Good luck Paul.
I cannot see much that is offensive on your site at all.The advice is sensible. The information is science based , plausible and well researched.It is perfectly rational and correct to question belief systems in medicine and therapy. The response in this case is similar to that given to the U.K science writer by the Chiropractic Association. It reminds me that anyone under 'threat' will tend to react in an overly sensitive manner,rather than adopt a tolerant, 'agnostic' stance. I thought that 'book burning' and censoring were features of a different political system?

I know, as another extremely skeptical RMT, that I get amazingly annoyed at the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO), the Ontario Massage Therapist Association (OMTA), and the schools for endorsing ridiculous unproven (or disproven) modalities for our continuing education units (CEUs), which we are required to get 30 every three years. I get my CEUs from reading and watching videos because the courses are generally too expensive to take, but the fact that the organizations that represent me are so gullible and/or excepting of the "alt-med" myth makes me embarrassed to say I'm an RMT from time to time. Do you feel the same towards the CMTBC and the MTABC?

Additionally, I get into arguments with my colleagues regularly about the validity of "alt-med" modalities, but I tend to focus my most calm and persuasive speeches for my clients who ask me about (insert woo-woo "therapy). I had an intelligent international businessman tell me that "there are people in India can fly." When I pressed him for an explanation, he actually believed this literally. I told him that our world isn't that large now with the media we have access to and that if 18 people die in a bus crash in Bangalore, I know about it later that day. Maybe if some folks could fly around the room, it might show up on CNN. He was convinced, but the fact he couldn't think of this angle on his own speaks to the lack of critical thinking in society. Do you think this is a big reason for the wide acceptance for completely disproven ideas like homeopathy, acupuncture, reiki, or reflexology?

Thanks for your time and keep your head up, there's more skeptical RMTs out here!

Hey BHM,

I'm just thinking that it would be an interesting effort to get as large a cotillion of skeptical RMTs (and any other skeptical complementary medicine practitioners... as rare as they are) to participate in the SBM Conference en masse?

I believe it is eligible for CEUs, and a group of practitioners would be a statement in it's own right.

I know Paul attended this past summer.

I would love to go to both the SBM conference and TAM. Fundage is an issue for me, but I'll do my best to scrounge enough to head down. It's a fantastic idea to get we skeptical folk in "alt." med together.

Hi,

Came for the BoraZ, stayed for the skepticism!

Re: H1N1 Facebook intro, careful not to speak in absolutes or implicitly attribute intentions to others! Both have a tendency to pollute the discourse, opening the doors for the opposing side to use the same techniques "irrationally" :)

Best,
B

Thanks for the comments, everyone. It was a hoot doing the show. Live is tough.

I’m especially happy to hear that another skeptical RMT came out of the woodwork thanks to this show. I’d be interested to know how large the community of particularly skeptical massage therapists is: that is, not just open to the idea of evidence-based care, but actually critical of pseudo-scientific practices in the profession. I suspect that there’s not many in that category.

I’ve talked many, many RMTs in BC who do not exactly share all of my beliefs, but nevertheless have no problem with how I express them, and are frankly horrified that I would face regulatory hassles. They realize that their own freedom of professional expression and discussion is at stake as well: what if they express a position on a controversial subject in the “wrong” way? Who decides what the “right” way to talk about controversial subjects is? Should anyone? For sure, they don’t want a committee deciding whether or not the fine details of their “tone” are acceptable.

I hope that those RMTs will start writing letters to the CMT about this! Actually I hope ANYONE will. RMT or not not, for more info about how to help, see:

http://SaveYourself.ca/legal

There are more skeptics around than you suspect. I am completely in favour of evidence-based scientific learning. And yes, I am critical of pseudo-scientific practices in the profession.
I certainly support your right to express your views without censorhip. I have read some of your articles and find them well-researched, clear and easy to understand. I cannot see anything offensive or subversive in them!

I hope so, Lee! Certainly the volume of friendly email that I’ve received this week is a strong indication of that. I may well have the opportunity to discover exactly how large the community of skeptical therapists is. Early signs are encouraging!

And it’s noteworthy and laudable that the Massage Therapists Association of British Columbia has a progressive and active research department (wordpress.mtabc.com). And, despite the deep controversies and legal hazards in their own profession, there are chiropractors who are speaking out against pseudo-scientific practices (especially Sam Homola, http://SaveYourself.ca/reviewinsidechiro).

When I wrote last night it was end of the day and I was tired, so my message was very brief. I have since read through several of your articles, which I find very informative, straight-forward and easy for anyone to understand. I am at a loss to understand what the Committee finds offensive in your writing, unless there are some hidden, subversive articles that I have not yet found. From my explorations of facebook, I have learned that many RMTs in the US are using your articles as references to build a more science-based understanding of massage. I think that's great!
In Ontario, the present focus at massage colleges is research and "Evidence Based Practice" - this is the big buzz-word. I would expect the educational atmosphere in BC is the same. Your writings should fit comfortably into that model.
I remember many years ago when RMTs in BC were covered by provincial health insurance (BC Med). They were not allowed to work under the same roof as "alties" - only with health professionals who were also part of the BC Med team. Has this changed?

as you state in your article Paul

"I am not alone"

you are correct, you are NOT

here are 700+ Facebook members who don't seem to be offended by your website...if they were, they are free to depart the group anytime...and MANY have !

you can't keep ALL the people happy ALL the time

if you want SKEPTICAL support, Ontario RMTS will provide you what you need...we're a MEAN bunch - unlke most west coasters !

Keep up the GOOD work !

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Ontario-Massage-Therapist-Advocates-Clinical-Resource-FEEDS-for-RMTs/33569154792?ref=nf

Many thanks, Lee and Cory. The skeptical RMTs are coming out the woodwork. It’s a relief for me to see that plenty of my colleagues want to see free and open debate of the tough questions in manual therapy.

Check the comments on Nicky Garratt’s episode as well. Nicky asked on the Nov 27 show why, if I’m so skeptical, I didn’t become a doctor instead of a massage therapist. Good question! Good discussion!

http://skepticallyspeaking.com/episodes/35-punk-rock-skepticism

I am curious about what treatment modalities are you using that have proven to be effective?

Just listened to the rest of the interview. Keep it up! Our profession needs skeptics like you to the standards of the profession high. I don't agree with everything you say, but your point of view needs to be heard. Good luck.

Wow your advice sounds good as a alternative for Heath Practitioner.

Thanks Massage Toronto Acupuncture, I appreciate that. To answer your first question, I‘m afraid there are basically no manual therapy interventions at all that are “proven.” I favour treatments that are plausible, safe, less expensive, and which haven’t actually bombed fair scientific tests. The weaker the case for a therapy, the more effort I make to present it as an “experimental” treatment, making it clear that it is potentially dangerous to my patients’ health and/or wallet.

Chiropractor Vancouver, sorry, but I’m not sure what you’re trying to say there.

Paul,

Personally, I find the position of the CMTO (Ontario's college) a bit confusing. Throughout the program, we were taught ad nauseum that we are improving circulation, which somehow magically fixes everything. A good walk or run increases circulation. What is so special about massage?

We are also taught the importance of always moving towards the heart to increase venous return. This might make some sense for the extremities, but if you look at the circulatory system and how it is laid out on the torso, you will see that the blood vessels are not always going towards the heart.

We are taught the importance of using proven techniques in our practice and fostering research in our field. But most of the research on massage is highly qualitative or doesn't give very promising results.

I'll stop there. Here's a question: Have you found any research that proves that massage actually increases circulation?

Have you seen many studies that are modality focused as opposed to Swedish massage focused?

Paul,

You stick to your path! It doesn't make any difference whether I agree with your opinions or not, I still say shame on anyone who tries to censor you! I am incredulous that anyone thinks they have the right to deny anyone else freedom of speech.

Laura Allen

Thanks, Laura. Smart people will always disagree with each other about some things, always respect each other for it, and always tolerate a wide range of "personality" in that discussion. ;-) In my opinion, the only “offensive” way to communicate about issues in health care would be things like foul language and personal insults — none of which I do!

Massage Toronto Acupunture: The circulation question is certainly one of the easiest targets for a skeptical massage therapist, because the evidence is so clearly underwhelming, and the comparison to exercise is inevitable for anyone who thinks about the question for more than five minutes. I believe that “increased circulation” is definitely a simplistic and exaggerated rationale for massaging.

Sure, there are a few modality-o-centric studies of massage, but it’s a real mish-mash of under-powered experiments, and it is routine for massage research to be super vague about exactly what kind of massage is being studied.

This article discusses some issues that plague massage research, see:

  http://SaveYourself.ca/51

Ha its a very informative blog. In case of spinal problem treatment, chiropractic treatment is available at several spinal care centers in Vancouver. The back pain doctors offer diagnosis and treatment of back-related problems using chiropractic treatment. They also offer clinical therapies and treatments to keep spinal problems at bay.

I recently received a certificate as a complementary veterinary medicine therapist. The organizer of the program asked me to develop a module on essential oils. I agreed, but my proposed classes would have to include time on distinguishing SBM from fluff. He refused. A lot of the course dealt with homeopathy and Bach Flower Remedies, and students left thinking there was merit to these therapies. He ultimately hired someone who knows a lot about essential oils but nothing about animals, which is dangerous. Oh well, as long a people are going to pay for pie in the sky, and as long as schools don't teach children how to reason, there is going to be a lot of fluff floating around. I'm just glad to see there are people like you out there, with the energy and the brains to set good examples.