Musculoskeletal conditions are the leading cause of global disability and health burden, with manual therapy (MT) interventions frequently recommended in clinical guidelines. Traditional manual therapy (TMT) systems, such as physiotherapy, osteopathy, chiropractic, and soft tissue therapy, have historically relied on clinician-centered assessment, patho-anatomical reasoning, and technique specificity. These principles are not supported by current evidence.
A study from the University of Witten-Herdecke, Germany involving Dr Robert Schleip investigated the relationship between fascial properties and their association with depression, chronic neck pain, and cervical spine mobility. Given the prevalence of depressive disorders and chronic pain and their frequent co-occurrence, the research focuses on exploring the myofascial continuum’s potential role in these
A systematic review pubished in Journal of Osteopathic Medicine in June 2024 evaluated the efficacy of manual therapy modalities in treating anxiety symptoms. The review involved a thorough literature search using PubMed and Google Scholar, adhering to PRISMA guidelines. Out of 8,979 articles initially identified, 34 met the rigorous inclusion criteria and were thoroughly analyzed.
An article by researchers from UK, Finland, Sweden and Germany published in Frontiers in Psychiatry proposes a new medical discipline called “Touch Medicine.” This field aims to address the gap in applying touch-based research to clinical practice. It emphasizes the therapeutic potential of massage therapy in treating and preventing various diseases, notably affective disorders like
A study from Keio University, Japan aimed to determine whether the pressure applied during a massage on specific muscles—the biceps brachii and the medial head of the gastrocnemius—is linked to the effectiveness of the massage in reducing muscle stiffness. Nine healthy individuals participated in the study. A physiotherapist performed massages on the upper arms and
A study from University of South Alabama examined the physiological responses elicited by myofascial release. As a control the responses were compared with passive limb movement. The study involved nineteen adults, consisting of ten men and nine women, with an average age of 23 years old plus or minus 2.6 years. Participants engaged in two
Depression is prevalent among adults worldwide, with those suffering from chronic pain being especially prone to severe depressive episodes. Both pain and mental health issues can lead to disturbances in the autonomic nervous system, thereby impacting heart function. Myofascial release therapy has been posited as a beneficial treatment for improving both mental and physical health
The way pain manifests and is perceived can vary significantly between men and women, not just in terms of intensity but also in the underlying biological processes involved. Research has shown that certain conditions may provoke pain responses differently based on sex, linked to how pain signals are processed at the cellular level. A key