The global health burden associated with musculoskeletal conditions continues to increase in both developing and developed countries. This is why my latest project has been to put together a series of resources that will help support the professional growth of massage therapists around the world.
After 10 + years of reading massage therapy research here is a list of 10 open access papers on the topic of exercise and physical activity to help bridge the gap between research and the clinical application of massage therapy.
Ahler, J. R., Busk, H., Holm, P. M., Bricca, A., Poulsen, D. V., Skou, S. T., & Tang, L. H. (2024). Benefits and harms of structured outdoor physical activity for people with somatic or mental diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Preventive medicine, 107966. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2024.107
Bull, F. C., Al-Ansari, S. S., Biddle, S., Borodulin, K., Buman, M. P., Cardon, G., Carty, C., Chaput, J. P., Chastin, S., Chou, R., Dempsey, P. C., DiPietro, L., Ekelund, U., Firth, J., Friedenreich, C. M., Garcia, L., Gichu, M., Jago, R., Katzmarzyk, P. T., Lambert, E., … Willumsen, J. F. (2020). World Health Organization 2020 guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. British journal of sports medicine, 54(24), 1451–1462. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2020-102955
Ekelund, U., Sanchez-Lastra, M. A., Dalene, K. E., & Tarp, J. (2024). Dose-response associations, physical activity intensity and mortality risk: A narrative review. Journal of sport and health science, 13(1), 24–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2023.09.006
Furrer, R., Hawley, J. A., & Handschin, C. (2023). The molecular athlete: exercise physiology from mechanisms to medals. Physiological reviews, 103(3), 1693–1787. https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00017.2022
Iso-Markku, P., Aaltonen, S., Kujala, U. M., Halme, H. L., Phipps, D., Knittle, K., Vuoksimaa, E., & Waller, K. (2024). Physical Activity and Cognitive Decline Among Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA network open, 7(2), e2354285. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.54285
Iversen, V. M., Norum, M., Schoenfeld, B. J., & Fimland, M. S. (2021). No Time to Lift? Designing Time-Efficient Training Programs for Strength and Hypertrophy: A Narrative Review. Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 51(10), 2079–2095. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-021-01490-1
Kettle, V. E., Madigan, C. D., Coombe, A., Graham, H., Thomas, J., Chalkley, A. E., & Daley, A. J. (2022). Effectiveness of physical activity interventions delivered or prompted by health professionals in primary care settings: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 376, e068465. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2021-068465
Noetel, M., Sanders, T., Gallardo-Gómez, D., Taylor, P., Del Pozo Cruz, B., van den Hoek, D., Smith, J. J., Mahoney, J., Spathis, J., Moresi, M., Pagano, R., Pagano, L., Vasconcellos, R., Arnott, H., Varley, B., Parker, P., Biddle, S., & Lonsdale, C. (2024). Effect of exercise for depression: systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 384, e075847. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2023-075847
Reid, H., Ridout, A. J., Tomaz, S. A., Kelly, P., Jones, N., & Physical Activity Risk Consensus group (2022). Benefits outweigh the risks: a consensus statement on the risks of physical activity for people living with long-term conditions. British journal of sports medicine, 56(8), 427–438. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2021-104281
Taylor, J. A., Greenhaff, P. L., Bartlett, D. B., Jackson, T. A., Duggal, N. A., & Lord, J. M. (2023). Multisystem physiological perspective of human frailty and its modulation by physical activity. Physiological reviews, 103(2), 1137–1191. https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00037.2021