Dear e-touch reader,

This month in e-touch, find out how to create a special Valentine with the gift of massage. Also, learn about the use of massage and other therapies revealed by a recent AARP survey, and more!

Enjoy the issue!
-The Editors

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Treat Your Valentine to the Gift of Massage

This year, give your loved one a Valentine’s Day gift that will help relieve stress and improve his or her overall health and well-being. A gift certificate for a relaxing massage is a perfect way to show you care. And while you’re at it, book a massage for yourself, too. Better yet, make a day of it. Take some time together — away from the stresses and challenges of your daily lives — to relax and unwind.

Here are a few ideas to help make a Valentine’s Day massage a memorable gift for two.

Look for massage therapists who offer “couples” massage sessions. Many of these sessions include two therapists—one for each of you—in the same room. Before booking an appointment, be sure to ask for specific details from the massage therapist to be sure this is what you want.
When choosing your ideal couples massage, consider location. Couples massages are offered in a variety of settings, from spas and cruise ships to your home and even your hotel room. If a Valentine’s Day cruise just isn’t in your plans, perhaps a weekend getaway or a day of pampering at a local day spa would be just perfect.

Regardless of the type of massage therapy experience you want to give this Valentine’s Day, the most important thing to remember when booking your massage is to look for a qualified massage therapist.

Use AMTA’s Find A Massage Therapist^® national locator service to locate an AMTA Professional member anywhere in the United States. This service will direct you to professionals who agree to 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 today at www.findamassagetherapist.org, or call toll-free 888-THE-AMTA [843-2682].

AMTA members listed in AMTA’s locator service must meet any and all local or state licensing requirements for massage therapists. All information included in the locator service is provided by individual members, and AMTA presumes all information to be true and correct. AMTA assumes no liability for incorrect information provided to AMTA for inclusion in this locator service, nor does AMTA represent these practitioners as competent.

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AARP Members Use Massage, Other CAM Therapies

Forty-five percent of AARP members have used massage therapy, chiropractic manipulation or other bodywork as part of their health care, according to a survey just released by AARP. The survey, “ Complementary and Alternative Medicine: What People 50 and Older Are Using and Discussing with Their Physicians ,” explored the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies by AARP members.

Other CAM therapies used by survey respondents include:

Herbal products or dietary supplements—42 percent.
Mind/body practices, including hypnosis and meditation—15 percent.
Naturopathy, acupuncture, homeopathy—14 percent.
Energy therapies—10 percent.
Other—2 percent.

The survey also found that many people who use CAM have difficulty talking with their doctors about it. Respondents most often did not discuss their CAM use with doctors because the physicians never asked (42 percent); they did not know that they should (30 percent); or there was not enough time during the office visit (19 percent). Interestingly, men who had seen a doctor were more likely than women not to have discussed CAM because their doctors never asked (46 percent versus 38 percent).

Other questions asked in the survey included what types of doctors people visit, what they discussed with their doctors about CAM, who initiated the discussion and their level of comfort in the discussion, their current use of prescription and over-the-counter medications and their primary source of information about CAM.

The survey was co-sponsored by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). For full survey results please visit the AARP website at www.aarp.org.

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NCCAM and Massage

One of the five major types of CAM therapies identified by NCCAM is manipulative and body-based methods, which are based on manipulation and/or movement of one or more parts of the body. Massage therapy and chiropractic manipulation are just two examples of these methods.

NCCAM has a section of its site devoted to the background of massage therapy and its role in the CAM therapies. It gives a general overview and suggests resources you can use to learn more. A few important points for people to know include:

People use massage therapy as CAM for a variety of health-related purposes, from treating specific diseases and conditions to general wellness.
Scientists do not fully know what changes occur in the body during massage, whether they influence health, and, if so, how. NCCAM is sponsoring studies to answer these questions and identify the purposes for which massage may be most helpful
There appear to be few risks to massage therapy if it is used appropriately and provided by a trained massage professional.
You should tell your health care providers about any CAM therapy you are considering or using, including massage therapy. This helps to ensure safe and coordinated care.

For more information on CAM therapies of all kinds and the latest clinical studies of them, visit the NCCAM website sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.

Source: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2007.

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Table Tips

Drink plenty of water

This is something everyone should remember, whether it’s your first massage or your 20th: make sure you drink at least 8 glasses of water in that 24-hour period after getting a massage.

Madeline Rudy
Mohnton, Pennsylvania

For a different massage tip each week, visit AMTA's Massage Room.

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Click 'n' Pick

Have you ever used complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies as part of your personal care?

Let us know by taking this month's survey. See the results in next month's e-touch!

Take the survey now.

Here are the results of last month's survey!

Total responses: 20

What's your No. 1 New Year's resolution?

Tame the bulge/lose weight—6 responses
Get organized—3 responses
Enjoy life more—2 responses
Fit in fitness—1 response
Help others—1 response
Spend more time with family and friends—1 response
Learn something new—1 response
Be kinder to myself—1 response
Get rid of things that I don't want or need—1 response
Release judgment and develop compassion—1 response
Finish my degree—1 response
Figure out what career I want to pursue—1 response

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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.

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AMTA Mission

To serve AMTA members while advancing the art, science and practice of massage therapy.