A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pain, Touch, and Perception

As a witness to Ruth’s professional journey, from being ensconced in tissue-driven narratives to one embracing the multifactorial nature of touch-based interventions, I have found her perspectives to create a wonderfully balanced view on how manual therapies impact the patient. – Walt Fritz, PT, Foundations in Manual Therapy Seminars
Duncan connects contemporary pain science with compassionate practice in a way that is both intellectually rigorous and deeply human. This insightful and accessible book challenges conventional thinking while empowering therapists to support people in pain with greater confidence, scientific understanding, and care. – Professor Earle Abrahamson: Head of Anatomy, Hertfordshire Medical School, UK

This book bridges what therapists feel in their hands with what science now understands about pain, perception, and human meaning.
Ruth Duncan gives practitioners a modern framework that elevates touch beyond technique and into true therapeutic communication.

Ruth Duncan has worked in manual therapy for over twenty years as a clinician, educator, and writer, with longstanding expertise in soft tissue therapy and myofascial release. Her career has spanned hands-on practice, professional education, and leadership across the UK therapy sector. Ruth’s work now focuses on the evolving evidence base in massage and manual therapies, especially how modern pain science and touch research can improve care. This book reflects that mission, helping practitioners move beyond myths and build confident, person-centred care with compassion, clarity, and professional rigour.

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