Call for papers - Manual therapies for physical and mental health

Guest Editors

Martin Descarreaux, DC, PhD, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Canada
Sarah Fogarty, PhD, Western Sydney University, Australia
Lindsay Mary Gorrell, PhD, University of Zurich, Switzerland

Submission Status: Open | Submission Deadline: 30 June 2025

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies invites submissions to our Collection on Manual therapies.

Manual therapies have long been used to address physical ailments such as musculoskeletal pain, tension, and mobility issues. More recently, the role of manual therapies in supporting mental well-being has gained attention, with preliminary evidence suggesting these therapies can also reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. This Collection aims to explore the dual benefits of manual therapies for both physical and mental health.

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Meet the Guest Editors

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Martin Descarreaux, DC, PhD, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Canada

Dr Descarreaux graduated from the Université du Québec à trois-Rivières (UQTR) first cohort of the chiropractic program in 1998, and completed a PhD in kinesiology at the Université Laval in 2004. He is a full professor at UQTR in the Department of Human Kinetics and an associated researcher at the Institut Franco-Européen de Chiropraxie (Paris and Toulouse). His current research projects involve the characterization of neurophysiological and biomechanical responses to spinal manipulation, the study of pain and pain-related psychological components on trunk neuromuscular strategies, motor learning principles applied to spinal manipulation. Dr Descarreaux is currently Head of International research Chair in neuromusculoskeletal health and codirector of the “CommunAutés Rurales et Éloignées en Santé” Research Network (CARES).

Sarah Fogarty, PhD, Western Sydney University, Australia

Dr Fogarty graduated as a massage therapist and acupuncturist in 2001 and completed her PhD in 2011. She continues to practice and works in a clinic with a women’s health focus. She is an adjunct fellow at Western Sydney University. She is currently serving as an associate editor for the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. Her current research is exploring Swedish massage as an adjunct approach to Help suppOrt individuals Pregnant after Experiencing a prior Stillbirth (HOPES-project).

Lindsay Mary Gorrell, PhD, University of Zurich, Switzerland

Dr Gorrell completed her Chiropractic training and a Master of Research at Macquarie University, Australia before moving to the University of Calgary, Canada where she completed a PhD in spinal biomechanics. Following this, Lindsay moved to UZH and worked as an International Research Fellow before becoming a Research Associate, Lecturer and Assistant Chiropractor in the Department of Chiropractic Medicine at the Balgrist University Hospital, UZH, Switzerland. Lindsay is currently studying a Master of Science in Medical Education at Oxford University, England, and teaches in the 4th and 5th year Chiropractic Skills courses at UZH. She has practiced as a Chiropractor in Australia, Canada, and Switzerland.

About the Collection

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies invites submissions to our Collection on Manual therapies.

Manual therapies have long been used to address physical ailments such as musculoskeletal pain, tension, and mobility issues. More recently, the role of manual therapies in supporting mental well-being has gained attention, with preliminary evidence suggesting these therapies can also reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. This Collection aims to explore the dual benefits of manual therapies for both physical and mental health. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

Research on the effectiveness of manual therapies in treating physical conditions, including chronic pain, injury recovery, and improving functional mobility
Studies examining how manual therapies contribute to mental wellness, such as their impact on reducing stress, alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression
Investigations into the physiological, neurological, and psychological mechanisms through which manual therapies exert their effects on the body and mind
Exploration of traditional and culturally significant manual therapies, such as acupressure, Shiatsu, Ayurvedic, Thai massage, and others
Research that assesses the safety, efficacy, and potential risks associated with the use of manual therapies
Exploration of new and emerging manual therapy techniques

Our goal is to foster a deeper understanding of manual therapies and their potential to enhance health outcomes, and contribute to the integration of these practices into mainstream healthcare.

There are currently no articles in this collection.

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select "Manual therapies for physical and mental health" from the dropdown menu.

Articles will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process and are subject to all of the journal’s standard policies. Articles will be added to the Collection as they are published.

The Editors have no competing interests with the submissions which they handle through the peer review process. The peer review of any submissions for which the Editors have competing interests is handled by another Editorial Board Member who has no competing interests.