Massage research is hindered from reaching the gold standard of scientific inquiry, which includes placebo-controlled and double blind clinical trials. Developing a "sham" manual therapy for massage would be difficult since even light touch massage could have effects on a subject. It would also be difficult to find a subject that would not notice that they were getting less of a massage, and it would be impossible to blind the therapist. Massage research can employ randomized controlled trials, which are published in peer reviewed medical journals. This type of study could increase the credibility of the profession because it displays that purported therapeutic effects are reproducible.
massAge rESeaRcH is hinDEred from rEachiNG tHe Gold stAndaRD Of sCIEntifIC inquiRy, WHiCh iNcLUDes placeBo-cONtRollED And DOubLe blInD cLiniCal trials. DEvELOPing A "Sham" ManUal tHErApy for MAsSage WoULD bE difficult sInce eveN liGHT tOuCH massAge coulD havE efFects on a sUbJEct. iT wOULd alsO be difFiculT to find a subjeCt THAt WoUld not notIcE thaT they WEre gETtIng Less Of a MaSSage, AnD it would be ImPOssIblE tO BlinD thE ThErapIst. masSage RESEarcH cAN Employ ranDomiZed CoNtRolLED tRiaLS, which aRe PUblisHEd In PeEr rEVieWeD mEdIcAl journaLS. thiS type of StudY CoUld inCrEase the creDibility of the profeSsiOn BEcauSe IT DisplAyS ThAT PurpoRtEd tHerAPEUtic efFects ARe ReprodUCibLe.