Call for Papers: IJTMB Special Issue on Pain Management and Pain Science
Call for Papers for a Special Issue
“TMB for Pain Management”
Submission deadline: December 31, 2026
Massage therapy and bodywork (TMB) are integrative treatments that include a variety of techniques to support the body in managing both physical and emotional conditions. Pain, in its many forms, is among the most common reasons individuals seek healthcare and remains one of the most complex challenges facing practitioners and patients alike. Emerging research demonstrates that TMB may play a role in pain management by addressing not only the physical experience of pain but also its psychological and social dimensions. However, more scientific evidence is needed to better understand the mechanisms, applications, and outcomes of TMB in pain care.
This special issue on TMB for Pain Management will showcase the potential for massage and bodywork to impact the understanding, treatment, and lived experience of pain, as well as quality of life and overall wellness. Pain-related topics may include but are not limited to:
- Acute pain
- Chronic pain
- Neuropathic pain
- Musculoskeletal pain (including low back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain)
- Post-surgical pain
- Cancer-related pain
- Headaches and migraines
- Pain in palliative and end-of-life care
- Pediatric and adolescent pain
- Pain in aging populations
- Pain and trauma recovery
- Interprofessional and integrative approaches to pain care
- Pain education for practitioners and patients
- The role of massage therapy in the biopsychosocial model of pain
This special edition aims to highlight a full spectrum of evidence, applications, and perspectives that demonstrate the benefits of massage therapy and bodywork in addressing a critical global issue: optimizing pain management to enhance health and well-being.
We invite researchers, educators, practitioners, students, and advocates to submit original research, case reports, literature reviews, commentaries, and more (please see below). Together, we can advance the conversation about TMB for pain management and contribute to a stronger, more evidence-informed foundation for practice.
The International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (IJTMB) is a quarterly open access, peer-reviewed publication intended to accommodate the diverse needs of the rapidly-expanding therapeutic massage and bodywork community.
Manuscript Submission Information
If you are interested in submitting a manuscript for the special edition, please submit online via https://ijtmb.org/index.php/ijtmb/about/submissions. If you have not submitted a manuscript with IJTMB before you will need to register/create an account.
Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline (31st December 2026). All submissions that pass screening for the special edition will be peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published in the special edition of the journal towards the end of 2027. We encourage the submission of papers on:
- Original research and clinical management exploring the effects or mechanisms of massage therapy and bodywork in relation to pain (including acute, chronic, neuropathic, musculoskeletal, post-surgical, cancer-related, or other types of pain)
- Case studies or case series exploring the role of TMB in pain management
- Reviews (quantitative or qualitative) on TMB and pain management
- Educational research or commentaries on preparing practitioners for pain-focused care, including innovative ways to teach pain science
- Research or commentaries on the practices of massage therapists and bodyworkers in relation to pain science and pain care
- Study protocols for massage therapy and bodywork research focused on pain management
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through an anonymous peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Information for Authors page.
Reviewer Information
If you are interested in becoming a peer reviewer in general or for the special issue, please login to your profile and complete the “Role” section if you are already registered. Make sure that the “Reviewer” box is checked and please identify your reviewing interests. These should include areas of expertise (e.g. quantitative methods, case reports, manual lymphatic drainage, etc.). If you are interested in specifically reviewing manuscripts in the special edition please contact Amanda Baskwill, Executive Editor and Editor-in-Chief ExecEditor@ijtmb.org.
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