Evanston, Illinois (Sept. 19, 2011) – The American Massage Therapy Association® (AMTA) annual national convention October 19-22 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon will feature announcements of new massage therapy research, quality continuing education workshops for massage therapists, association business and the most extensive tradeshow in the profession. Some 1,500 massage therapists and educators are expected at the meeting, which will also include a keynote address by Kevin Carroll, founder of The Katalyst Consultancy and author of Rules of the Red Rubber Ball.

“We may very well have our largest convention ever,” says AMTA President Glenath Moyle. “And, we are especially excited about the release on Thursday of the preliminary analysis of years of massage research from our collaboration with the Penny George Institute for Health and Healing at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota.”

Convention attendees can earn 20 or more continuing education hours and take advantage of pre- and post-convention workshops. AMTA is an approved NCBTMB continuing education provider and each course offered at the convention is submitted for state continuing education, where needed. These two processes ensure that AMTA convention continuing education courses are rigorously vetted for quality standards.

More than 15 research poster displays will allow attendees to learn about areas of clinical research in the profession, while Dr. Brent Bauer of the Mayo Clinic will discuss how massage research can advance practice for all massage therapists. Specialized learning tracks are provided also for those working in or interested in working in spas and for massage therapy school teachers.

This year’s convention is held the week before AMTA’s annual National Massage Therapy Awareness Week®, which seeks to take information about the benefits of massage therapy and the professionalism of AMTA members to the public.

For more information about the American Massage Therapy Association and National Massage Therapy Awareness Week October 23-29, visit AMTA’s website at www.amtamassage.org.

The American Massage Therapy Association is the largest non-profit, professional association serving massage therapists, massage students and massage schools. The association is directed by volunteer leadership and fosters ongoing, direct member-involvement through its 51 chapters. AMTA works to advance the profession through ethics and standards, the promotion of fair and consistent licensing of massage therapists in all states, and public education on the benefits of massage. The association fosters massage therapy research as the basis for evidence-informed massage therapy practice, and is the primary benefactor of the Massage Therapy Foundation.