear that at a research conference where the focus was on scientific evidence. There was also a poster display, including one entitled “Is There a Place for Energy Work for Children Living With Autism?” It’s just my personal opinion that it was out of place there. That was my only complaint about the entire experience. <a href="http://lauraallenmt.com/blog/2013/04/29/report-from-the-international-massage-therapy-research-conference/" target="_blank">READ MORE...</a></p>NCBTMB Call for Comments: 911 for CE Providerstag:massageprofessionals.com,2013-03-28:2887274:BlogPost:3144822013-03-28T15:09:54.000ZLaura Allenhttps://massageprofessionals.com/profile/LauraAllen
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>The NCBTMB has decided to <a href="http://www.ncbtmb.org/bacepp-call-for-comment?utm_source=Validated++NCBTMB+List&utm_campaign=ea34c06c99-20130326_BACEPP_survey&utm_medium=email" title="NCBTMB Call for Comments">call for comments</a> on their latest revisions for the CE/Approved Provider program–something they should have done before they ever unrolled the plan to start with–and I can virtually guarantee they aren’t going to like the responses they receive. I have…</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>The NCBTMB has decided to <a title="NCBTMB Call for Comments" href="http://www.ncbtmb.org/bacepp-call-for-comment?utm_source=Validated++NCBTMB+List&utm_campaign=ea34c06c99-20130326_BACEPP_survey&utm_medium=email">call for comments</a> on their latest revisions for the CE/Approved Provider program–something they should have done before they ever unrolled the plan to start with–and I can virtually guarantee they aren’t going to like the responses they receive. I have been cc’d on numerous letters to them from providers, and so far, the only responses I have seen are anger and disgust.</p>
<p>I’m not one to get too bent out of shape about paperwork, and in reality, the revised new requirements are not adding that much of a burden, time-wise. One wants to assume if you are teaching a class that you actually <em>have</em> all the paperwork they are asking to see. Uploading it shouldn’t be such a big deal.</p>
<p>The flash point here is the almighty dollar. It is no secret that the NCBTMB has lost a lot of revenue to the MBLEx in the past few years, and there’s no indication that trend will ever reverse itself. The NCB is proposing quite a drastic increase in approved provider fees, no doubt hopeful that it will increase their financial coffers.</p>
<p>I personally have organizational approval. In their new paradigm, I am considered a “small” organization. In spite of that, my renewal fee is jumping from $300 to $750. Larger organizations are taking a much bigger hit. The biggest increase is going to fall on trade shows and conferences….something I personally enjoy attending. There are already some conferences out there that don’t pay the instructors (or only pay those who are at the top of the big heap), but instead provide them with a table to sell their wares. That’s well and good, but I don’t carry my wares around, personally. My publisher is usually at big conferences, so I don’t go to the expense of shipping books to sell. <a href="http://lauraallenmt.com/blog/2013/03/28/ncbtmb-call-for-comments/" target="_blank">READ MORE....</a></p>A Map of the Bodytag:massageprofessionals.com,2013-03-03:2887274:BlogPost:3095132013-03-03T20:30:00.000ZWalt Fritz, PThttps://massageprofessionals.com/profile/WaltFritzPT
<p>If there were one map of the body for all to follow, a map that showed all areas of injury, trauma, and pain, along with the necessary route to take to eliminate those issues, life would be simple.</p>
<p>I received a new GPS this past Christmas. My old GPS had become unreliable due to a few quirks and I did not have full trust in my iPhone’s GPS, given a few wrong turns along the way. While my new GPS offers me nearly a nearly foolproof ability to find my way around while traveling, it…</p>
<p>If there were one map of the body for all to follow, a map that showed all areas of injury, trauma, and pain, along with the necessary route to take to eliminate those issues, life would be simple.</p>
<p>I received a new GPS this past Christmas. My old GPS had become unreliable due to a few quirks and I did not have full trust in my iPhone’s GPS, given a few wrong turns along the way. While my new GPS offers me nearly a nearly foolproof ability to find my way around while traveling, it lacks in some key areas. I learned this a few years back, while traveling to teach one of my Foundations in Myofascial Release Seminars. My hotel was not terribly far from the seminar venue, but each morning and night, I followed the female mechanical voice on my GPS, dutifully turning when she told me to turn. Prior to this, I had always carried a map while traveling and studied it beforehand, as well as before venturing off on a new destination. While near the end of my trip, my old GPS began exhibiting one of its quirks and forced me to find my own way. After spending nearly 4 days in that city I realized that I had no idea how to get to where I wished to go, even though the distance was small. I had previously relied on some internal ability to see a place on an internal map in my mind. I did find my way to my destination eventually, but it was a very good lesson to me.</p>
<p>In order for us to benefit from a map, we need to decide on our route preferences. What factors go into deciding which road to take? When one initially programs a GPS, it will query you to see if you wish to prioritize shortest distance, shortest time, avoiding highways, etc. However, I think most of us forget about these variables each time we plunk in our destination and follow the voice. If we are reading an old-fashioned paper map, we have choice that is more overt; highway or country road, scenic route or “just get there”. If we are curious, we may choose a route that takes us past places of interest.</p>
<p>Choosing a map to follow in the body is no different. Many maps are offered, from the ones we learned in school, which tended to be more simplistic, the maps offered through continuing education, and the ones offered by our own experience. I learned a map of the body and followed this map for many years. That map stated that the body behaved in very specific ways. This method was influenced by the theory that fascia was the “great unknown” when it came to unresolved pain. The mysteries of the fascia were there for anyone to perceive, if you only chose to follow the teacher who taught this work. Sounds a bit mysterious, does it not? My introduction to myofascial release was explained in a manner that made sense, at least from my very superficial level of understanding, as well as cherry picking the available evidence to suit my needs. It really lacked any plausibility from a scientific perspective, but I skipped over any lingering questions I might have, as what I learned to do with my hands was incredibly effective. Occasionally my instincts caused me to question my teachers, but the all-important “results” quickly put any doubts to rest! I know now that much of what I learned was either outdated or wrong. In essence, I became a good listening and follower, but not a good questioner. I began applying the principles with my patients and quickly began to notice things that seemed more important to me that did to my teacher, and things my teacher thought were important mattered less to me. Sounds like maturation, correct? What was apparent to me was that dysfunctional tissue (non-specific tissue), presented with a characteristic density that was easily palpable. At first I attempted (rather successfully, I thought) to equate this density to “fascial restriction”, as that was what I was taught. However, over time, the “Feel” became the most important element. Fast-forward a decade or two. A few years back I began to expose myself to a neuroscience approach to pain; one that used basic neurology to explain the changes we feel with bodywork. I at first rejected this as skeptical nonsense; how could the results I saw with MFR be wrong? The results were not wrong, just the explanation. The transition from an old-school mentality of myofascial release to embracing these newer concepts was not difficult, as under my hands I still felt what I had felt in the past. Only now, I had much more plausible explanations to use.</p>
<p>The maps that I now use are based on simple anatomy and mostly neuroanatomy. It is not sexy stuff, like other explanations of body work and MFR, and doesn’t try to bridge any chasms between body work and parts of the process that we, as body workers, have no business addressing. I am a huge fan of the Visible Body app. While it can be purchased in modules, the Visible Body Atlas is a comprehensive guide to the body and will be the map we use.</p>
<p>For those of you with an enlightened sense of feel, learning this new form of myofascial release work will come easily. The most difficult part may be asking yourself to put aside your beliefs on how best to make changes in the body. Over the past 20 years, I have lightened my touch considerably and enlightened my mind even more. I do not work to any level of uncomfortable depth and never elicit pain.</p>
<p>There are those who feel that the term “myofascial release” is so scientifically incorrect and unrealistic that it should be abandoned. While I believe we are influencing much more than just the fascia, and that fascia is not the magic tissue it has been made out to be, I do feel there is logic in sticking with it, if nothing more than the name recognition value. Ultimately, I will not try to convince you of anything; your process may be as long and tortuous as mine was. In the end, I hope that you simply come away with a better ability to help someone in pain. That is where we start.</p>
<p>The new myofascial release differs little when it comes to what we do with our hands. But it differs wildly with what we do with our minds. Enjoy!</p>
<p>Walt Fritz, PT</p>
<p><a href="http://www.waltfritzseminars.com/myofascialresource/foundations-in-myofascial-release-seminars" target="_blank">Foundations in Myofascial Release Seminars</a></p>
<p>and</p>
<p><a href="http://www.waltfritzseminars.com/blog/" target="_blank">The Myofascial Release Blog</a></p>MOCC-ERY Reduxtag:massageprofessionals.com,2013-02-28:2887274:BlogPost:3088052013-02-28T17:59:45.000ZLaura Allenhttps://massageprofessionals.com/profile/LauraAllen
<p>I have received the following from the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards. I personally think they are far off the mark on what they intend to do with continuing education, and with their refusal to consider any joint effort with the NCBTMB to organize and streamline the approval process for the good of all concerned. This is their <a href="http://lauraallenmt.com/blog/2012/03/14/mocc-ery/" title="MOCC-ERY">MOCC-ERY</a> plan redux, and it’s giving me a bad case of acid reflux. The…</p>
<p>I have received the following from the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards. I personally think they are far off the mark on what they intend to do with continuing education, and with their refusal to consider any joint effort with the NCBTMB to organize and streamline the approval process for the good of all concerned. This is their <a title="MOCC-ERY" href="http://lauraallenmt.com/blog/2012/03/14/mocc-ery/">MOCC-ERY</a> plan redux, and it’s giving me a bad case of acid reflux. The first time this plan rolled around, the national office of AMTA responded by shooting 20 holes into it. Those holes are still there, and it is my fond hope that AMTA will reiterate its position.</p>
<p>This is nothing more than another ill-conceived ploy to put the NCBTMB out of business by taking CE out of their hands, making only what THEY want to be required–and furthermore, to require you to get it from them. To add insult to injury, the FSMTB proposes that THEY will choose the experts who will create the courses that YOU will be required to take from them on their website and occasional live classes. CE Providers might as well kiss your income goodbye. Give me a break. If this isn’t a naked power grab, I have never seen one. Here is the communication:</p>
<p><em>February 27, 2013</em><br/> <em> </em><br/> <em>Dear Colleagues:</em><br/> <em> </em><br/> <em>A <a title="Rick Rosen's White Paper" href="http://tinyurl.com/NCER-Proposal-FEB2013" target="_blank">White Paper</a> circulating in professional and social media circles proposes the creation of a new organization to approve continuing education providers. FSMTB has not indicated support for such a move and would like to correct certain assumptions pertaining directly to the FSMTB that are made in the paper.</em><br/> <em> </em><br/> <em>The most important reason for regulating the massage and bodywork profession is to ensure public protection and consumer confidence without unduly restricting the ability of licensed, professional therapists to make a living. To better address needs in the area of license renewal, the FSMTB was directed by a vote of its members (State boards and agencies that regulate massage and bodywork therapy) to develop and deliver a solution.</em> <br/> <em> </em><br/> <em>To do this, FSMTB looked at research and listened to experts, including consumers, educators, and the therapists themselves. Our recommendation was published in October 2012 in a paper called “<a title="Standard Licensure Renewal for Professional Competency" href="https://www.fsmtb.org/userfiles/PDFs/Standardized_License_Renewal_Recommendation_Final.pdf" target="_blank">Standardized Licensure Renewal Recommendation for Continuing Professional Competence</a>“. </em><br/> <em> </em><br/> <em>Standardized Licensure Renewal Recommendation</em> <br/> <em>Here’s what we believe is fair and reasonable to ensure competent licensed professionals and protection for the public they serve.</em><br/> <em> </em><br/> <em>Licensed massage and bodywork therapists will be required to complete six (6) hours of license renewal requirements annually. At least three (3) of the six hours must meet the State-sponsored Ethics and Professional Practice course requirements that specifically address content pertaining to public safety. The remaining three (3) hours could be exchanged for certain Professional Development Activities, including but not limited to meeting accredited certification standards, community service, and research.</em> <br/> <em> </em><br/> <em>We further believe that it is preferable for all six hours of the license renewal requirements to be in the Ethics and Professional Practice areas, thus eliminating the need for therapists to engage in other activities or classes in order to renew their license. The rationale for limiting the licensing renewal requirements to the Ethics and Professional Practice areas is to ensure that therapists have standardized, current knowledge necessary for safe and competent practice. Additional activities and classes, though beneficial and encouraged, should not be required for re-licensure.</em> <br/> <em> </em><br/> <em>Recognizing that there will be a transition phase as the profession progresses, we will establish standards for acceptance of other Professional Development Activities for licensure renewal, such as attaining certifications and attending professional conferences. Again, these activities are to be encouraged but are beyond what should be required to maintain a license. <a href="http://lauraallenmt.com/blog/2013/02/28/mocc-ery-redux/" target="_blank">READ MORE...</a><br/></em></p>Blowin' in the Windtag:massageprofessionals.com,2013-02-24:2887274:BlogPost:3075942013-02-24T14:45:37.000ZLaura Allenhttps://massageprofessionals.com/profile/LauraAllen
<p>Whether you prefer the Bob Dylan original version, or the popular treatment by Peter, Paul & Mary, we have our own version of <em>Blowin’ in the Wind</em> being sung by the leaders of FSMTB and NCBTMB.</p>
<p>My last blog (February 11) focused on problems with regulation of continuing education in the massage profession, and put the spotlight on a comprehensive white paper written by Rick Rosen that offers a innovative solution to a very confusing situation. There’s been a lot of…</p>
<p>Whether you prefer the Bob Dylan original version, or the popular treatment by Peter, Paul & Mary, we have our own version of <em>Blowin’ in the Wind</em> being sung by the leaders of FSMTB and NCBTMB.</p>
<p>My last blog (February 11) focused on problems with regulation of continuing education in the massage profession, and put the spotlight on a comprehensive white paper written by Rick Rosen that offers a innovative solution to a very confusing situation. There’s been a lot of activity around this issue, and from what I hear, a lot of CE providers have contacted FSMTB and NCB to express their displeasure with the programs each one has in the works. I believe that Rosen’s concept of a National Continuing Education Registry is the right tool for the job at this point in the massage therapy profession. It will require cooperation and collaboration from both organizations, and would utilize the talents and resources of both. To me that is a far superior state of affairs than the animosity and one-upmanship that has been the prevailing atmosphere between these two organizations for the past half-dozen years or so.</p>
<p>Over the past two weeks, information has come out of NCB that suggests they may be having second thoughts about their “upgraded” Board Approved CE Provider Program. Donna Sarvello, NCB’s CE manager, said, “Providers do not need to renew until their renewal date because while we are reviewing the new program we have reinstated the past program. I can’t give the exact details on the Organization status at this time because we are tweaking the details and then will put it out for public comment.”</p>
<p>If you look on the Continuing Education page on NCB’s website, there is no evidence of what Ms. Sarvello is talking about. The new Board Approved CE Provider Program is right there in all of its convoluted and excessive glory, with a demand that all providers have to renew with the new system by December 31 of this year. What are providers supposed to believe? I am personally choosing to believe Ms. Sarvello, and I advise the NCB to update the website immediately! Any time there is an update in information and/or policy, the stakeholders need to know that, and having incorrect information on the website for these past few weeks is just inexcusable. I am calling out the NCB to clear up this mass confusion right now by making DAILY updates if necessary. Even a message that says “Sorry, we haven’t decided what to do, so no action is expected of you at this time” would be superior to the incorrect instructions that are still posted. <a href="http://lauraallenmt.com/blog/2013/02/24/blowin-in-the-wind/" target="_blank">READ MORE....</a></p>An Alternative to CE Regulation (in the nick of time)tag:massageprofessionals.com,2013-02-11:2887274:BlogPost:3042512013-02-11T14:37:09.000ZLaura Allenhttps://massageprofessionals.com/profile/LauraAllen
<p>As I’ve written about on this blog, the <a href="http://www.ncbtmb.org" target="_blank" title="NCBTMB">NCBTMB</a> has been trying to roll out an “upgraded” scheme to regulate the entire world of continuing education. After all, their stated mission is “To define and advance the highest standards in the massage and bodywork profession.” (Doesn’t that give them free rein to tell the rest of us what to do?) Apparently, NCB wasn’t satisfied with just approving CE providers – now they want to…</p>
<p>As I’ve written about on this blog, the <a title="NCBTMB" href="http://www.ncbtmb.org" target="_blank">NCBTMB</a> has been trying to roll out an “upgraded” scheme to regulate the entire world of continuing education. After all, their stated mission is “To define and advance the highest standards in the massage and bodywork profession.” (Doesn’t that give them free rein to tell the rest of us what to do?) Apparently, NCB wasn’t satisfied with just approving CE providers – now they want to require the thousands of CE courses to pass through their hands as well. Go back to my posts from November 18, December 28 and January 8 to read about the many problems that are likely to come up if NCB’s new <a title="Board Approved Continuing Education Provider Program" href="http://www.ncbtmb.org/continuing-education-providers/board-approved-continuing-education-provider-program" target="_blank"><em>Board Approved Continuing Education Provider Program</em></a> comes to pass.</p>
<p>If this wasn’t bad enough, along comes the <a title="FSMTB" href="http://www.fsmtb.org" target="_blank">FSMTB</a> who have announced they are jumping into the CE approval game with their own new approval process. They’re calling for volunteers to serve on three different committees that will build and operate a whole deal that will be separate from what NCB is planning.</p>
<p>We already have too many different CE approval hoops for providers to jump through. It’s just plain crazy for FSMTB to be looking at putting another national approval scheme on the map. The feedback I get is that many CE providers are already struggling with the challenges of the economy and the burdens of CE regulation. If nothing changes, things are about to go from bad to worse in the CE community. <a href="http://lauraallenmt.com/blog/2013/02/11/an-alternative-to-ce-regulation-just-in-the-nick-of-time/" target="_blank">READ MORE...</a></p>Caught Between Hubris and The Grudgetag:massageprofessionals.com,2013-01-08:2887274:BlogPost:2962242013-01-08T11:30:02.000ZLaura Allenhttps://massageprofessionals.com/profile/LauraAllen
<p>All the talk in recent weeks of the “fiscal cliff” and the refusal of the Republicans and the Democrats to play nice together in the interest of the highest common good reminds me of the current situation between the NCBTMB and the FSMTB.</p>
<p>The NCB is operating from <strong>hubris</strong> (not to mention cluelessness), as they continue to put forth wrong-headed initiatives for the field. The latest plan to do away with organizational approval for CE providers is just the latest in a…</p>
<p>All the talk in recent weeks of the “fiscal cliff” and the refusal of the Republicans and the Democrats to play nice together in the interest of the highest common good reminds me of the current situation between the NCBTMB and the FSMTB.</p>
<p>The NCB is operating from <strong>hubris</strong> (not to mention cluelessness), as they continue to put forth wrong-headed initiatives for the field. The latest plan to do away with organizational approval for CE providers is just the latest in a stream of missteps from the organization. They rolled that sudden announcement out like it was the best thing since sliced bread, and providers are choking on it. The application to become an approved provider has been totally removed from their website in the last day or two. I think they might be revisiting some of that plan in response to the unfavorable reception, which has included rumblings of boycotting the organization.</p>
<p>FSMTB is doing their own thing with the MBLEx well enough–in fact, extremely well, but when it comes to dealing with NCBTMB, it appears that the leadership of the FSMTB would rather see the organization fail than lift a hand to help them. They appear to be bearing a huge <strong>grudge</strong> over the way NCB has treated the Federation, and their unwillingness to move beyond that is stopping progress at the whole-profession level.</p>
<p>In case you’re uninformed, the NCBTMB has had their exam removed in a few states, and they have successfully legally challenged and won those challenges. That doesn’t sit well with the Federation, who would like to see the MBLEx as the only exam for entry-level massage licensing.</p>
<p>The NCB needs to get out of the entry-level exam business, in my opinion, but they can’t afford to right now. I believe they were depending on the organizational approval going away to be the cash cow that would bail them out and make them financially strong again. <a href="http://lauraallenmt.com/blog/2013/01/08/caught-between-hubris-and-the-grudge/" target="_blank">READ MORE...</a></p>CE Providers React to NCBTMB New Approval Plantag:massageprofessionals.com,2012-12-29:2887274:BlogPost:2942052012-12-29T15:45:46.000ZLaura Allenhttps://massageprofessionals.com/profile/LauraAllen
<p>In the past couple of weeks since the NCBTMB unveiled their new plan for CE providers, which includes doing away with organizational approval, the reaction of providers has for the most part been very negative–and frankly I’m not surprised. The long-standing organizations who are providing quality continuing education approved feel, for the most part, that the organization they have supported for many years is throwing them under the bus.</p>
<p>Some of the main concerns that I have heard…</p>
<p>In the past couple of weeks since the NCBTMB unveiled their new plan for CE providers, which includes doing away with organizational approval, the reaction of providers has for the most part been very negative–and frankly I’m not surprised. The long-standing organizations who are providing quality continuing education approved feel, for the most part, that the organization they have supported for many years is throwing them under the bus.</p>
<p>Some of the main concerns that I have heard are from providers who have created proprietary classes and who have trained and approved their own instructors to go out and teach their work. They are now faced with the instructors that they have invested time and money in training and marketing classes for going out on their own, taking copyrighted teaching manuals and proprietary handouts with them, and acting as if they are under no obligation pay the percentage or per-student charge that they have agreed to pay as teaching members of the organizations. Those same instructors who have been mentored and marketed under our organizations are now saying “we’ll just be out on our own after 2014.” They are making it clear that they feel free to take our proprietary materials away with them—because the new rules are basically blessing that—and never give the organization that put them where they are another dime.</p>
<p>Those who have organizational approval do not <strong>want</strong> unqualified people teaching for their organizations and misrepresenting their good names, and have gone to considerable effort and expense to make sure that is not the case. While there is certainly nothing wrong with requiring us to provide proof of that, taking all instructors from under our organizational umbrella and putting them out there on their own is also going to create logistical nightmares. The organization has been responsible for collecting and maintaining registration forms, evaluation forms, etc. and issuing CE. In the case of Upledger, for example, now instead of one organization handling those administrative tasks, there will be more than 100 separate instructors keeping up with that. The organization will have no control and no more quality assurance that they will be able to exercise. <a href="http://lauraallenmt.com/blog/2012/12/28/ce-providers-react-to-ncbtmbs-new-approval-plan/" target="_blank">READ MORE...</a></p>The Financial Health of Our Organizations: FSMTBtag:massageprofessionals.com,2012-12-14:2887274:BlogPost:2916062012-12-14T20:23:51.000ZLaura Allenhttps://massageprofessionals.com/profile/LauraAllen
<p><strong>Note: For the past few years I have done a series of reports on the financial status of the non-profit organizations that represent the massage therapy profession. I obtain this information from <a href="http://www.guidestar.org" title="Guidestar">Guidestar</a>, a financial information clearinghouse for non-profits. The organizations can provide their Form 990 (Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax) to Guidestar, and if they don’t, the IRS does it for them. I will state for…</strong></p>
<p><strong>Note: For the past few years I have done a series of reports on the financial status of the non-profit organizations that represent the massage therapy profession. I obtain this information from <a title="Guidestar" href="http://www.guidestar.org">Guidestar</a>, a financial information clearinghouse for non-profits. The organizations can provide their Form 990 (Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax) to Guidestar, and if they don’t, the IRS does it for them. I will state for the record that I am not an accountant or a financial analyst; I just report what I see (and maybe offer a few opinions). I usually get asked the question every year why I am not reporting on ABMP. Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals is a privately-owned for-profit company, and they are not obligated to release their financial information. Non-profits are on a different filing schedule than the rest of us, and there is variance amongst them in when their fiscal year ends. The deadline for filing is the 15th day of the fifth month after the end of their fiscal year. An organization can also request and receive up to two 90-day extensions, and due to the number who haven’t filed yet for 2011, it appears that some of them have done that.</strong></p>
<p>It’s business as usual at the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards…they’re rolling in the dough, and they appear to be immune to the slow economy. For the fiscal year ending 06/30/2011, they are showing a total gross revenue of over $4.3 million, well over a million dollars up from the previous year. Their total assets increased in a year’s time by almost $1.3 million, while their liabilities went down to less than $16,000—down from over $218,000 the previous year. Their net revenue after expenses is almost $1.5 million, up over $490K since the previous year. Their theme song could be “We’re in the money.”</p>
<p>One difference in the Federation and other organizations is that their Board members do not receive any reportable compensation. The only compensation listed on the form for key personnel is that of Executive Director Debra Persinger, who was paid $196,324 and received an additional $23,039, which is just listed as “other compensation from the organization and related organizations.” <a href="http://lauraallenmt.com/blog/2012/12/14/the-financial-health-of-our-organizations-fsmtb-2/" target="_blank">READ MORE....</a></p>The Financial Health of Our Organizations: NCBTMBtag:massageprofessionals.com,2012-11-29:2887274:BlogPost:2885802012-11-29T21:17:53.000ZLaura Allenhttps://massageprofessionals.com/profile/LauraAllen
<p><strong>Note: For the past few years I have done a series of reports on the financial status of the non-profit organizations that represent the massage therapy profession. I obtain this information from <a href="http://www.guidestar.org" title="Guidestar">Guidestar</a>, a financial information clearinghouse for non-profits. The organizations can provide their Form 990 (Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax) to Guidestar, and if they don’t, the IRS does it for them. I will state for…</strong></p>
<p><strong>Note: For the past few years I have done a series of reports on the financial status of the non-profit organizations that represent the massage therapy profession. I obtain this information from <a title="Guidestar" href="http://www.guidestar.org">Guidestar</a>, a financial information clearinghouse for non-profits. The organizations can provide their Form 990 (Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax) to Guidestar, and if they don’t, the IRS does it for them. I will state for the record that I am not an accountant or a financial analyst; I just report what I see (and maybe offer a few opinions). I usually get asked the question every year why I am not reporting on ABMP. Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals is a privately-owned for-profit company, and they are not obligated to release their financial information. Non-profits are on a different filing schedule than the rest of us, and there is variance amongst them in when their fiscal year ends. The deadline for filing is the 15th day of the fifth month after the end of their fiscal year. An organization can also request and receive up to two 90-day extensions, and due to the number who haven’t filed yet for 2011, it appears that some of them have done that.<br/></strong></p>
<p><a title="NCBTMB" href="http://www.ncbtmb.org">The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork</a> has filed their 2011 Form 990 in a timely manner so I’m going to start with them this year. I’ll be following that up with my report on the <a title="FSMTB" href="http://www.fsmtb.org">Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards</a>. The financial status of these two organizations are intertwined for one reason: since it’s introduction in 2008, the MBLEx has taken a substantial market share of the entry-level exam market away from the NCBTMB. For many years, the NCBTMB exams were enjoying a monopoly, except for the few states that require their own exam.</p>
<p>In 2008, the first year that the MBLEx was available, the NCBTMB’s revenue from exams was in excess of $6 million. By 2011, that had dropped to $3,380,813. Instead of a monopoly, they had a 47% share of the market. I confess that I was expecting it to be even less, since the Federation has relentlessly encouraged their member states to use the MBLEx exclusively. I think the fact that the NCBTMB has retained as much as they have is proof that plan has not yet come to fruition. The income at the NCBTMB from people recertifying dropped by a little over $5k, and sales of their exam guide were down about $17k. Sales of their mailing list also took about a $20k hit this year. <a href="http://lauraallenmt.com/blog/2012/11/29/the-financial-health-of-our-organizations-ncbtmb-3/" target="_blank">READ MORE...</a></p>NCBTMB Making Major Changes to CE Provider Approvalstag:massageprofessionals.com,2012-11-18:2887274:BlogPost:2857812012-11-18T13:37:19.000ZLaura Allenhttps://massageprofessionals.com/profile/LauraAllen
<p><strong>Disclosure: I have agreed to pass along comments, questions and concerns to the NCBTMB on this matter, and the management there reads my blog. They are fully aware that I use this blog to express my own opinion whether it is in line with theirs or not.</strong> <strong>Your comments here will be seen by the CEO, Mike Williams, and the Board of Directors.</strong></p>
<p>The NCBTMB has announced major changes in the works to their Approved Provider program for continuing education.…</p>
<p><strong>Disclosure: I have agreed to pass along comments, questions and concerns to the NCBTMB on this matter, and the management there reads my blog. They are fully aware that I use this blog to express my own opinion whether it is in line with theirs or not.</strong> <strong>Your comments here will be seen by the CEO, Mike Williams, and the Board of Directors.</strong></p>
<p>The NCBTMB has announced major changes in the works to their Approved Provider program for continuing education. <a title="NCBTMB Approved Providers" href="http://www.ncbtmb.org/continuing-education-providers/board-approved-continuing-education-provider-program">You can read those here.</a>They have also set up a page for Frequently Asked Questions about it, and <a title="FAQ Approved Providers" href="http://www.ncbtmb.org/continuing-education-providers/approved-providers-faq">you can read those here.</a></p>
<p>As soon as they sent out the press release I started getting emails and FB messages from people asking questions about it, some applauding it, and some complaining about it.The biggest change is that they will no longer be offering organizational approval. Every individual who teaches a continuing education class will need to obtain individual approval as a provider. That’s going to affect a LOT of entities: AMTA, the American Massage Conference, massage schools, and other organizations who have previously been able to take people in under their umbrella.</p>
<p>It’s affecting <em>me</em>, personally. I have organizational approval myself. I normally host a dozen or more teachers at my facility each year, and while 90% of them are approved providers in their own right, a couple are not. I don’t perceive it to be such a big deal for me…it’s not going to be a problem for them to get their own approval, and I have until the end of 2013 to prod them along into doing so. <strong>All who are approved as organizations have until the end of 2013 to get your act together and come into compliance under the new rules.</strong></p>
<p>One of the first complaints, naturally, was about money, and people having to pay yet another expense. Organizational approval up to this point has cost $400. In reality, an organization that only has two teachers has been paying the same amount as one that has twenty, and that’s not really fair. Under the new paradigm, approvals will cost $175 and will last for three years. You must also pay a $25 fee for each class you submit to be reviewed. <a href="http://lauraallenmt.com/blog/2012/11/18/ncbtmb-making-major-changes-to-ce-provider-approvals/" target="_blank">READ MORE...</a></p>"Because It Works" is Not Enough.tag:massageprofessionals.com,2012-11-16:2887274:BlogPost:2856362012-11-16T18:48:51.000ZWalt Fritz, PThttps://massageprofessionals.com/profile/WaltFritzPT
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<p>“I don’t see how knowing the science behind my work will improve what I do…”</p>
<p>“I don’t care about the science behind it, as long as it works…”</p>
<p>“The evidence does not matter, it is results that matter…”</p>
<p>“Stop talking about things I don’t care about…”</p>
<p>“Shut up…”</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Do any of these statements sound familiar? Have you said any of them yourself? It may be the places I frequent on the internet,…</p>
<div class="headline_area"></div>
<p>“I don’t see how knowing the science behind my work will improve what I do…”</p>
<p>“I don’t care about the science behind it, as long as it works…”</p>
<p>“The evidence does not matter, it is results that matter…”</p>
<p>“Stop talking about things I don’t care about…”</p>
<p>“Shut up…”</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Do any of these statements sound familiar? Have you said any of them yourself? It may be the places I frequent on the internet, but these are hot topics of discussion/argument. I’ve spoken a bit about this over the past few months, but I wish to elaborate further, especially when it comes to myofascial release. To put things very simply, when I place my hands on a patient and gently direct pressures in a certain fashion, pain fades or goes away. If life was simple, there would be no need to say anything more and continuing education seminars would be over before they started. “Just place your hands on your patient, gently direct the pressure in a certain way, and the pain will lessen or go away”. Heck, college or professional education training programs would be a lot quicker as well. Learning a methodology of treatment is not quite that easy, though it need not be difficult. Learning what to “look” for, in order to determine where to treat, takes a bit of teaching, but the process is really quite simple. At its core, myofascial release is simple. That is, if you believe what they tell you about what is happening under your hands. Here is where the “who cares, as long as it works” often will be voiced. Who cares if it is the fascia we are intervening upon, or the muscle/joint/bone/nerve/ether/spirits/energy, as long as it works!!! YOU should care.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Time for a confession; I used to say the same things. I believed what I was told in my myofascial release training and collected “research” that proved it so. Why did I place quotation marks around the word research, you might ask? Because all of what I collected (and there was a lot of it, you can still <a href="http://www.waltfritzseminars.com/myofascialresource/resources/research" target="_blank">see it all here</a>…but closer to the bottom now) showed that myofascial release has been used successfully in a wide range of studies. These showed that what the tester did with their hands helped to achieve the intended effect. It did NOT, however, prove the WHY’S of what was happening, which is the bone of contention with many disbelievers in MFR and many other modalities. And now I understand why.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Anyone can design a case study, perform it, and send it in for submission to a journal. Well, OK, maybe it takes understanding of the basics of research to do it correctly, but we all have that capability. But read through the dozens of studies on the research page of my website. Let’s use this study as an example: Effectiveness of Myofascial Release in Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis: A RCT. (#76 on my <a href="http://www.waltfritzseminars.com/myofascialresource/resources/research" target="_blank">research page</a>). What the researchers did was to take two groups of people who suffered from plantar fasciitis. One group was given ultrasound, strengthening exercise, standard stretching, and contrast baths, while with the second group a standardized myofascial release treatment was added to the other treatments. Pain and function improved more with the myofascial release group. So what does this prove? To me, it proves that what the testers performed with their hands made the difference. It does nothing to prove the basic tenats upon which myofascial release is based, specifically, “By myofascial release there is a change in the viscosity of the ground substance to a more fluid state which eliminates the fascia’s excessive pressure on the pain sensitive structure and restores proper alignment.” It does give a reference, but it is simply relying on previous OLD science to move the study forward.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">So, we have established that most of the research on myofascial release does nothing to prove that it works the way people say it does. So what to do? Start looking at the current trend in pain science, for starters. In previous posts I have pointed to many places where the reader can go to begin to learn. On my <a href="http://www.waltfritzseminars.com/myofascialresource/resources/research" target="_blank">Research Page</a>, I have also given a number of examples where the reader may begin to read through some really intelligent and PLAUSIBLE explanations for pain and its remediation. The research from all fronts (even the fascia research), is pointing to a neuroscience-based model to explain the changes we feel under our hands.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">So, why is “because it works” not enough? With every new discovery comes change. As we become more accurate in explaining how our therapeutic interventions elicit change, we will discover newer ways to be more focused and accurate with our results. For me, saying “because it works” was due to laziness. I had doubts, but it was a lot of work to begin to even scratch the surface of plausibility. I’m less lazy now.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Anoop T. Balachandran wrote a blog post recently entitled “<a href="http://www.exercisebiology.com/index.php/site/articles/all_i_care_about_are_results_and_not_evidence_or_science/" target="_blank">All I care about are results, not evidence or science</a>“. Give it a read.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">As an aside, a few months ago I was asked to answer a questionnaire for a national massage magazine, regarding myofascial release and fascial therapy. It was quite extensive and I took my time, using much of my recent acquired knowledge to dispel a few myths. Unfortunately what came to press today was a far cry from what I wrote. You decide for yourself.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The article: <a href="https://www.amtamassage.org/articles/3/MTJ/detail/2684" target="_blank">Fascial Therapy</a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.waltfritzseminars.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Massage-Therapy-Journal-Article.doc" target="_blank">What I actually wrote</a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">For now,</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Walt Fritz, PT</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Vbxp6adnlSc?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe>
</p>My Thoughts on the Election 2012tag:massageprofessionals.com,2012-10-28:2887274:BlogPost:2816022012-10-28T14:47:26.000ZLaura Allenhttps://massageprofessionals.com/profile/LauraAllen
<p>I’m taking a break from talking about massage this week.</p>
<p>I’ve always hated election time. All the constant television ads, telemarketing phone calls from political action committees, and all the rest of it. And now that we have social media to vent our opinions on, it just seems to be magnified a thousandfold.</p>
<p>I have always mostly stayed out of the fray. I don’t discuss politics (or religion) with clients at my office. If any of them bring up those subjects, if it’s in a…</p>
<p>I’m taking a break from talking about massage this week.</p>
<p>I’ve always hated election time. All the constant television ads, telemarketing phone calls from political action committees, and all the rest of it. And now that we have social media to vent our opinions on, it just seems to be magnified a thousandfold.</p>
<p>I have always mostly stayed out of the fray. I don’t discuss politics (or religion) with clients at my office. If any of them bring up those subjects, if it’s in a general tone, I let it pass. If they start with specifics, I usually say “You’re here to relax, and a debate is not relaxing. Let’s focus on your (neck, back, whatever) instead and see if we can help you feel better.”</p>
<p>I haven’t said a word about my choice of candidates until a couple of weeks ago. I have several thousand massage therapists on my social networks, and other friends from all walks of life as well. I have seen some of them nearly working themselves up to a heart attack with their political rants on FB. I no longer see them posting pictures of their kids or their dog or talking about their day; it’s all politics, all the time.</p>
<p>Then one day, I thought to myself, I just can’t be quiet any longer. I’ve worried about offending people, but then again, in the past five years, nearly every blog I’ve ever written has offended people. I’ve had people un-friend me on social networks on account of my blog. I’ve ticked off not only individuals, but entire companies and organizations with my revelations and opinions about the politics of massage, and in the general scheme of things, I’m not known for keeping my mouth shut. So in the past couple of weeks, I’ve been letting my opinions be known, and like other people who are doing the same on FB, facilitating some juicy arguments. <a href="http://lauraallenmt.com/blog/2012/10/28/my-thoughts-on-the-election-2012/" target="_blank">READ MORE...</a></p>The Exploitation of Massage Therapiststag:massageprofessionals.com,2012-10-21:2887274:BlogPost:2807352012-10-21T15:46:01.000ZLaura Allenhttps://massageprofessionals.com/profile/LauraAllen
<p>Ever since <a href="http://lauraallenmt.com/blog/2012/10/15/massage-envy-ill-take-an-order-of-wings-with-that-massage-please/">my last post about Massage Envy being sold to a giant conglomerate</a>, I’ve been sent dozens of links to message boards and discussions about ME, and many of them contain references to other work places and situations as well. The horror stories outweigh the good by about twenty to one.</p>
<p>There are a lot of places where massage therapists are expected to do…</p>
<p>Ever since <a href="http://lauraallenmt.com/blog/2012/10/15/massage-envy-ill-take-an-order-of-wings-with-that-massage-please/">my last post about Massage Envy being sold to a giant conglomerate</a>, I’ve been sent dozens of links to message boards and discussions about ME, and many of them contain references to other work places and situations as well. The horror stories outweigh the good by about twenty to one.</p>
<p>There are a lot of places where massage therapists are expected to do back to back massages all day…one woman commented that she was not entitled any break at all until she had done a full 8 hours of massage. That’s not a break; that’s time to go home. Others stated that they are expected to take no more than ten minutes in between clients. By the time you change the sheets, wash your hands and use the bathroom, ten minutes is gone. No time to just <i>breathe</i> for a moment.</p>
<p>I’ve always received a lot of complaints from people who are classified as independent contractors but treated as if they are employees…expected to hang around for <i>no pay</i> if they don’t have clients, on the chance that someone <i>might</i> walk in the door wanting a massage. And expected to do laundry, desk duty, work health fair events on behalf of the business, scrub the bathrooms and whatever else the establishment owner comes up with, all without compensation.</p>
<p>Then there’s the compensation itself. Most of the messages about Massage Envy state that their starting pay is $15 an hour plus tips. However, don’t get the idea that they’re the only guilty party. One therapist on my FB page stated that her local hospital was hiring therapists and paying them $12 an hour. A local chiropractor in my town tried to hire away one of my staff members and offered her 9.00 an hour. After she recovered from a fit of hysterical laughter and informed him she makes $42 an hour, she said he almost had a heart attack from the mere thought of a massage therapist being paid that much. Another woman on a message board stated that an upscale day spa in Atlanta offered her $10 an hour, and was told upfront that she would be expected to do between 30-40 massages per week. And this is a place where a 50-minute massage is $90! I just heard from a therapist yesterday who does massage in a chiropractic office. Although she was offered $25 an hour, she is expected to wait until the insurance money arrives in order to get paid. Since I file a lot of insurance myself, I can vouch for the fact that sometimes takes 6-8 weeks. She’s been there for a month and hasn’t seen one red cent yet. And is expected to be on the premises all day (at no pay) whether she has clients or not. <a href="http://lauraallenmt.com/blog/2012/10/21/the-exploitation-of-massage-therapists/" target="_blank">READ MORE...</a></p>Massage Envy: I'll take an order of wings with that massage, please.tag:massageprofessionals.com,2012-10-15:2887274:BlogPost:2795382012-10-15T14:30:00.000ZLaura Allenhttps://massageprofessionals.com/profile/LauraAllen
<p>What do chicken wings, magnetic signs, garbage collection, pet food and massage all have in common? They are all products or services offered by franchises that are owned by Roark Capital Group of Atlanta, Georgia. This company has invested $3 Billion Dollars in collections of franchises across the US and around the world. Their latest acquisiiton is the chain of more than 800 <a href="http://www.massageenvy.com" title="Massager Envy">Massage Envy</a>locations, which has brought massage to…</p>
<p>What do chicken wings, magnetic signs, garbage collection, pet food and massage all have in common? They are all products or services offered by franchises that are owned by Roark Capital Group of Atlanta, Georgia. This company has invested $3 Billion Dollars in collections of franchises across the US and around the world. Their latest acquisiiton is the chain of more than 800 <a title="Massager Envy" href="http://www.massageenvy.com">Massage Envy</a>locations, which has brought massage to the masses, and is now grossing about $1 Billion Dollars per year.</p>
<p>Massage Envy has often been referred to as the McDonald’s of massage. Actually, we have to leave McDonald’s out, but we can include Arby’s, Cinnabon, Carvel Ice Cream, Auntie Anne’s (the pretzel people), Schlotzsky’s, WingStop, Seattle’s Best, McFornaio, McAlistar’s Deli, Moe’s Southwest Grill, and the Corner Bakery.</p>
<p>Along with all these food venues, Roark also owns the Atkins diet brand–I guess after you get fat on all the fast food, they’re ready to slim you down with the diet stuff–as well as pet stores, several garbage pickup companies, a truck washing company, and more.</p>
<p>I have come to the defense of Massage Envy many times. They provide employment for about 16,000 massage therapists, many of whom are students fresh out of school. <a href="http://lauraallenmt.com/blog/2012/10/15/massage-envy-ill-take-an-order-of-wings-with-that-massage-please/" target="_blank">READ MORE...</a></p>Cross Pollinationtag:massageprofessionals.com,2012-09-22:2887274:BlogPost:2770452012-09-22T22:28:33.000ZWalt Fritz, PThttps://massageprofessionals.com/profile/WaltFritzPT
<p>I was recently listening to a radio show from a local NPR affiliate. The interview was with the director of a dance company that pioneer an innovative form of dance done while dangling from ropes on the sides of buildings. She described their work as a “cross pollination of various dance forms”. That term resonated with me and where I am attempting to evolve my Foundations in Myofascial Release Seminars.</p>
<p>These of you who have been following my posts for the past few months may see a…</p>
<p>I was recently listening to a radio show from a local NPR affiliate. The interview was with the director of a dance company that pioneer an innovative form of dance done while dangling from ropes on the sides of buildings. She described their work as a “cross pollination of various dance forms”. That term resonated with me and where I am attempting to evolve my Foundations in Myofascial Release Seminars.</p>
<p>These of you who have been following my posts for the past few months may see a pattern. Change, growth, and knowledge are all good things to strive for, at least I believe so. But, I think I’ve left myself sitting on a bridge alone. The bridge is between traditional myofascial release and newer models of neuroscience-based therapy. Many in the myofascial release community have branded me a traitor for speaking against the “fascia is king” tribal mentality, while those ensconced in the neuro world feel I’ve not abandoned the concepts of the mesodermal world that they abhor. Oh well, I’m kinda happy sitting right on the bridge, looking at what both worlds have to contribute. I do understand that many of my new acquaintances have paved a path through much of what I still hold on to. They have already determined form themselves that fascia is nothing more than a placeholder in the body and have little patience for those who still heap praise on fascia. I am grateful for what they have taught me thus far and what I hope they continue to teach. But I ask for patience, as their pace is not mine. As for those who feel betrayed…get over it! You are still on your private chatline spreading your lies.</p>
<p>The therapy world is such a polarized place at times. My profession of physical therapy has immersed themselves in an evidence-based mindset that confuses me every day. Many of the patients that I see have been to “traditional” physical therapy, where pain was treated as a result of weakness. Strengthening did little and made many of them worse. True, I do not see the people who were helped by this therapy, but since when does weakness hurt? But PT’s continue to strengthen with no real regard for tightness. Is this evidence-based practice? I do appreciate looking at therapy from a science based perspective, though. Does what you are saying and doing make sense? That is where I am trying to go.</p>
<p>I have had some pretty interesting changes in my clients over the past few weeks since incorporating new neuromodulatory techniques, as well as novel uses for kinesiotape. I shared these with the therapists at my last seminar in Rochester last weekend and the feedback was great. How does this fit in with MFR? Pretty well, so far. I do believe that at some point I will drop MFR as a name for what I do and teach, but not yet…the pollen is still crossing!</p>
<p>For now,</p>
<p>Walt Fritz, PT</p>
<p><a href="http://www.waltfritzseminars.com/myofascialresource/foundations-in-myofascial-release-seminars/upcoming-seminars" target="_blank">Foundations in Myofascial Release Seminars</a></p>