I'm recruiting for a Research Project

Evaluating the effects of The Jing Method™ on Stress, Anxiety and Depression In Adults with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

I originally trained as a nutritionist, specialising in gut health in 2017. This training was one of the highest levels of qualification with a 3 year diploma including a year of bio-medicine. I have been a massage therapist since 2019 and I specialise in the treatment of chronic pain and supporting stress. In my clinic, I work mostly with stressed individuals that have a range of chronic pain from headaches, fibromyalgia and digestive issues such as irritable bowel syndrome. My work focuses on the support nutrition, massage and mindfulness has on the body, the gut and the gut-brain connection.

What is the Study for?

In 2022, I embarked on an advanced qualification to further my interest and career in supporting pain and stress: the BTEC Level 6 in Advanced Clinical and Sports Massage offered by Jing Advanced Massage. This course is currently the highest level of education a manual therapist can achieve in the UK. The study is overseen by experts in the field of Musculoskeletal Pain, Education, Sports Science and Psychology.

As part of the BTEC, we are given an opportunity to design and carry out a study into the effects of clinical massage wellness programmes. This will go towards a growing body of work supporting the effectiveness of massage, sometimes these studies go on to be published. I have chosen to investigate the effects of the stress and pain advanced massage protocol on irritable bowel syndrome symptoms.

Do you match the criteria?

I am looking for adults; any gender/non binary/trans welcome, who are over 18 years old and experience the following:

Irritable Bowel Syndrome diagnosis - this can be any of the 3 - IBS-C (constipation) IBS-D (diarrhoea) or IBS-M (Mixed)

alongside:
Stress Anxiety Low mood/depression

OR suspected long-term undiagnosed irritable bowel syndrome including the following:

Abdominal pain/cramping - often worse after eating Bloating
feeling of fullness
Diarrhea/constipation and fluctuation of the 2 often combined with Mucus
Wind/flatulence/excessive gas Digestive Issues

alongside: Stress Anxiety Low mood/depression

Consider the following questions:

How long have you had your symptoms?
How often do you experience these symptoms?
Do you have any other symptoms, such as weight loss, rectal bleeding, or anemia?
Have you had any recent infections or illnesses?
Do you have a family history of digestive disorders?

Excluding:
New medication: taken for less than 12 weeks
Any ongoing medical issue that is being investigated/medication which may affect well-being
Any other major health conditions Other chronic digestive diagnosis/symptoms eg. Crohns, Celiac Disease

What does the study involve?

If you fit the criteria and decide to participate in this study, it will begin the week commencing 14th July and end week commencing November 10th 2025.

Participation is completely voluntary and you can withdraw from the study at any time. Please check that you can make ALL of the dates below.

14th July - consultation week - this can be in person or online.

21st July - 25th August - Control period - week 1-6 - a form is completed online on the same day each week; recording the level of your stress/anxiety/low mood and or depression. There will also be another shorter form given to measure your IBS symptoms at week 1, 3 and 6. These forms will be in an easy to use online format.


1st September - 10th October - Massage protocol for stress - Week 7-12 - Massage on the same day each week. 6 days post treatment - a form will be sent out to be completed before the next massage, this is to give time for you to complete the self care. An IBS form will be sent on week 7, 9 and 12.

10th November - 4 weeks no intervention where you carry on with normal activities followed by a check in with another of the same 2 forms online measuring stress, anxiety, low mood/depression and IBS symptoms
.
What is the benefit of taking part?
This study is focusing on The Jing Method™ of Advanced Clinical Massage which is a unique outcome based system for addressing chronic musculoskeletal pain through a tried and tested fusion of advanced soft tissue and massage techniques. With the focus of this study being on the stress, anxiety, low mood/depression that may be alongside or a cause of IBS; and how specific massage incorporating hot stones may be able to support the symptoms. Self care tools will be given alongside an advanced clinical massage.

What commitment is required from me?
Please only commit to this study if you are available to attend all of the sessions, if you have any planned trips, then this may not be suitable for you.

These sessions are being offered to you at a significantly discounted rate of £35 per session (6 massages in total and an in-depth initial consultation/13.13 a week for 16 weeks.

The total is £210. I respectfully ask that this payment is made in full at the beginning of the study.

What happens after the study finishes?

Your data will be mathematically analysed together with all the other participants’ data. The findings from this analysis will be communicated to the project supervisor and possibly other practitioners.

Once my research is published, I will share with you my findings and invite you to the conference, where my colleagues and I will be presenting all the findings.

It is very important that you don’t engage in another pain-relieving activity including the use of pain medication, trying a new therapy for your pain/wellbeing/stress without letting me know.

What do you need to do now?
If you fit the criteria above, and are interested in taking part in this study the next step to fill out the form.

https://eu.jotform.com/assign/251464629097062/251477845077064

Please consider the dates above and that you can commit to them, if you do have holidays booked then this won’t be suitable for you.

Thank you again for considering this project, your participation may make a difference to your pain/stress/wellbeing and that of others.

Keep in touch if you’re interested in seeing the results!

They’ll be published April 2026.