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There's an article, in the just released issue of Massage and Bodywork, by Diana Thompson on Somatic Research; pages 116-121. 

 

Would love to hear what everyone thinks. Did you think this was readable? Does it help you understand research?

 

Do you just not give a hoot one way or another because we've talked this to death?

 

Click here to read the digital version.

 

Thanks for your input everyone.

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Hi Robin . I found the article quite readable, and described the hierarchy of research methods relative to the "gold standard". As a researcher and fascial explorer, RCT's are foreign to me because of the subjective nature of results obtained from soft tissue work. In structural integration however, things are a little more concrete. Curiously, my discovery of a previously undescribed structural element in the lumbar area has escaped notice, probably because it has come from an area other than funded academia. Some colleagues in response to reading my stuff have welcomed "real science" where the only basic requisite is an idea that makes sense, stands up to scrutiny and is supported by other studies. If you write to me I'll be happy to send you an example. Cheers Peter
Hi Peter,

Thanks for your comments. I found your article The Migratory Fascia Hypothesis and have added it near the top of my pile of reading; looks great, congratulations on your discovery and effort.

I am a LMT and student researcher; which basically means I work on other people's ideas for now. I am learning lots, however, from a very experience team who use and promote whole systems research (WSR). WSR puts an equal emphasis on subjective vs objective observations; it's often referred to as qualitative and quantitative methods.

Research literacy is just being introduced here in basic MT training. I often hear from MT's they wish they'd had the training and would like some intro class to be made available. Diana has done her best to explain research in a readable fashion. Students tell me its their least favorite class but efforts are underway to change that perception.

A few questions, if you don't mind? How is research literacy currently introduced to students in Australia? How many hours are currently required to graduate and what are the CEU's required for re-licensing?


Peter Lelean said:
Hi Robin . I found the article quite readable, and described the hierarchy of research methods relative to the "gold standard". As a researcher and fascial explorer, RCT's are foreign to me because of the subjective nature of results obtained from soft tissue work. In structural integration however, things are a little more concrete. Curiously, my discovery of a previously undescribed structural element in the lumbar area has escaped notice, probably because it has come from an area other than funded academia. Some colleagues in response to reading my stuff have welcomed "real science" where the only basic requisite is an idea that makes sense, stands up to scrutiny and is supported by other studies. If you write to me I'll be happy to send you an example. Cheers Peter
Hi Robin, thanks for the reply. Please visit www.aamt.com.au/Journals/Spring2008/Spr08-AMRF.pdf
In Australia we are at the same stage. Also www.aamt.com.au is worth an explore. Keep in touch! Best regards, Peter

Robin Byler Thomas said:
Hi Peter,

Thanks for your comments. I found your article The Migratory Fascia Hypothesis and have added it near the top of my pile of reading; looks great, congratulations on your discovery and effort.

I am a LMT and student researcher; which basically means I work on other people's ideas for now. I am learning lots, however, from a very experience team who use and promote whole systems research (WSR). WSR puts an equal emphasis on subjective vs objective observations; it's often referred to as qualitative and quantitative methods.

Research literacy is just being introduced here in basic MT training. I often hear from MT's they wish they'd had the training and would like some intro class to be made available. Diana has done her best to explain research in a readable fashion. Students tell me its their least favorite class but efforts are underway to change that perception.

A few questions, if you don't mind? How is research literacy currently introduced to students in Australia? How many hours are currently required to graduate and what are the CEU's required for re-licensing?


Peter Lelean said:
Hi Robin . I found the article quite readable, and described the hierarchy of research methods relative to the "gold standard". As a researcher and fascial explorer, RCT's are foreign to me because of the subjective nature of results obtained from soft tissue work. In structural integration however, things are a little more concrete. Curiously, my discovery of a previously undescribed structural element in the lumbar area has escaped notice, probably because it has come from an area other than funded academia. Some colleagues in response to reading my stuff have welcomed "real science" where the only basic requisite is an idea that makes sense, stands up to scrutiny and is supported by other studies. If you write to me I'll be happy to send you an example. Cheers Peter
Congrats on Australia's own Massage Therapy Foundation Peter; thanks for the links.

There's an article in the recently released IJTMB that supports what we've been discussing and can be found here. It's called The Use of Mixed Methods for Therapeutic Massage Research.
Hi Robin . . thanks for the link. I waded in to about half depth then abandoned all thoughts of swimming in that verbose academic soup! Hope you're not one of the cooks . . apologies. Rescued several people today from chronic afflictions using the usual tried and tested protocols - or "post-experiential established paradigms" (!) Back to the coalface now . . a rickety neck followed by an inguinal hernia the size of a california lemon. The joys of bodywork . . . Cheers Peter

Robin Byler Thomas said:
Congrats on Australia's own Massage Therapy Foundation Peter; thanks for the links.

There's an article in the recently released IJTMB that supports what we've been discussing and can be found here. It's called The Use of Mixed Methods for Therapeutic Massage Research.
Ok Peter, I had to read your article twice.

Does the migratory fascia stay in place after you've relocated it?

Peter Lelean said:
Hi Robin . I found the article quite readable, and described the hierarchy of research methods relative to the "gold standard". As a researcher and fascial explorer, RCT's are foreign to me because of the subjective nature of results obtained from soft tissue work. In structural integration however, things are a little more concrete. Curiously, my discovery of a previously undescribed structural element in the lumbar area has escaped notice, probably because it has come from an area other than funded academia. Some colleagues in response to reading my stuff have welcomed "real science" where the only basic requisite is an idea that makes sense, stands up to scrutiny and is supported by other studies. If you write to me I'll be happy to send you an example. Cheers Peter
I have to say I only glanced through it because I have this love/hate relationship with research. I think there was something in the beginning that I didn't understand so it made it hard to focus on the rest of it all. I frankly don't understand anything at all about research and wish someone would put it into real life terms - what does it mean when I go to work on my next client? What does it mean for my career? I actually have been thinking of approaching the massage foundation and ask them to teach me about research and then I will write about it on a 7th grade reading level which are the new requirements for many gov't documents! (I heard that from the WA State Board!)

Julie
Hi Robin. The migrated fascia often stays when reset, providing there is no gross trauma. If the fascia has been misplaced for years, adaptation can grow fibrous reinforcements, collateral recruitment patterns can change. Generally the fascia can be consolidated in the homeostatic position in a couple of sessions. Sometimes, as in trochanteric bursitis, errant fascia can be reset in seconds, enabling the iliac fascia and the usual posteriorly rotated innom to be relocated with more facility. Sometimes you can hear the click of the (Lelean's?) ligament slotting back over the crest. This relates to the tyre analogy in the paper. Hope that helps. Cheers Peter

Robin Byler Thomas said:
Ok Peter, I had to read your article twice.

Does the migratory fascia stay in place after you've relocated it?

Peter Lelean said:
Hi Robin . I found the article quite readable, and described the hierarchy of research methods relative to the "gold standard". As a researcher and fascial explorer, RCT's are foreign to me because of the subjective nature of results obtained from soft tissue work. In structural integration however, things are a little more concrete. Curiously, my discovery of a previously undescribed structural element in the lumbar area has escaped notice, probably because it has come from an area other than funded academia. Some colleagues in response to reading my stuff have welcomed "real science" where the only basic requisite is an idea that makes sense, stands up to scrutiny and is supported by other studies. If you write to me I'll be happy to send you an example. Cheers Peter
Hi Julie,

Thanks for your input; it's really useful. I will keep your statement about writing to a 7th grade level in my mind always; keep it simple.

Research articles are difficult to read, partly, because the authors are writing to many different types of readers (other researchers, peer reviewers, the industry, and hopefully the public). Partly, because as we become more educated and more immersed in the research format we become more removed from clinical practise.

Recently, I was asked to "shelve" my practise to fully immerse myself in the academic pursuit. The pressure to do this has been oft repeated since returning to academia and I've resisted even as I've watched my practice get smaller and smaller. I have to keep my hands on because it's my link to reality and why I returned to school in the first place.

If I could make a few suggestions when reading research articles that have made it easier for me over the past few years:

Read the abstract first; starting with the first sentence, objectives, or what the researchers set out to do. Then read the conclusion. If it interests you, then read everything in between. Skip over anything that is overwhelming or isn't clear to you, but keep reading. It may make sense later in the article, if you choose to go that far.

Alot of the recent research is working to make their articles more translatable by including a piece, usually near the conclusion, about what this means to clinical practise. The Canadians include a "Plain Language Summary" right after the abstract.

You're voicing what many have said; I've heard it referred to as "translation in research" or "from the bench to the table". It's important we're reminded regularly; thanks Julie.

BTW, what stopped you in the beginning of this article? Maybe we could help make sense of it?

Thank you Peter, for the clarification on your research article.



Julie Onofrio said:
I have to say I only glanced through it because I have this love/hate relationship with research. I think there was something in the beginning that I didn't understand so it made it hard to focus on the rest of it all. I frankly don't understand anything at all about research and wish someone would put it into real life terms - what does it mean when I go to work on my next client? What does it mean for my career? I actually have been thinking of approaching the massage foundation and ask them to teach me about research and then I will write about it on a 7th grade reading level which are the new requirements for many gov't documents! (I heard that from the WA State Board!)

Julie
Go for it Julie. There is a growing effort to educate teachers and therapists concerning research. It would make a dynamite book.

Julie Onofrio said:
I have to say I only glanced through it because I have this love/hate relationship with research. I think there was something in the beginning that I didn't understand so it made it hard to focus on the rest of it all. I frankly don't understand anything at all about research and wish someone would put it into real life terms - what does it mean when I go to work on my next client? What does it mean for my career? I actually have been thinking of approaching the massage foundation and ask them to teach me about research and then I will write about it on a 7th grade reading level which are the new requirements for many gov't documents! (I heard that from the WA State Board!)

Julie
I thought the article was very readable and good for someone starting to look at research.
I think she had some interesting points on the reductionism/holism question.
I thought it was really interesting that only 1% of NCCAMs funding goes towards massage therapy research even though it's the No. 1 out of pocket expense involving practitioner intervention.

The new mixed methods article deserves a thread on it's own!

Oh.....as for research literacy.
I'm putting together a wee series to get people started. Here's the first one which is on finding research and the "this site" that I refer to in the is the mt-researchonline.com site which has the sites listed on the vid, on this page. The next vids will cover a bit about research terminology and types of studies. I hope some people find them useful (the vids will be coming out every couple of weeks).

It's a squirrels attempt at trying to get people interested in research and yes, I've a gawdawful accent.
You have a fabulous accent Vlad, and it makes the video more enjoyable as a result. Play it up a wee bit more; we love it.

Really great video folks, that walks you through a research article search step by step. Also, the research site Vlad has put together has most of the resource cites, with links, on one page.


Vlad said:
I thought the article was very readable and good for someone starting to look at research.
I think she had some interesting points on the reductionism/holism question.
I thought it was really interesting that only 1% of NCCAMs funding goes towards massage therapy research even though it's the No. 1 out of pocket expense involving practitioner intervention.

The new mixed methods article deserves a thread on it's own!

Oh.....as for research literacy.
I'm putting together a wee series to get people started. Here's the first one which is on finding research and the "this site" that I refer to in the is the mt-researchonline.com site which has the sites listed on the vid, on this page. The next vids will cover a bit about research terminology and types of studies. I hope some people find them useful (the vids will be coming out every couple of weeks).

It's a squirrels attempt at trying to get people interested in research and yes, I've a gawdawful accent.

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