RESEARCH TIMELINE / 2011–2026
Papers and presentations, newest first
Papers are dated by first publication; conferences by the day of presentation or the meeting dates. Titles of Japanese-language items are translated.
2026
Softening of the deep myofascial interface after a low-force 4.9 N manual intervention: implications for Long COVID/ME/CFS
28th World Congress of the International College of Psychosomatic Medicine (ICPM 2026), Fukuoka
Relates the abdominal-wall SWE study in 20 healthy men to the published Long COVID / ME/CFS case.
Clinical improvement after low-load cervical myofascial intervention in patients with Long COVID: a case series
28th World Congress of the International College of Psychosomatic Medicine (ICPM 2026), Fukuoka
Two patients, including the previously published case.
Durability of the effect in patients who became pain-free after Kanshoho for whiplash-associated pain persisting 6 months or more after injury [title translated from Japanese]
35th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Pathophysiology
Course after attainment of a pain-free state in chronic whiplash-associated pain.
Resolution of Long COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms following kanshoho, a low-pressure muscle relaxation technique: a case report
Explore (NY). 2026;22(3):103374
doi:10.1016/j.explore.2026.103374. Issue dated May–June 2026.
Immediate effect and 4-week outcome of a single Kanshoho session for chronic whiplash-associated disorder 6 months or more after injury: responses stratified by attainment of a pain-free state [title translated from Japanese]
55th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for the Study of Chronic Pain, Nara
General session 1 (pathophysiological assessment), presentation 1-6.
2025
Rapid changes in blood metabolome induced by the low-pressure muscle relaxation technique “Kanshoho”: a randomized single-blind crossover trial
34th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Pathophysiology
Randomised single-blind crossover analysis.
The muscle relaxation effects of gentle, focal load (4.9–7.4 N) with a narrow contact area: a narrative review of Kanshoho and conventional manual therapies
Cureus. 2025;17(8):e89646
doi:10.7759/cureus.89646. Open access.
The potential of Kanshoho in treating pain in fibromyalgia [title translated from Japanese]
66th Meeting of the Japanese Society of Psychosomatic Medicine
Symposium 8: psychosomatic approaches to fibromyalgia.
Effect of Kanshoho on lumbar muscle tone [title translated from Japanese]
Journal of Physical Therapy Fundamentals. 2025;28(1):32–38
doi:10.24780/jjptf.JJPTF_2023-17. In Japanese; issue released on J-STAGE 12 November 2025.
2024
Severe fibromyalgia alleviated by the unique muscle relaxation method of applying low force: a case report
Medicine. 2024;103(16):e37929
doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000037929. Open access.
2023
Factors influencing the muscle-relaxing effect of Kanshoho [title translated from Japanese]
10th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Physical Therapy for Prevention
Abstract YP-26-4; abstract released on J-STAGE 31 March 2024.
Effect of load magnitude and contact area in Kanshoho on relaxation of the lumbar back muscles [title translated from Japanese]
42nd Kanto-Koshinetsu Block Physical Therapy Congress
Abstract P-028.
2012
The effect of Kanshoho on low back pain (lumbago)
Japanese Journal of Integrative Medicine. 2012;5(1):62–67
In Japanese. Muscle hardness and low back pain before and after a session.
Verification of pain reduction by Kanshoho applied to the lower back [title translated from Japanese]
15th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Integrative Medicine
Record of the presentation held by the contract research organisation.
2011
Effect of Kanshoho applied to the lower back on the performance of sprinters [title translated from Japanese]
66th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine; Japanese Journal of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine. 2011;60(6):604
An early presentation in track sprinters.
Several studies can be followed from conference presentation to paper. Work submitted, manuscripts and conference abstracts are listed below the timeline with their status.
Peer-reviewed papers
The three English-language papers are open access. For the two Japanese-language papers, the study pages on this site give the design and the main data in English.
Presentation slides available online
Submitted manuscripts and conference research
| Item | Content and status | Study page |
|---|---|---|
| Abdominal-wall SWE (2026 abstract; Study A) | Layer-specific SWE of the lateral abdominal wall and blood markers. Manuscript submitted. Trial registration UMIN000056162. This site gives a summary limited to the registry entry and the ICPM 2026 abstract; details follow publication. | Layer-specific SWE |
| Chronic whiplash (2026 presentations; Manuscript B) | Single session and 6-month follow-up in chronic whiplash-associated disorder. Presented at two conferences in 2026; unpublished manuscript. | Chronic whiplash-associated disorder |
| Metabolome manuscript | “Comprehensive analysis of changes in blood metabolites after muscle relaxation treatment Kanshoho: a randomized, single-blind, crossover study”. Related to the 2025 conference presentation. | Blood metabolome |
Full texts and accompanying data can be discussed for research purposes, subject to consent and ethics conditions. Please use the collaboration page .
Conference abstracts (ICPM 2026)
- Abstract C: Clinical improvement after low-load cervical myofascial intervention in patients with Long COVID: a case series. Poster, ICPM 2026 (Fukuoka). Two patients, including the previously published case. Presented by Haruka Amitani, 24 September 2026, poster P1-43. Official programme
- Abstract D: Softening of the deep myofascial interface after a low-force 4.9 N manual intervention: implications for Long COVID/ME/CFS. Symposium, ICPM 2026 (Fukuoka). Relates the study in 20 healthy men to the published case report. Presented by Haruka Amitani, 25 September 2026, symposium DSY11-2. Official programme
Both were presented at the 28th World Congress of the International College of Psychosomatic Medicine, Fukuoka International Congress Center, 24–26 September 2026. Congress website
How this list is kept
When the review, acceptance or publication status of an item changes, we update the reference here and the corresponding study page.
Last updated: 2 October 2026