- Atlanta's top massage therapy institute, Atlanta School of
Massage (atlantaschoolofmassage.com), is proud to announce that the
results of our joint research study with Emory
University, "Controlled pilot study of the effects of neuromuscular
therapy in patients with Parkinson's disease," have been published
in Movement Disorders, Volume 21, Issue 12, December 2006, Pages:
2127-2133
Controlled pilot study of the effects of neuromuscular therapy in
patients with Parkinson's disease Laurie Craig, Director of
Education at Atlanta School of Massage served as the Principal
Investigator for the study. Dr. Jorge Juncos, Emory University
School of Medicine, Neurology at Wesley Woods, was the scientific
advisor. The study was funded by Emory University's Center for
Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Neurodegenerative
Diseases.

The findings of the study suggest that neuromuscular therapy (NMT),
a form of massage therapy that focuses on soft tissue manipulation
to address the underlying causes of pain, can improve motor and
selected non-motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease and
that this effect is more durable for the motor symptoms. Parkinson's
motor symptoms include things such as tremors, rigidity and fatigue.
This important research demonstrates the dedication that Atlanta
School of Massage has to finding new ways to improve the quality of
life through the use of therapeutic massage. Further research is
needed to understand more about these effects, but in the future
this could mean that patients may be able to rely more on massage
therapy to help minimize the impact of Parkinson's disease on their
bodies.

Laurie Craig and Dr. Jorge Juncos are collaborating on a larger
multi-center grant to further document the positive impact of NMT on
the motor subscale of the United Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale
(UPDRS) for patients living with Parkinson's disease.

Atlanta School of Massage would like to recognize the other members
of this incredible team who made this research possible. Atlanta
School of Massage graduate, Anna Svircev, was the research
associate; the study served as her thesis for a Master of Public
Health degree from Emory University. Rick Garbowski, Massage Therapy
Program Director, Atlanta School of Massage developed the
standardized massage therapy protocol. Janie Richardson, was the
massage therapist for the study and Dawn Cone was the blinded test
administrator; both are graduates of the massage therapy institute.
Dr. Michael Haber, Emory University School of Public Health,
Department of Biostatistics, was the statistician for the project.

The research was funded under NIH; Grant Number: 5 P30AT00609-03, 1
RO-1 AT00612-03. The abstract and information for obtaining copies
of the article can be found at www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-
bin/abstract/113399440/ABSTRACT.

About the Massage Therapy Institute: Atlanta School of Massage

The Atlanta School of Massage, a pioneer and international leader
among massage therapy schools is celebrating 25 successful years in
massage therapy training. In keeping with their pioneering
tradition, they continue to grow their long history of
accomplishments:

- First Massage Therapy school to open in the state of Georgia -
First Massage Therapy school in Georgia to be Accredited by the
Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology
(ACCSCT) - Named a 2004 School of Distinction by the ACCSCT - First
Massage Therapy school in Georgia to be approved by the US
Department of Education to offer Title IV funding - First to partner
with Emory University on research into the beneficial effects of
neuromuscular therapy on patients with Parkinson's disease - The
first Massage Therapy school in Georgia to open a skin care
division, Atlanta Institute of Aesthetics

Atlanta School of Massage is located at 2 Dunwoody Park, Atlanta
Georgia 30338. For more information, call 1-888-276-6277 or visit
atlantaschoolofmassage.com. For more information on our skin care
division, Atlanta Institute of Aesthetics, one of the premier
esthetician schools, visit atlantainstituteofaesthetics.com.

January 21, 2007 (Movement Disorders medical journal)