When: June 9–10, 2005
Where: NIH Campus, Bethesda, MD
Institute: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)

Manual therapies include a host of techniques that focus primarily on the structures and systems of the body, including the bones and joints, the soft tissues, and the circulatory and lymphatic systems. Examples include chiropractic and osteopathic manipulation, and massage therapy. Surveys of the U.S. population suggest that between 3 percent and 16 percent of adults receive chiropractic manipulation in a given year. Between 2 percent and 14 percent receive some form of massage therapy.


NIH and the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) will sponsor a conference covering the underlying biology of manual therapies. Experts from the NIH and CIHR will join academic, patient advocacy, and professional organizations to assess current knowledge and identify opportunities for further research. Researchers, health care practitioners, patient advocates, and the public are all invited to participate in the presentations and breakout sessions.

Next Steps
It costs $35 to attend the two-day conference. To learn more and register online, visit http://nccam.nih.gov/news/upcomingmeetings/manual-conference.htm.

^ TOP OF PAGE