Partners in Research: Emory University and Atlanta School of Massage
The worlds of conventional medicine and complementary healthcare are working together more closely every day.
Atlanta School of Massage has long believed therapeutic massage is an essential component of any holistic program that fosters health and wellness.
Now, our graduates are providing Emory University with the expertise and experience required to investigate alternative wellness therapies and the science behind them.
ASM’s research team is partnered with Emory in clinical trials to study the biological benefits of massage therapy in these areas:
Efficacy of Massage Therapy in the Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder
The major goals of this project are to study the treatment of GAD with massage therapy, while gathering the preliminary data necessary to design a larger, blinded, randomized and controlled clinical trial.
Efficacy of Swedish Massage Therapy on Cancer-related Fatigue in Cancer Survivors
This study investigates the biological and therapeutic effects of Swedish massage therapy for cancer-related fatigue. The primary hypothesis is that SMT will ameliorate symptoms of CRF more than light touch or wait list control. A secondary hypothesis is that SMT will ameliorate CRF by decreasing inflammatory immune activation, as indexed by circulating concentrations of key pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines.
Learn more about these initiatives in this video featuring of Emory University… Dr. Mark Hyman Rapaport
Atlanta School of Massage Research Team
Erika Larson
Erika is the lead research massage therapist in the partnership between Emory and Atlanta School of Massage. She is a 2007 graduate of ASM.
Prior to completing her studies at Atlanta School of Massage, Erika obtained two degrees from Georgia Institute of Technology: Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) 2004 and Master of Science in Bioengineering (MSBIOE) 2006.
She serves as a full-time Orthotic/Prosthetic Technician at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and aspires to have massage therapy integrated into the care of children requiring orthotic or prosthetic intervention.
Dedric Carroll
Dedric has worked on two clinical research studies with Emory University, and has authored the protocol for massage as treatment intervention for two forthcoming clinical trials. He is a 2008 graduate of Atlanta School of Massage.
Dedric maintains a private practice as a neuromuscular therapist at Stillpoint Massage in Atlanta, a company he founded in upon graduating from ASM. Additionally, he routinely volunteers his time and services to those who need, but cannot afford, quality massage care.
Sarah Istambouli
Sarah joined the Atlanta School of Massage Research Team in 2015. She is a triple graduate of ASM and currently holds a dual license in Massage Therapy and Esthetics, is a Certified Energy Medicine practitioner, and a Certified Instructor of Infant Touch and Massage.
Shanese Mark
Shanese joined the Atlanta School of Massage Research Team in 2015 where her skills as a therapist provide broad-based contributions to Emory’s research initiatives.
She is certified in Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage and runs her private practice at Well Kneaded, the healing spa she founded in 2012. She is also a part-time instructor at Atlanta School of Massage.