Plenary presentations

Is rainfall a therapist? Challenging seven axioms of the physical therapies.

Presented by Dave Nicholls

When leaves fall from trees in autumn and decompose into the soil, is this an act of therapy? When rain falls on parched earth after months of drought, is this physical therapy? If not, why not?

In my previous book, Physiotherapy Otherwise, I suggested there is an "intensity" lying at the heart of all the physical therapies: a force that explains why massage, manual therapy, heat and cold, water, and skilled touch have endured across all civilisations since recorded time. For the past five years I've been trying to understand what these intensities are and how far they extend. In this keynote I want to test seven commonly held assumptions about physical therapy: that it is exclusively human, intentional and conscious, local, immediate, beneficial, purposeful, and physical. By questioning each of these axioms, I hope to open up a different way of thinking about what the physical therapies actually are, not as discrete clinical encounters performed by qualified practitioners but as expressions of something more universal. This is not an argument that diminishes your work. Rather, it suggests that massage therapists are inheritors of something ancient and durable. The profession may face challenges around status and recognition, but the work will endure. People will always be drawn to skilled, caring touch. The question is: how might understanding this change how we think, teach, practise, and research the physical therapies in the decades to come?

From tradition to evidence: the evolution of massage therapy research

Presented by Ann Blair Kennedy and Sarah Fogarty

Massage therapy has a long and diverse history rooted in traditional healing practices across cultures, yet its journey into modern scientific inquiry is relatively recent. This presentation traces the evolution of massage research from early anecdotal reports and descriptive case studies to the emergence of controlled trials, qualitative inquiry, and integrative health research.

The presentation will explore key milestones in the development of massage therapy as an evidence-informed practice, including the first clinical studies, the growth of randomised controlled trials, and the growing value of patient-centred and qualitative research in understanding therapeutic outcomes. Together, these developments show how massage therapy has moved towards becoming a more evidence-informed practice.

The power of presence: how practitioner regulation influences client nervous systems

Presented by Amanda Fincham

As massage therapists we spend years learning techniques, assessment methods and treatment protocols. Yet one of the most powerful therapeutic tools I encountered wasn't something I learned in a technique class - it was the quality of my presence.

Over time, I noticed that the state I brought into the treatment room seemed to influence what unfolded. When I was calm, grounded and fully attentive, clients often settled more quickly'breathing slowed, bodies softened, the treatment found its own ease. On days when my mind was busier or my nervous system more activated, the interaction felt noticeably different.

Neuroscience gives us some language for this. We communicate constantly through subtle cues - facial expression, tone, breath, body language - and through processes like autonomic nervous system entrainment. Our bodies are always sensing and responding to the physiological state of those around us. So, in a therapeutic context, how much does the practitioner's nervous system shape the client's experience of safety and change?

This presentation explores practitioner presence, nervous system regulation and therapeutic attunement in hands-on therapy. It suggests that how we show up may matter as much as what we do, and that cultivating presence may support not only better treatment outcomes but a more sustainable way of practising.

More than a rub: reflections on the psychosocial impact of Massage therapy

Presented by Clare Carey

Massage therapy has traditionally been taught and practised through a biomechanical lens, with a strong focus on identifying and treating the site of pain or dysfunction. However, clinical experience often reveals a more complex reality. This presentation explores the role of psychosocial factors in shaping client outcomes and the therapeutic experience.

Drawing on over a decade of experience in elite sport and private practice, this reflection considers how client expectations, emotional states, and the need to feel heard and validated can influence both the perception of pain and the effectiveness of treatment. In many cases, clients present seeking relief, yet what they value most is not always the specific technique applied but the experience of care, connection, and being understood.

The presentation will reflect on the tension between "doing" (technique-driven practice) and "being" (relational and communicative presence), highlighting how the therapeutic relationship may be a key driver of outcomes. It will also consider how massage therapists can integrate evidence-informed, biopsychosocial approaches without losing the practical and hands-on nature of their work.

Key learnings include the importance of active listening, validation, and communication, as well as recognising when the conversation may be as therapeutic as the treatment itself. This reflection aims to encourage massage therapists to broaden their understanding of effectiveness, moving beyond purely physical outcomes to consider the whole person.

Tales from the table: what 25 years in massage practice has taught me about communication, confidence and client engagement

Presented by Nicola Hogan

After 25 years in clinical practice, some of my most valuable lessons haven't come from textbooks or courses but from what happens on the table: in the conversations, the setbacks, the patterns, and the people.

his presentation reflects on those "tales from the table" and what they reveal about why some clients improve, while others plateau or return with the same issue time and again. Drawing on long-term experience in remedial massage, along with mentoring roles supporting other therapists, this session explores the gap between treatment and outcomes through three core elements: communication, confidence, and client engagement.

Through a series of de-identified, practice-based reflections, I will highlight the importance of truly hearing our clients and meeting expectations to support treatment outcomes. These stories illustrate how small but intentional shifts in communication, clarity, and therapeutic presence can significantly change results. Rather than focusing on technique, this presentation invites therapists to reflect on the human side of practice - how we explain, guide and build trust - and how these elements underpin clinical effectiveness.