In conversations with colleagues, I often encounter a surprising misunderstanding of the placebo effect. Not simply a lack of familiarity with the term, but a misunderstanding of the very essence of this phenomenon. At first glance, the concept seems simple. However, the placebo effect is often misunderstood even by medical professionals, and this misunderstanding can … Read more
This list focuses on instrument-assisted methods of soft tissue treatment. What unites them is pseudoscience: the claimed mechanism of action or declared effect lacks sufficient evidence. One clarification upfront: this is not a discussion of the absolute effectiveness of these methods. The question is framed differently — how much more effective is any given method … Read more
Why Using the Term “Fascia” Without Specification Is Incorrect Every time a massage guru, whether in a video, at a seminar, or in an educational article, uses the word “fascia” in a general sense, without a clarifying definition, it is a reason to be cautious. From the standpoint of anatomical nomenclature and proper professional language, … Read more
For novice massage therapists, navigating the modern landscape of therapeutic methods can be a daunting task. Limited foundational training often makes it difficult to distinguish evidence-based approaches from speculation and pseudoscience. This lack of clarity is actively exploited by unethical practitioners and self-proclaimed educators who promote simplistic explanations, guaranteed outcomes, and so-called “easy solutions.” To … Read more
In modern massage therapy, new “treatment methods” appear on a regular basis. As a rule, these methods are presented as fully developed from the very beginning — ready-made, turnkey systems. They come with ready-to-use theory, manuals, training programs, video materials, and one or more authoritative-looking gurus. High effectiveness is almost always claimed. Most often, we … Read more
