The Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge (MTBOK) was a significant milestone in the journey to standardize and elevate the massage therapy profession. Conceived as a collaborative effort with the Coalition of Massage Therapy Organizations, the MTBOK sought to define a unified foundation of knowledge, competencies, and standards that could support massage therapists across the United States. Let’s take a closer look at the history of this ambitious project, the progress it made, the setbacks it faced, and where it stands today.
The Birth of MTBOK: Setting the Stage for Unity
The journey began in January 2007, when the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) initiated discussions about creating a standardized body of knowledge for massage therapy. It was a crucial time for the profession: fragmented educational standards, inconsistent licensing requirements, and a lack of a cohesive identity were holding the field back from broader recognition. AMTA brought together over a dozen entities from different sectors, including accreditation, certification, education, regulation, advocacy, and research, to explore the possibilities of collaboration.
By July 2008, Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) joined the discussions, and other organizations representing bodywork, movement, and somatic disciplines also became involved. Eventually, six organizations became the official stewards of the MTBOK: AMTA, the AMTA Council of Schools, ABMP, the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB), the Massage Therapy Foundation (MTF), and the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB). These organizations sought to articulate a body of knowledge that defined the profession comprehensively, ensuring that all stakeholders had a voice in shaping the future of massage therapy.
Building the MTBOK: A Collaborative Effort
The Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge Task Force was established in July 2009, led by Project Manager Chip Hines, a PMI-certified project management professional and Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT). The task force included practitioners, educators, and researchers who worked diligently to define foundational elements such as:
Definition of Massage Therapy: Establishing scope of practice, terminology, and a general description of the field.
Entry-Level Competencies: Identifying the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) required of an entry-level massage therapist.
Terminology and Scope: Defining terms to bring clarity to the practice, addressing ambiguities that had previously plagued educational and regulatory frameworks.
In May 2010, after almost a year of work, the first version of the MTBOK was unveiled at the “Highlighting Massage Therapy in Complementary and Integrative Medicine” (CIM) Conference in Seattle, WA. This release represented the culmination of countless hours of research, stakeholder meetings, and public commentary. The MTBOK was intended to be a “living document” that would evolve in response to the needs of the profession and the feedback from practitioners.
The Challenges: Adoption and Stagnation
Despite the excitement surrounding its initial release, the MTBOK quickly ran into obstacles. The vision was for the document to be adopted and embraced across the profession as a foundational resource, but the momentum of the early years was difficult to maintain. After the release of the second draft in January 2010, the MTBOK went into a phase of public review, during which stakeholders were encouraged to provide feedback.
Unfortunately, what was intended to be a brief pause for the profession to absorb and adapt to the MTBOK turned into a prolonged five-year period of inactivity. By 2016, the MTBOK had become a static document rather than the evolving, adaptive resource it was meant to be. In a 2016 blog post, Chip Hines lamented the loss of momentum, attributing the stagnation to an overly cautious approach by the steward organizations and a lack of vested champions to drive integration across the profession. Hines pointed out that, while the MTBOK defined what entry-level massage therapists should know, it had not yet achieved its potential as a true foundation for ongoing professional development.
Lessons Learned: The Importance of Collaboration and Persistence
One of the key lessons from the MTBOK project is the importance of sustained collaboration. The project was initially marked by an unprecedented spirit of cooperation among competing organizations. However, the very independence of the task force, which was meant to prevent any one organization from exerting undue influence, also led to a lack of ownership once the initial drafts were completed. Without a single entity to champion the MTBOK’s integration, its adoption stalled.
Another lesson is the value of adaptability in professional initiatives. The MTBOK was designed as a living document, but the lack of consistent updates and engagement with stakeholders turned it into a static artifact. A living document requires ongoing dialogue, responsiveness to feedback, and a commitment to evolution. In this case, the initial enthusiasm for collaboration gave way to organizational inertia, and the document was left “to get dusty,” as Hines described.
Moving Forward: The Future of the MTBOK
Despite the challenges, there is renewed hope for the MTBOK. Discussions among the original steward organizations suggest that some are interested in reviving the initiative and completing the work that was started over a decade ago. As the profession continues to evolve, the need for a cohesive body of knowledge remains critical. The MTBOK can still serve as a foundational resource, but it will require renewed effort, a commitment to inclusivity, and a willingness to adapt to the changing landscape of massage therapy.
For the MTBOK to succeed in the future, it will need champions from within the profession—individuals and organizations willing to advocate for its adoption and integration. It will also need to address more advanced KSAs to reflect the growing body of research and specialized practices within massage therapy. The original goal of unifying the profession under a common understanding of competencies, standards, and values is as relevant today as it was when the project began.
Conclusion: The MTBOK’s Legacy and Its Potential Impact
The Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge represents an ambitious attempt to bring unity and professionalism to a diverse field. While it has not yet achieved its full potential, its existence is a testament to the dedication of those who believe in the future of massage therapy. By learning from the past—recognizing the challenges of maintaining momentum, fostering inclusivity, and ensuring adaptability—the profession can once again rally around the MTBOK and use it as a tool to elevate standards, improve education, and ultimately enhance the practice of massage therapy.
The story of the MTBOK is not over. With renewed interest and a concerted effort to engage the entire massage therapy community, the MTBOK can still become the living, breathing foundation it was always intended to be. It is up to the current and future generations of massage therapists to decide whether they will take up this mantle and complete the journey that began so many years ago.
Resources:
May 15, 2010 the MTBOK Task Force and Stewards announced the release of Version 1 of the Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge (MTBOK)(archive.org PDF). The announcement was made at the Highlighting Massage Therapy in CIM Conference in Seattle, Washington.
Checklist of MTBOK Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Coverage
Articles:
Developing, Maintaining, and Using a Body of Knowledge for the Massage Therapy Profession JoEllen M Sefton 1,✉, Michael Shea 2, Chip Hines PMCID: PMC3184471 PMID: 22016755 Pub Med
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE AND BODYWORK , VOLUME 4 , NUMBER 3 , SEPTEMBER 2011 https://ijtmb.org/index.php/ijtmb/article/view/141/179
AFMTE Analysis and Feedback
Click here to access the analysis and feedback on Version One:
Click here to access the complete recalibration and mapping document:
Massage and Bodywork Magazine for the Visually Impaired – The Body of Knowledge July/August 2010 Issue The Body of Knowledge What the MTBOK Is and Why You Should Care By Karrie Osborn
See Archive.org for Documents in various versions.
