Dr. Alisa Johnson: Innovating for Impact

1h 21m

Dr. Elisa Johnson, a massage therapist, pain researcher, and Director at the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH), delivers an engaging presentation on strengthening massage therapy’s role in healthcare through research. She draws on clinical experience and discusses the current evidence base for massage therapy, including its effectiveness for chronic pain, neck pain, headaches, mental health, and cancer care. The session highlights both strengths and gaps in the research, explores practical ways clinicians can contribute, and examines innovations in measurement and technology. Dr. Johnson also emphasises the importance of building credibility with health economists and policymakers, encouraging practitioners to actively participate in advancing the profession’s integration into mainstream healthcare.