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East West College of the Healing Arts

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So far East West College of the Healing Arts has created 187 blog entries.

The Mechanics of Sports Massage: How Massage Promotes Recovery from Athletic Training

2026-01-07T09:16:03-08:00January 7th, 2026|

Post-exercise recovery is critical for athletes at all levels. Sports massage is a powerful tool for athletic recovery, as professional and amateur athletes know well. Dozens of professional athletes prioritize sports massage as a critical component of their recovery regime. Many athletes report increased muscular flexibility and agility post-massage. Recovering from hard workouts is another commonly-cited reason to include massage in recovery rituals. But what is the science behind sports massage and muscular revival? Today we’re taking a look at research on how massage therapy works to support athletic recovery. 

Sports Massage: Common Misconceptions

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Careers in Massage: Skyrocketing Projected Job Outlook for Medical Massage Therapists

2025-10-07T11:57:39-07:00October 7th, 2025|

As we discussed in a previous post, job outlook predictions are extremely rosy for massage therapists. What’s driving such strong numbers for employment growth in massage therapy? Today we’re unpacking the numbers by examining one subset of massage therapy: medical massage. 

What is Medical Massage?

Medical massage is massage therapy targeting health issues diagnosed by a doctor. (Mayo Clinic, n.d.). A medical LMT is a certified massage therapist who works closely with doctors and nurses to provide treatment for those affected by illness, injury, stress, and/or pain. Oftentimes, medical massage therapists work in hospital […]

Fungal Infections 101 for LMTs: How to Protect Yourself and Prevent the Spread of Disease

2025-09-10T10:21:50-07:00September 24th, 2025|

There are certain truths about life as a massage therapist that the public may not recognize, such as just how much of the job is doing laundry! Reducing the risk of disease transmission requires clean sheets for each client. Fungal diseases mandate that LMTs pay such attention to hygiene. Let’s define fungal diseases, understand how they are transmitted, review symptoms to watch out for, and outline how massage therapists can reduce or eliminate the risk of spreading fungal infections. 

What are Fungal Diseases?

Fungal diseases are caused by pathogenic members of the fungi family. There are over 300 pathogenic […]

Demand for Massage Therapists Projected to Boom in the Next Decade

2025-09-10T10:14:50-07:00September 10th, 2025|

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) anticipates that the demand for massage therapists will increase by 18% in the next decade. That rate is considered “much higher than the average” job growth for all careers (2025, Job Outlook). According to the bureau’s statistics, roughly 22,800 new positions for massage therapists will be created every year in the decade between 2023 and 2033.

To put those numbers in context, all other healthcare support jobs are projected to have a 12% growth in employment for the coming decade. The average for all occupations across the board is projected at […]

Triggerpoints vs “Knots”: Understanding Adhesions and How Massage Helps

2025-08-04T13:45:25-07:00August 4th, 2025|

Have you ever complained to your massage therapist about a knot, only to have them reply with words like adhesion or triggerpoint? Are all three words truly synonymous? Understanding such definitions can help us appreciate how these stuck spots are formed in the body, namely through muscular overload. Muscles can be overloaded through acute, sustained, and repetitive movements. After a primer on each, we’ll explore how massage therapy can provide relief, and invite you to experience tension release at our Portland school of massage’s […]

How Massage Can Assist PTSD & Trauma Healing

2025-07-09T10:13:43-07:00July 9th, 2025|

Exposure to frightening, shocking, and/or dangerous events such as combat, abuse, or disasters can result in the experience of trauma and development of Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). At any given time, about 24.4 million people are struggling with PTSD (McCafferty, 2016). While trauma is a universal experience, those with PTSD experience ongoing trauma reactions, leaving them feeling out of control and perpetually unsafe. Today we’re reviewing how individuals who have experienced trauma and PTSD can benefit from massage therapy.

How might the experience of trauma manifest in the mind/body? Here are a few common symptoms of PTSD:

Hypervigilance may show up as holding […]

Massage for Immunity: Research Reveals Weekly Massage Increases Immunity Markers

2025-03-11T16:25:38-07:00March 11th, 2025|

Massage therapy: We all know it’s relaxing, but did you know it can also boost your immunity? As cold and flu season drags on, we’re reviewing research on how receiving regular massage (such as through our Oregon massage school’s student clinic) can protect you against getting sick.
Massage Therapy and Immunity

Massage impacts immunity in several ways.

Pain Relief. Researchers have uncovered a connection between pain and immune suppression. While more research is needed in how this connection works, it’s suspected that massage may increase immune system functioning by decreasing pain (Citroner, 2020).

Increased Circulation. By boosting circulation in lymph and vascular systems, massage therapy […]

How Does Massage Reduce Pain? The Gate Theory and Vagal Pathways

2025-01-15T10:49:43-08:00January 13th, 2025|

During the initial courses at a massage therapy school like ours in Portland, Oregon, students focus on gaining the baseline knowledge and technical prowess to deliver a delightful massage. Once they learn the basics of giving relaxing treatments, our students begin to explore why massage therapy is so effective for pain regulation. Let’s examine two prevalent theories on how the brain perceives pain, and why massage helps reduce pain.

The Gate Theory of Pain Perception

This theory posits that the brain processes pain only if the nerve gate in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord is open. Imagine […]

Clinical Research on the Benefits of Regular Massage

2024-11-12T16:52:01-08:00November 12th, 2024|

Unique mental, physical, and emotional benefits are enjoyed by those who regularly receive massage. But unless you’re attending massage school, you may not be aware of those advantages accrued when the body consistently enjoys the healing touch of massage.

Health Benefits of Regular Massage

A review of twenty-eight clinical trials revealed the following benefits of consistent massage.

  1. Relief for Work-Related Stress. Three different studies of Swedish massage found reduced occupational stress following regular massage sessions. In one study, sessions were just 15 minutes long, and yet due to their regularity, resulted in decreased work […]

Tips to Find a Great Used Massage Table

2024-09-27T11:16:32-07:00September 27th, 2024|

Given that tables represent big purchases in most massage careers, the lower cost of used massage tables is appealing. LMTs fresh out of massage therapist school can more likely afford a used table than a brand-new one. However, it’s critical to select a reliable used massage table; otherwise, it could give out on you during a session, bringing embarrassment to LMT and client alike. What’s more, if a client is injured due to faulty equipment, you could be liable, as used tables don’t carry warranties. Still, it is possible to find good used tables if you keep a few […]

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