Understanding the Past.

Investigating the Present.

Building the Future of Massage Therapy.

Massage Therapy Nexus is an independent research, history, and resource center for the U.S. massage therapy profession.

We preserve the profession’s history, investigate the issues shaping it today, and provide reliable information for those working toward a stronger future.

A profession cannot move forward without understanding how it got here.

Massage therapy has developed through decades of disconnected laws, educational standards, credentials, organizational decisions, and advocacy efforts. Much of that history is scattered, difficult to locate, or in danger of being lost. As a result, the profession often revisits the same disputes without the historical record, shared information, or institutional memory needed to resolve them.

Massage Therapy Nexus brings that information together. It connects history with current policy, examines professional claims against the available evidence, and creates resources people can use to make more informed decisions.

[Explore the Nexus HUB]


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History and Archives

Explore historical timelines, organizational histories, important events, and original documents that preserve the profession’s story.

[Explore the History]

Research and Professional Issues

Follow research and analysis on establishment licensing, illicit businesses, healthcare integration, insurance reimbursement, education, regulation, portability, professional standards, and organizational accountability.

Find developing state-by-state information about licensing, education requirements, scope of practice, regulation, insurance, advocacy, and professional resources.

State Resource HUB

[Explore Research and Policy HUB]

Books and Practical Resources

Discover books, guides, toolkits, and other resources created to help massage therapists understand and navigate the profession.

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Current Major Projects

  • Building a comprehensive history of the massage therapy profession
  • Preserving primary-source documents in the historical archive
  • Studying state and local massage-establishment licensing
  • Developing the 50-state Massage Therapy Resource HUB
  • Investigating policies affecting legitimate massage practice
  • Reporting on current professional issues through the Nexus newsletter

The HUB and the Newsletter

The Nexus HUB is the permanent home for historical collections, research, state information, and professional resources.

The Massage Therapy Nexus newsletter follows current events, emerging issues, and new developments across the profession.

The website preserves the knowledge. The newsletter follows the unfolding story.

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Independent. Evidence-Informed. Historically Grounded.

Massage Therapy Nexus values accuracy, transparency, independence, historical preservation, professional literacy, collaboration, and constructive accountability.

[Read Our Mission, Vision and Values]

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