American Massage Therapy Association^®

2005 Overview of the Massage Therapy Industry

Executive Summary   Introduction   Massage Therapy – A Healthy Industry   A Healthy Respect for Education and Training
Regulation of the Profession   A Healthy Follow   Massage in Many Settings   The Medical Community Agrees    Conclusion

Executive Summary

This report highlights the growth of the massage therapy profession as a career and the increase in popularity of massage among consumers.  The report gives an overview of who enters the profession and why, as well as how continuing education and state regulation play a role in shaping the profession.  It also explains who is using massage therapy, where they are receiving massage and how it is being integrated into the workplace and the healthcare community. 

The industry landscape is discussed, with data on the employment opportunities for massage therapists, including average salary, working hours, and flexibility options. The value of training, continuing education, and participation in professional organizations is underscored. The ever-growing base of support of massage therapy and referrals from medical professionals and other healthcare providers is shown. Finally, research into the benefits of massage therapy for myriad health conditions, including such areas as cancer, HIV, and sickle-cell-related illnesses is briefly reviewed. 

Introduction

Massage therapy is achieving widespread recognition as a valuable means to enhance a healthy lifestyle, with more Americans than ever integrating massage into their health and fitness routine. Consumer research strongly supports the acceptance of massage therapy from occasional use or complementary medical treatment to an integral, component of healthy living. As awareness of massage therapy continues to grow and scientific research is showing its efficacy for myriad conditions, it is not surprising that massage therapy continues to remain a popular occupational choice. As demand for massage therapy services has grown over the past ten years, the industry has continued to add more therapists, create a wider range of options where consumers can receive a massage, and respond to consumers’ desire to explore massage to address their specific health needs.

Massage Therapy – A Healthy Industry

As more consumers turn to massage as an integral part of maintaining and improving their health, the number of people pursuing massage therapy as a profession has increased. To potential massage therapy practitioners, the industry landscape offers insight into the profession. Massage therapy is now a $6- to 11-billion-a-year industry[1] and employment opportunities for massage therapists are likely to increase at a faster-than-average rate when compared to the growth rates of other occupations. In fact, job opportunities are predicted to increase by 21 to 35 percent by 2012[2]. With approximately 47 million American adults receiving a massage in the last year – an increase of two million more people than in the previous year[3] -- the future looks promising for individuals who hope to practice massage therapy.

Massage therapists often find that their earnings potential is comparable to similar occupations in the health care field.  The average annual salary for a massage therapist who provides 15 hours per week of actual massage (the generally accepted number of hours for full-time practice) is $29,250, compared to $26,210 for full-time physical therapist aides, $28,140 for full-time physicians’ office workers, $34,780 for full-time recreational therapists, and $26,610 for other full-time health care support professionals[4].

Massage therapy also offers practitioners flexibility to pursue their professional interests in a manner that best suits their overall goals and needs, both professional and personal. Most massage therapists chose massage therapy as a second career – an overwhelming 83 percent - citing the availability of a flexible schedule and potential for additional income as two important reasons for entering the profession after working in another area of work [5].

The typical professional practices approximately 15 hours of actual massage each week and earns an average wage of $39 an hour[6]. For the majority of massage therapists, this flexibility creates an ideal environment, with 55 percent saying they would not want to work any more hours providing massage than they do presently[7]. Massage therapy is a physically demanding profession that can limit the amount of hours a therapist can realistically provide massage.  With satisfied and fulfilled professionals, the massage therapy industry can only be expected to grow as it attracts both practitioners and clients.

A Healthy Respect for Education and Training

Massage therapists value education and continuing their training with 89 percent taking continuing educational training for massage therapy after their initial education[8].  Not surprisingly, massage therapists’ overwhelmingly support education standards and practices.  In fact, 92 percent of massage therapists strongly or somewhat agree that there should be baseline education standards[9].

A large majority - 89 percent - of massage therapists take continuing education training for massage therapy, with an average of 27 hours of continuing education classes per year[10]. Practitioners can maintain and improve their skills through advanced training in various massage modalities or for specific populations such as pregnant women, geriatric patients, or athletes.

In recent years, an even greater emphasis has been placed on education and training for massage therapists with the introduction of accreditation programs and continuing education classes. The Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA), recognized by the U.S Department of Education, works with massage therapy schools and programs to maintain educational standards so that massage therapists are trained to provide quality service to their clients[11].  There are over 70 COMTA-accredited massage therapy institutions and programs in the United States.

For an industry with over 80,000 nationally certified professionals, certification and testing are also important within the profession.   The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB), an independent, private, nonprofit organization, was formed to set standards of ethical and professional practice through a recognized, credible credentialing program.     NCBTMB certification is the result of meeting certain eligibility criteria, taking and passing an examination, upholding a national code of ethics and standards of practice, and demonstrating continued education in the field[12].  

Regulation of the Profession

Widespread participation in continuing education means that the industry is well equipped to meet consumer demands, but there remains a strong need for state regulation of massage therapy. State regulation means that only those individuals having the state designation may provide massage therapy for pay or use a title indicating that they practice massage therapy.

Currently, 36 states and the District of Colombia regulate massage therapists, up from 20 states and the District of Columbia in 1995[13]. As each state and many municipalities have different laws or requirements for regulating massage, many massage therapy professionals and organizations favor licensure requirements that eventually could be transferred easily from state to state.

A Healthy Following

As more people receive massage more frequently, massage therapy promises to become more prominent in the lifestyles of all Americans. According to AMTA’s 2005 Consumer Survey conducted in August, approximately 47 million Americans - more than one in five adults surveyed (22 percent) received a massage within the last 12 months.  This is 2 million more people than in the previous year[14]. While women consistently receive more massages overall (at 26 percent), significant increases among men were also seen. Seventeen percent of men surveyed had a massage in the previous 12 months, up from 14 percent the previous year. Among all adult Americans, 73 percent would recommend massage therapy to someone else[15].

Consistent with massage therapy’s evolution into routine health and wellness programs are AMTA’s survey results that show Americans most often choose to get a massage for medical reasons, relaxation and stress relief.  Thirty-two percent of adults who received a massage in the last five years did so for medical purposes. Respondents listed muscle soreness and spasms, injury recovery and rehabilitation, and pain relief as common reasons to seek the services of a massage therapist. Twenty-six percent of consumers cited relaxation and stress relief as their reason for seeking massage therapy in the last five years[16]. As more adults integrate massage therapy into their existing plans for overall health and wellness, these numbers are expected to increase.

Massage in Many Settings

It is also increasingly important to consumers that massage therapy be available in many environments, with a growing number of people preferring to receive a massage in a spa or at a massage therapist’s place of business. However, massage therapy in the workplace is also popular, as more employers and employees recognize the benefits of massage and its value to the work environment. Massage therapy on the job can increase productivity and reduce stress. In one study, following a 15-minute chair massage, employees increased their overall productivity for quantitative tasks and decreased the number of mistakes[17].

The implications for enhancing employee performance with massage therapy are promising, and many top companies are coming to this realization.

Of the employers mentioned in Working Mother magazine’s 18^th annual survey of the “100 Best Companies for Working Mothers,” 77 percent offered massage therapy to their employees[18].  Among the world’s leading corporations, General Electric, Hewlett-Packard, and Texas Instruments all offer massage therapy, with S.C.Johnson including it as a benefit to its employees for more than 10 years[19].

The Medical Community Agrees

More than ever before, medical professionals are encouraging their patients to seek massage therapy for certain medical conditions and to maintain good health. Seventy percent of massage therapists regularly receive referrals from health care professionals, at an average of two referrals per month[20]. Data from AMTA’s 2005 Consumer Survey show that 21 percent of American adults discussed massage therapy with their doctor or other provider, a significant increase from 14 percent in 2002. Among those who discussed massage with their provider, 60 percent said it was their physician who recommended that they seek massage therapy, 50 percent indicated it was their physical therapist and 38 percent their chiropractor[21].

Not only are healthcare professionals promoting the benefits of massage to their patients, but they also support its practice in health care settings. Eighty-two percent of hospitals offering CAM (complementary and alternative medicine), include massage therapy among their care offerings, and 70 percent of these utilize massage therapy for pain management and relief[22].

These figures support on-going research and clinical studies into massage therapy’s effectiveness for alleviating the symptoms of a number of medical conditions. Massage therapy has been shown to be effective in boosting the body’s immune system functioning[23], reducing blood pressure in stroke patients[24], easing post-operative pain[25], easing alcohol withdrawal symptoms[26], and soothing chronic back pain better than other complementary therapies[27].

Recent studies have associated massage therapy with substantive improvement of symptoms in cancer patients, such as pain, fatigue, stress, anxiety, nausea, and depression[28]. Some of the most exciting ongoing research is being performed in the area of cancer-related ailments (including terminal cancer patients), HIV-related illness, pre-term infants, and sickle cell disease patients.

Conclusion

The future will likely see more people entering the massage therapy profession, the public integrating massage therapy into their regular health routine and more evidence of the efficacy of massage in clinical trials and research.  Consequently, there should be even more support for massage by the health care community.  Massage is expected to be seen as a beneficial option for people suffering from pain, stress, or illness, and become an integral part of good health for all.   The public is likely to view professional massage as an important contribution toward wellness and more than ever will receive massage on a regular basis. 

2005 Massage Therapy Industry Fact Sheet (*PDF format)