January 2004 | Vol. 5, No. 1
© 2004 American Massage Therapy Association®
All rights reserved.
Hello, e-touch reader!
It seems more consumers are reaping the many benefits of regular massage therapy. This month's article examines the latest statistics from the American Massage Therapy Association's 2003 Massage Therapy Consumer Survey. The numbers are encouraging. Twenty-one percent of the respondents reported receiving a massage within the last 12 months.
If you have yet to experience massage, start the new year off right. Find a professional massage therapist near you today!
Happy New Year!
The
Editors
E-mail: etouch@amtamassage.org
NOTE: Internet browsers and E-mail programs differ widely. If Web and/or E-mail links from this issue are not highlighted on your screen, simply copy and paste them into your browser’s address line or E-mail form as appropriate.
MORE CONSUMERS CONTINUE TO SEEK MASSAGE
If you are a fan of massage, you are not alone. In just 12 months, consumers’ use of massage jumped 3 percentage points compared to the previous year, according to the American Massage Therapy Association’s (AMTA) 2003 Massage Therapy Consumer Survey. It’s also a 13-point increase since the surveys were first conducted in 1997.
In the 2002, 18 percent of respondents reported receiving one or more massages from a massage therapist in the past year. But in the 2003 survey, 21 percent of respondents indicated they received a massage within the last 12 months.
“These results are absolutely wonderful,” says AMTA President Brenda L. Griffith. “Not only are we seeing with these surveys that every year the consumer use of massage increases, but that it is increasing by leaps and bounds.”
 |
|
Getty Images More consumers continue to welcome the benefits of massage. |
Massage therapy also continues to be recognized as a viable option for pain relief. In fact, 91 percent of those polled agreed that massage can be effective for reducing pain. Furthermore, 90 percent of respondents said massage therapy can be beneficial to one’s health. When broken down, 99 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds, and 95 percent of 25 to 34-year-olds, agreed in massage’s overall health benefits. Nearly one-third of adults said they would seek massage for stress relief.
Seniors use of massage is also on the rise. Eighty-four percent of those aged 65 and older said massage can be effective at reducing pain, while 83 percent believed massage to be beneficial to health.
The information was gathered last August from
a sample of 1,015 adults (513 men and 502 women) aged 18 and older, living
in private households in the United States.
This is the seventh annual survey of consumers commissioned by AMTA. Opinion
Research Corporation International (Princeton, New Jersey) conducted its
first telephone survey of consumers regarding massage in June 1997.
Click here for a complete rundown on the survey’s results.
HOW CAN MASSAGE BENEFIT YOU?
- Allergies
- Anxiety and stress
- Arthritis (osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis)
- Asthma and bronchitis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Chronic and temporary pain
- Circulatory problems
- Depression
- Digestive disorders, including spastic colon, constipation and diarrhea
- Headache, especially when due to muscle tension
- Insomnia
- Myofascial pain (a condition of the tissue connecting the muscles)
- Reduced range of motion
- Sinusitis
- Sports injuries, including pulled or strained muscles and sprained ligaments
- Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ)
Source: Massage Therapy: Enhancing Your Health With Therapeutic Massage © Copyright 1999 - American Massage Therapy Association
Massage follows medication as the most sought-after form of pain relief—33 percent for medication, followed by 14percent for massage therapy.
Source: 2003 Massage Therapy Consumer Survey
MASSAGE THERAPY: KEY QUESTION AND ANSWER
Q: How popular is massage therapy in the United States?
A: Twice as many adult Americans reported receiving one or more
massages from a massage therapist in the past year (21 percent) as did in
1997 (8 percent). Also, 32 percent said they had at least one massage in the
last five years, while 28 percent said they anticipate getting a massage
from a massage therapist in the next 12 months.
This growing public acceptance of massage also has dramatically increased
the number of massage therapists. Current estimates suggest that there are
200,000 to 250,000 practitioners in the United States, including students.
Source: 2003 Massage Therapy Consumer Survey
THIS YEAR'S RESOLUTION? GET A MASSAGE!
FIND A PROFESSIONAL MASSAGE THERAPIST NEAR YOU TODAY
Scheduling an appointment for a massage is the perfect way to unwind after holiday stress. So, ring in the new year right!
AMTA’s Find a Massage Therapist® national locator service is a great way to locate a qualified AMTA Professional member anywhere in the United States. This service will direct you to professionals who are well-trained, adhere to a professionally recognized code of ethics and standards of practice, and are committed to continuing their professional education and development. Visit the locator service online today or call toll-free at 888-THE-AMTA [843-2682].
If you have a friend, coworker or relative who could benefit from using the online locator service to find a professional massage therapist, send them a personal E-mail message from AMTA. Spread the benefits of massage!
A Good Head Massage Goes A Long Way
For those of you who spend a lot of time "in your head," a good head massage works a variety of accu-pressure points and increases circulation to your head and brain. It is very relaxing and can take as little or as much time as you wish, but should take at least two to three minutes.
Close your eyes to diminish sensory input and start by resting the bases of your palms on your forehead with the fingers positioned on the scalp. Using a firm pressure—NOT sliding your palms or fingers—rotate your hands. This moves your whole scalp. Then with your right hand, using a circular motion of your fingertips, massage the right side of your scalp. Reposition your hands as necessary to cover the entire right side of your scalp front to back and from the midline of your scalp to your ears. Remember, not to SLIDE your fingers but to use just enough pressure to move the top layer of your scalp. Now switch and work on the left side of your head. Next, using either your index or middle fingers on both hands, place them midline of your scalp and at the edge of your hairline. Working from front to back, using the same circular pressure as before, massage these pressure points, advancing a quarter of an inch at a time. Use as little or as much pressure as feels good to you. Stop when you reach the crown of your head. The finishing touch to this massage is to take small tufts of your hair and gently pull and release it, covering the whole head; then gently scratch your entire scalp. Practicing deep breathing while doing this massage adds greatly to the benefits of this massage technique. Now you're ready to go back to work if you must, or go to sleep if it's bedtime!
Sandi Russ
Professional Member
Greenville, South Carolina
For a different massage tip each week, visit AMTA’s Massage Room.
SUBSCRIBE ONLINE TO MASSAGE THERAPY JOURNAL AND SAVE
Want to read more about the latest massage techniques, research, business practices tips, news, etc.? Then subscribe to Massage Therapy Journal®. Fill out the convenient order form for a one- or two-year subscription, and save up to 25 percent!
New to Massage Therapy Journal is access to PDFs (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) of articles from the latest issue. Each issue, the editors select key articles that you can read online, or print out to read at a later date. See the latest issue today!
To find past articles, try searching our convenient online index. You can look up articles by author, subject, title or issue.
If you would like to reprint any of the e-touch issues or articles, you need to first obtain copyright permission.
Your ad can appear in e-touch for a month, two months, a year or more. Would you like to reach massage therapists and consumers interested in massage and massage-related products and services? Contact Christina Rompon at: 847-864-0123, ext. 113, or by E-mail at: adsales@amtamassage.org.
Are you looking for other advertising opportunities to reach massage therapists and educators? Visit our Web site and review our entire online media kit, with rates and specifications for everything from exhibits to banner ads.
HOW TO SUBSCRIBE
Click here:
www.amtamassage.org/publications/mailist.htm.
HOW TO UNSUBSCRIBE / CHANGE E-MAIL ADDRESS
OR EDITION
Click here:
www.amtamassage.org/publications/unsub.htm.
LEGAL NOTICE: Articles submitted by individual authors are copyrighted by those authors and reprinted with their permission. Views expressed in these articles are not necessarily the views of the American Massage Therapy Association®, and should in no way be construed as an endorsement. They are for informational purposes only.