December 2005 | Vol. 6, No. 11
© 2005 American Massage Therapy Association®
All rights reserved.
| In This Issue |
Dear e-touch reader,
Every year AMTA conducts a consumer survey to gather information on public perceptions and usage of massage therapy. It is clear from AMTA’s most recent consumer survey that most American adults see the value in massage therapy. With 90 percent of respondents believing massage therapy is beneficial, it is obvious that consumers understand the legitimacy of massage therapy and its role in a person’s overall health and well-being. This month’s feature, “AMTA’s Ninth Annual Consumer Survey Confirms Massage Therapy Popularity with Consumers,” highlights consumers’ views of massage therapy.
Log on to AMTA’s website to find an AMTA-member massage therapist in your area through the association’s free Find a Massage Therapist national locator service or call 1-888-THE-AMTA.
Enjoy the issue!
~The Editors
e-mail: etouch@amtamassage.org
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AMTA'S NINTH ANNUAL CONSUMER SURVEY CONFIRMS MASSAGE THERAPY POPULARITY WITH CONSUMERS
|
A |
pproximately 47 million adult Americans
received a massage within the past year, according to results of a
consumer survey released by the American Massage Therapy Association®
(AMTA®). The latest numbers also show a continued increase in the number
of consumers receiving a massage, with two million more people having
received a massage than a year ago.
Among the reasons consumers seek massage is to find relief from pain.
For the first time in the nine years that AMTA has conducted the
consumer survey, therapeutic massage tied with medication as the
preferred form of pain relief for respondents. Twenty-eight percent of
respondents ranked medication and massage as the form of treatment that
brought them the greatest relief from pain.
“Along with massage therapy’s continued popularity for relaxation and
stress relief, this year’s survey findings show higher numbers of
consumers turning to massage therapy for pain relief than we’ve ever
seen before,” says Mary Beth Braun, president of AMTA. Chiropractic
therapy (11 percent), physical therapy (8 percent) and acupuncture (3
percent) rounded out the list.
The survey also shows increases in the number of health care providers
who promote the benefits of massage to their patients. Twenty-one
percent of consumers surveyed said they had discussed massage therapy
with their doctor or other health care provider, up from 14 percent in
2002. When asked who recommended massage therapy, sixty percent of
respondents said a physician, followed by a physical therapist (50
percent) and a chiropractor (38 percent).
Where are Consumers Getting Massages?
The top three choices where consumers would prefer to receive a massage
were at home or the home of someone they know, followed by a spa and the
massage therapist’s office.
When consumers were asked for the No. 1 factor that contributed to
their choice of their last massage therapist, two-thirds said location.
The massage therapist’s accessibility to the consumer was more important than the
setting. The No. 1 reason consumers would not return to the massage therapist from whom
they received their last massage was because it was not a convenient
location (40 percent), followed by not liking the massage (25 percent),
preferring to try someone else or different type (10 percent) and having a
bad experience (4 percent).
The Role of Referrals and AMTA
Consumer confidence in massage therapy has risen sharply, with 73
percent stating they would recommend it to someone they know, compared
to 65 percent a year ago. Consumers mostly rely on referrals
from friends, family or coworkers when searching for information on
massage or a massage therapist, so it is essential for them to be able to
trust that the massage they receive is done by a credible, qualified
therapist. More than 50 percent stated that a recommendation or referral from
someone else contributed to the choice of their last massage therapist.
AMTA continues to be a leader in name recognition with consumers. Twice
as many people said they had looked for or would look for an AMTA member
over a member of any other massage organization.
AMTA is a professional association of more than 54,000 massage therapists. AMTA Professional members need to be either graduates from a minimum 500 in-class hour entry-level massage therapy training program, have NCBTMB certification or have AMTA-accepted city, state or provincial licenses. AMTA Professional Active members also agree to complete 48 continuing education hours every 4 years.
AMTA provides consumers with information on what to expect during a massage and offers a free service to help consumers find a qualified massage therapist in their area. To find a massage therapist in your area, simply log on to AMTA’s website, www.amtamassage.org and click on “Find a Massage Therapist,” or call toll-free to 888-THE-AMTA [888-843-2682].
DID YOU KNOW?
More and more Americans are trying complementary and alternative
treatments for their ailments, and this is especially true for those
in chronic pain. According to a 1998 study in the Journal of the American
Medical Association, 40 percent of Americans and more than two-thirds of
the world population use complementary or alternative therapies.
Since 1990, Americans have increased their use of such therapies by
30 percent and paid $27 billion in out-of-pocket expenses.
Source:
www.nationalpainfoundation.org
The holiday season has arrived. A gift certificate for a relaxing massage makes a great last-minute surprise. Don’t forget that massage for yourself, too! To find a qualified AMTA massage therapist near you, visit AMTA's Find a Massage Therapist national locator service online today or call toll-free at 888-THE-AMTA [843-2682].
Use AMTA’s Find a Massage Therapist® national locator service 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!
MASSAGE THERAPY Q & A: WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MASSAGE FOR PAIN RELIEF?
Q: What are the benefits of massage for pain relief?
A: Massage benefits include helping clients become more aware of their bodies and the sources of pain so they are more familiar with the pain they experience. It also makes an impact on the client by virtue of human touch and improves confidence by encouraging consumers to effectively cope with their pain.
Source: amtamassage.org
Find an AMTA professional member massage therapist in your area through the association’s free Find a Massage Therapist national locator service or call 1-888-THE-AMTA.
TABLE TIPS
Stretch to Improve Your Posture
Do you find yourself slouching when you’re sitting at a computer for a long period of time? Then try this simple stretch to improve your posture and prevent pain. First, get up off the chair, and move around a bit. Holding any position for too long is a strain on the body, even when you are just sitting. While standing, do some shoulder shrugs. First, stand up straight and pull your shoulder blades closer together so your back is not rounded. Shrug your shoulders up toward your ears as high as you can, and hold them there while inhaling for five counts. When you slowly exhale (also five counts), slowly press those shoulders down as you let your breath out. Don't just drop the shoulders and let gravity do the work, but really press them down. Repeat several times. This activity involves your trapezius muscle, as well as a few others, and gives the trapezius a gentle stretch. It also encourages circulation to the muscle. When you sit down again, think about squeezing your shoulder blades together in the back and down into your back pockets. A properly aligned posture puts less strain on our bodies, so we can function without pain.
Julie Redl
Seattle, Washington
For a different massage tip each week, visit AMTA’s Massage Room.
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