The public hearing on the North Carolina Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy's proposed rules concerning massage establishments and continuing education was held on April 19.

The International SPA Association (ISPA) will present the 2018 ISPA Visionary Award in memory of Lori Hutchinson at the 28th annual ISPA Conference & Expo at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona, September 24­–26.

In an article published on April 6, 2018, NPR writes, “There’s a growing consensus among pain specialists that a low-tech approach focused on lifestyle changes can be more effective.”

The International SPA Association (ISPA) announced branding expert Sally Hogshead and entrepreneur Daymond John as keynote speakers for the 2018 ISPA Conference & Expo at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona, September 24–26.

The 2018 ABMP CE Summit: Common Client Conditions will take place from May 22–24. Featuring six presentations from some of the leaders in the massage and bodywork profession, it will provide an opportunity for attendees to learn valuable techniques to treat the common client conditions massage therapists see in practice every day.

The California State Senate Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development is holding an information hearing titled Update on Regulation of Massage Therapy in California: Business Oversight and Best Practices, on Monday, April 30, 2018, at 12:00 p.m. in Room 3191 of the State Capitol.

Ruth Werner’s premier pathology textbook has been added to the Books of Discovery roster.

The results of the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) 2017 Job Task Analysis indicate that massage and bodywork practitioners are overwhelmingly satisfied with their occupation.

A study published in the April 2018 edition of the Clinical Journal of Pain assessed whether higher chronic pain acceptance is related to lower use of pain medications in patients with chronic pain and spinal cord injury (SCI).

This year the Global Wellness Institute is introducing Massage Makes Me Happy Day on March 20. Part of the Massage Makes Me Happy Initiative, the goal of the day is to “celebrate the proven physical, emotional, and mental benefits of massage.”