ABOUT US
Our Clinic
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Founded in 1982 in Champaign, IL, BodyWork Associates is a multi-location clinic dedicated to advanced, research-informed therapeutic bodywork. Built on the clinical practice and teaching of Doug Nelson, LMT, BCTMB, the clinic now includes more than twenty experienced therapists who provide individualized care for musculoskeletal pain, injury recovery, performance support, and chronic conditions.
Our approach emphasizes Precision Neuromuscular Therapy (Precision NMT): a strategy‑based, evidence-informed method that prioritizes clinical reasoning and long‑term outcomes over fixed protocols. BodyWork Associates serves a diverse clientele—professional and amateur athletes, musicians, and people seeking relief from chronic pain—and the clinic doubles as the training laboratory for Precision NMT seminars and continuing education.
In 2025, we expanded the Nelson Center to support in‑house mentoring and advanced certification pathways. That initiative has grown into a collaborative team of PNMT‑trained therapists who continue Doug Nelson’s commitment to excellence in clinical care, education, and research.
Our mission is to restore function, reduce pain, and empower clients through thoughtful, individualized treatment informed by the latest clinical science.
Our Founder
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Doug Nelson has practiced massage therapy since 1977 and is a recognized leader in clinical practice, education, and research. He founded BodyWork Associates in Champaign, IL, in 1982; today the clinic operates multiple locations with more than twenty therapists and serves as the laboratory for his teaching and clinical development. Doug has treated thousands of clients—from professional athletes to factory workers and high‑level musicians—addressing complex musculoskeletal pain.
He is the founder of Precision Neuromuscular Therapy (PNMT), which teaches therapists how to become excellent problem solvers for musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction. He has personally taught more than 13,000 hours of continuing education and he and the teaching staff have trained thousands of therapists across the country. An active author and columnist, he is the author of three books and is a regular columnist for Massage & Bodywork magazine.
In 2025, Doug took a sabbatical to focus on mentoring his staff and advancing their education toward Precision Neuromuscular Therapy certification. That mentoring work led to the creation and expansion of the Nelson Center and to a collaborative team of his protégés—Precision NMT therapists who continue to advance PNMT practice and education.
Honors include 2013 Massage Therapy Educator of the Year, the 2015 Pioneer Award from the Illinois AMTA, election to the Massage Therapy Hall of Fame (2018), and the AMTA President’s Award (2020). He is a past president of the Massage Therapy Foundation, the national research foundation for the field of massage therapy. He also received the University of Illinois Alumni Associates Distinguished Service Award in 2025 and the Champaign Rotary Vocational Service Award in 2026.