Conference 2022: The Message of Massage from workshop leader Earle Abrahamson

In writing this blog, I decided to reflect on my experience as a therapist but equally advisor and educator. I discovered massage when I sustained a life changing knee injury as a youth. I was an enthusiastic cricketer, and whilst batting in a cup match I lunged forward and felt that awkward twist in my right knee. This was swiftly followed by an audible popping sound. I was overcome by pain and shock and recall being carried off the pitch. Apart from the physical discomfort I became psychologically aware of what my future in the sport may become. Endless appointments with consultants and specialists served to enforce the prospects of never being able to competitively play the sport I enjoyed most. I was determined to find a way back, to research possibility, and discover hope. My resilience and perseverance paid off when I met a musculoskeletal physician. This doctor took time to explain the dynamics and mechanics of the injury, involved me in the decision making, and exposed me to the world of soft tissue therapy. This impactful and empowering experience let me to understand how manipulation of soft tissue enables enhancement of movement. For me, the inquiry into discovering possibility changed my perceptions and hope of outcomes.

I use this experience of my own injury and management thereof, to frame my philosophy in treating injury and ailment and supporting my clients back to health. For me, the magic and message of massage is not simply doing, but rather developing techniques, knowledge and understanding of doing it better. Soft tissue therapy, and massage in particular, is often considered a solution to multiple musculoskeletal problems. I have seen and learned that many of my colleagues are determined to recruit and keep clients without fully recognising the limits of the soft tissue scope of practice.

Massage has developed from integrating therapies and disseminating best practices. The therapeutic side of massage is so much more than the application of technique. It relies on client education, assessment of treatment goals, engagement with difficult and challenging conversations, and reflection on experience. It relies on understanding situation, context and culture and learning to manage reality. Through my years of experience as a therapist, I have learned to critically reflect on what matters most. I have learned to develop and use my soft tissue toolkit, which is populated with techniques, evidence-based resources, and conversations and observations with other practitioners. I have learned to be honest and practise with integrity.

At the 2022 MTI conference I am keen to share my experience and knowledge of building my practice and learning from lessons of reflection. I am interested in dissecting the concept of massage as medicine and carefully and purposefully situating my practice within a preventative and restorative framework. I aim to disrupt convention and challenge identity within the broad field of soft tissue therapy. For me, it is not what we see that is important, but rather what we fail to see and acknowledge. From prehabilitation to rehabilitation and constructively building a lens to discern acute from chronic and attend to “what matters most”, is central to my presentations at the conference.

A willingness to admit “I don’t know” and a passion and determination to learn how has epitomised my identity as a practitioner. My message of, and for, massage is being able to design treatments that clients understand and have included voice in considering outcomes and implications.

I conclude with words that resonate with my philosophy of practice. These words come from Amanda Gorman’s poem, read with intention and purpose, at Joe Biden’s inauguration as US president.

“It is not what lies between us that matters, but rather what lies in front of us”. Together we need to learn with and from colleagues and design a massage future that addresses issues that matter most. Our skillsets are shared across disciplines but find a unique home in considering our clients holistically. It this holistic approach that sets us apart, yet brings us together.

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