The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) defines this group of therapies as “practices (that) focus primarily on the structures and systems of the body, including bones and joints, soft tissues, and circulatory and lymphatic systems” (2012, p. 2). Therapies that are found in this category on the National Institutes of Health website include spinal manipulation such as done by chiropractors and osteopaths, Feldenkrais method, Alexander technique, and massage. Massage and chiropractic medicine are among the most commonly used complementary therapies. Both of these therapies have also been used with children. A recent addition to the list of movement therapies often classified with body-based therapies is pilates, which has become very popular for both health club and home use.

Both spinal manipulation and massage have been used for centuries in the treatment of illness and the promotion of health. Massage has had a long history in nursing and was included as a nursing intervention in many of the early nursing texts. Massage has also been part of ancient health care systems in many countries: Japan, China, Greece, Egypt, and Rome (NCCAM, 2012).