Abstract
A qualitative study of online intervention with six participants was undertaken over an eight-week period, to assess the personal growth and development of a manual-bodyworker transferring to online intervention during the covid-19 pandemic in March 2020. Participants were of no specific age or gender and a variety of pathologies were treated. The content of the intervention was developed and adapted from the ‘teaching’ aspect of the Jing HFMAST protocol. The aims were to observe and reflect on the development in skill set and capability of the therapist. Four main themes were established; Covid-19 lockdown changed the delivery of the existing massage format, the therapist’s ability to prescribe safe and appropriate rehabilitation exercise, therapeutic alliance and exercise adherence. The study demonstrated learning and growth in the skill set and development of working with participants online, in the absence of manual bodywork.