Need Help?
Need research help and not sure where to turn? Get help from the library via email, chat, and online appointments or stop by one of our reference desks during open hours of operation.
Contact NHS Librarian, Debra Smith, smithkak@cod.edu, or Adjunct Reference Librarian, Amanda Crowley, crowleya1500@cod.edu
Recommended Databases
Curious where to start searching for PT-related journal articles? Browse this A-Z list of Physical Therapy Journals to identify "best bet" databases!
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Academic Search Ultimate This link opens in a new window
Academic Search Complete provides both popular and scholarly journal coverage and video clips for nearly all academic areas of study including: social sciences, humanities, education, technology, engineering, physics, chemistry, language & linguistics, arts & literature, medical sciences and ethnic studies. Academic Search Complete is a great starting point for most general research.
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Associates Programs Source Plus
Associates Programs Source Plus contains popular and scholarly articles and videos for areas such as accounting, agriculture, childcare, computer science, cosmetology, criminal justice, culinary arts, fashion, fire science, forestry, graphic arts, hospitality, interior design, massage therapy, plumbing, veterinary technology, and welding.
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Cochrane LibraryThe Cochrane Library is a collection of databases that contain high-quality, independent evidence to inform healthcare decision-making. Try searching for "massage therapy" to see reviews involving massage.
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PEDroThe international Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) is a free database including 53,000 trials, reviews and guidelines evaluating physiotherapy interventions.
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PubMed - National Library of Medicine
The PubMed database, freely available via the Internet, provides citations and abstracts to articles in medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, allied health, and the pre-clinical sciences; it also indexes articles from the Index to Dental Literature and the International Nursing Index. PubMed is a service of the US National Library of Medicine. Citations may include links to full-text articles from PubMed Central or publisher websites.
Need help searching in PubMed? Click here for a helpful tip sheet.
View all of the COD Library's Health & Medicine Databases
Massage Therapy Resources
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American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA): Massage & HealthFrom relieving pain to managing cancer symptoms and reducing depression, explore the many health advantages of massage therapy
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Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP)Provides a comprehensive program of massage liability and business property insurance that offers members benefits including free CE hours, dozens of member discounts, a free business website, the award-winning Massage & Bodywork magazine, dedicated legislative advocacy, and more
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Massage Therapy Foundation (MTF)This non-profit organization provides research grants studying the science behind therapeutic massage. The Foundation founded and publishes an open-access, peer-reviewed scientific journal and provides many educational resources for massage therapists, educators, and students.
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International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (IJTMB)an open access, peer-reviewed publication intended to accommodate the diverse needs of the rapidly-expanding therapeutic massage and bodywork community. Principal sections of the journal span the areas of research, education, and clinical practice
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Massage MagazineIn publication longer than any other massage magazine, it is the preferred trade publication for massage therapists. It publishes articles on technique, business, news, self-care, research and more
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Massage Therapy Journal (AMTA)Features articles on massage techniques, the science of how massage can help for client conditions, business guidance, self-care tips and more
Research Tips
Not familiar with researching for professional or evidence-based health information? Ask COD Library Reference Staff for help or take a look at these useful resources:
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Physiopedia's How to Perform a Simple Literature SearchFinding the best evidence requires a systematic and strategic approach. It might be overwhelming at first, but searching literature can be mastered by learning the basic skills presented in this article.
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COD Library's Research FundamentalsResearch is a process and although it seems to have a starting point and an end point with several discrete steps in between, the process is more like a map that asks you to retrace your steps now and then in order to reach your goal. These pages help you find strategies and resources to help you every step of the way.
Database (and Library catalog) Advanced Search Tips
- Use the features of the database (print, navigation) before using your browser's back or print buttons
- For keyword searching, use the advanced search feature so that you can use multiple terms and set limits (date range, peer-reviewed, full text, etc)
- Remember that databases require you to spell correctly
- To limit your search results to journals with editorial boards (or some type of review process by health professionals) look under the “limit” section of the initial search page. Select the option to limit to peer reviewed (some databases also call them refereed publications). Refereed publications and peer reviewed are synonyms for board-reviewed or scholarly journals. Don’t forget to set your date limits too!
- When creating your search strategy, take a moment to write down your key words and any synonyms (alternative words meaning the same thing) that might be used. Also think about how you connect your key words together.
- Connect different concepts with the word AND indicating that you want both concepts to appear in each retrieved article.
- Connect variations (different words could be used for the same thing) with OR indicating that at least one variation should occur in the articles retrieved.
- Put parentheses around actions that you want to be done first (just like you may have done in an algebra class).
- Here are some examples of synonyms and “nesting” (using parentheses):
- ("massage therap*" OR "therapeutic touch")
- ("water therap*" OR hydrotherapy)
- Put the key concepts together like this example:
("massage therap*" OR "therapeutic touch") AND ("water therap*" OR hydrotherapy)
- capitalize connecting words (AND, OR) to let the database know that you are giving a command, not just listing a word to be found
- Use an asterisk (*) to find all possible endings. For example, therap* finds therapy, therapies, therapeutic
Look below for recommended article databases!
Requesting Articles
If you find a citation for an article that you'd like, but no full-text is available (or you're being asked to pay for the article)...
Follow the steps below:
- Start by searching the journal name (NOT the article title) Journal Locator.
- If the result indicates that the journal is available in a COD database, click on the database link and search by article title.
- If there are no relevant results, go to InterLibrary Loan forms.
- Fill out the Article form. In about 3-5 business days, an electronic copy of the article will be delivered to your email.
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