Podcast
The Rub: a Healwell podcast about massage therapy
Join Healwell in examining and bringing context to the world of massage therapy beyond the table. We have ideas. We have opinions. We want change, and that will only come with an understanding of who and what massage therapy truly is.
A variety of topics are up for grabs: history, philosophy, development, and all the other shiny things that fascinate us.
A Glossary of the Massage Therapy Profession
Are you ever confused by the acronyms and groups involved in the massage therapy profession? Then this guide is for you!
Disclaimer: The information provided on these pages is intended for reference purposes only. It does not imply endorsement or support of any particular views, opinions, products, or services. Readers are encouraged to independently verify the accuracy and relevance of the information presented and make their own informed decisions.
National Associations (alphabetically)
ABMP
Name: Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals
Location: Colorado
About: "Our business philosophy is summed up by our credo: expect more. ABMP members receive the most responsive, knowledgeable service and a comprehensive package of member benefits that includes free CE hours, dozens of member discounts, a free business website, the award-winning Massage & Bodywork magazine, dedicated legislative advocacy, and more."
Founding Date: 1987
Link: www.abmp.com
AFMTE
Name: Alliance for Massage Therapy Education
Location: Georgia
About: "Our vision is to advance the therapeutic massage and bodywork professions by strengthening and elevating educational practices and standards through supporting, credentialing, and engaging educators."
Founding Date: 2009
Link: www.afmte.org
AMTA
Name: American Massage Therapy Association
Location: Illinois
Mission statement: "To serve AMTA members while advancing the art, science and practice of massage therapy."
Founding Date: 1943
Link: www.amtamassage.org
AOBTA
Name: American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia
Location: Pennsylvania
About: "AOBTA® is the only national professional association for the Asian Bodywork Therapy (ABT) profession. We protect, promote, and serve the ABT profession and its students, educators and practitioners."
Founding Date: 1989
Link: www.aobta.org
COMTA
Name: Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation
Location: Virginia
About: "COMTA elevates and upholds standards of excellence in massage therapy/bodywork and esthetics education through specialized accreditation, benefiting students and schools, practitioners, and the public."
Founding Date: 2002
Link: www.comta.org
FSMTB
Name: Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards
Location: Kansas
About: "The mission of the Federation is to support its Member Boards in their work to ensure that the practice of massage therapy is provided to the public safely and competently."
Founding Date: 2005
Link: www.fsmtb.org
MTF
Name: Massage Therapy Foundation
Location: Illinois
About: "Our vision is to advance the therapeutic massage and bodywork professions by strengthening and elevating educational practices and standards through supporting, credentialing, and engaging educators."
Founding Date: 1990
Link: www.massagetherapyfoundation.org
NCBTMB
Name: National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork
Location: Illinois
About: "Through its accredited status, NCBTMB creates, promotes, and sustains a culture in which the highest quality of professional credentialing and standards are advanced in the massage therapy profession."
Founding Date: 1992
Link: www.ncbtmb.org
USOLMT
Name: United States Organization of Licensed Massage Therapists
Location: Arizona
About: "At USOLMT, our mission is to empower, support, and advocate for massage therapists, while reimagining the way we do business in massage therapy."
Founding Date: 2020
Link: www.usolmt.com
Coalition of National Massage Therapy Organizations
About: A meeting of ABMP, AFMTE, AMTA, COMTA, FSMTB, MTF, and NCBTMB.
The Coalition does not have a webpage.
Link to the most recent public report (December 2015): https://comta.org/coalition-of-natl-massage-organizations-update/
Research Related
IJTMB
International Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork
About: "The International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (IJTMB) is an open access, peer-reviewed publication intended to accommodate the diverse needs of the rapidly-expanding therapeutic massage and bodywork community. Principal sections of the journal span the areas of research, education, and clinical practice."
Editor-in-Chief: Amanda Baskwill, PhD
Link: www.ijtmb.org
MassageNet PBRN
Practice-Based Research Network
About: "Our goal is to create a member-driven community of massage-focused clinicians, researchers, and allies that allows massage therapists to engage in research at various levels."
Link: www.massagenet.org
Education Related
ELAP
Entry-Level Analysis Project
About: "The Entry-Level Analysis Project (ELAP) is a research project initiated by the Coalition of National Massage Therapy Organizations in March 2012. The project goals were to define knowledge and skill components of entry-level education and recommend the minimum number of hours schools should teach to prepare graduates for safe and competent practice in the massage profession. Completed in December of 2013, the project published two documents, which describes ELAP work group findings and recommendations."
Interdisciplinary
Interdisciplinary is a podcast about people who take care of people and all of the places and perspectives that lift us up. We love science, we love meaningful dissent, and we love to support our fellow human beings in creating a world that is just, equitable and loving beyond our own imagining.
We will be joined by compassionate, self-aware humans who are actively participating or are interested in participating in interdisciplinary care to have honest, uncomfortable conversations about topics like access, racism, death, ageism, ableism, and equity that address the intersection of being a human being and providing quality care, so that we can expand our impact, confidently navigate new challenges, and together create lasting, sustainable changes in healthcare.
You’ll always learn something. You’ll always laugh and you’ll come away better informed and with real things you can do in your own community and practice to create a more compassionate and collaborative system of care for all humans.
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