American Massage Therapy Association^®

Why Massage Is In Americans' Futures
Annual survey reveals use of massage therapy

(Evanston, IL – Oct. 23, 2006) – More than one out of every 6 Americans gets a massage each year, that’s 25 million more Americans than 10 years ago, according to an annual survey commissioned by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA). In the past, relaxation was the leading motivator for massage, but increasingly Americans are looking to massage therapy for medical reasons (30 percent) such as injury recovery, pain reduction, headache control, and overall health and wellness.

“About one third of Americans still think massage is a luxury, but our latest survey shows that 40 percent have had a massage to relieve pain,” says Mary Beth Braun, president of the AMTA. “And while we have seen a strong interest in massage therapy for health reasons from all age groups, there’s been a real increase in understanding of the value of massage among Generation Y. It looks like their interest will grow stronger as this group ages.”

In fact, 72 percent of Generation Y respondents disagree that massage is just a luxury; ninety-two percent say they believe massage can be an effective way to relieve pain, while 48 percent of 18-to 24 year-olds have already had a massage to relieve pain.

“Younger people are telling us that massage can be a valuable part of their personal health routine,” says Braun. “As they come to rely more and more on massage for therapeutic reasons, as well as for stress relief, they’ll need to know how best to find professional massage therapists who can be relied upon to provide the best possible service.”

Finding a professional massage therapist who is well- trained and knowledgeable can make or break a person’s massage experience.  AMTA offers a professional massage therapist locator service (www.findamassagetherapist.org) and encourages consumers to look for an AMTA massage therapist.  The organization also recommends asking massage therapists specific questions, including if they are licensed to practice massage, if they are Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork and where they received massage therapy training.

Why people get massages

According to AMTA’s annual survey, more than 39 million Americans received a massage in the last year, and almost one out of three people (30 percent) who had a massage in the past 5 years received massages for “medical/health reasons” other than stress relief.  More than half (53 percent) who discussed massage with their healthcare providers say their doctor recommended they get massage therapy. 

• Men and respondents 65 and older are especially likely to get massages for medical/healthcare reasons.

• Women indicated massage therapy was their first choice when asked “what gave you the greatest relief from pain?” (24 percent versus 22 percent who chose medications as their number one pain-relief choice).

• Men placed medications first (24 percent) and massage second (19 percent).

• Almost one out of three (32 percent) of Hispanic respondents chose massage therapy as their preferred choice of pain relief, and more than half (57 percent) of Hispanics have had a massage to relieve pain.

• The number of people who indicated having their massage paid by an insurance company or a co-pay doubled from 5 percent last year to 10 percent this year.

“Relaxation/stress reduction” (26 percent) and “because it was free or a gift” (21 percent) are also common reasons for having massage as shown in ten years of consumer surveys.

“Massage is a hot topic,” says Braun of the AMTA. “As the medical community increasingly recognizes its benefits, and as more insurance companies begin to include it in their plans, massage will become a more common component of people’s health and wellness practice.”

Types of massage

While finding the right massage therapist is critical, consumers also need to understand how massage can help them by understanding what types of massage are best-suited to their individual needs. “The more people know about massage,” notes Braun, “the better they’ll be able to take advantage of its benefits.”

There are many types of massage and AMTA recommends that people discuss with their massage therapists their physical condition and what they hope to achieve from their massage.  The four most common types of massage are:

• Swedish massage: a gentle, relaxing massage using a system of long strokes, kneading and friction techniques.

• Deep tissue massage: beneficial for muscle damage from an injury, such as whiplash or back strain.  

• Sports massage: helps prevent athletic injury, keeps the body flexible and may aid in healing the body in the event of an injury.

• Chair massage: massage of the upper body, while fully clothed and seated in a special portable chair and is meant to relax and improve circulation.

About AMTA

The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) is a professional association of more than 55,000 members.  AMTA professional members have demonstrated a level of skill and knowledge through education and/or testing and must meet continuing education requirements to retain membership. AMTA provides information about massage therapy to the public and works to improve the professional climate for massage therapists. The association also helps consumers and healthcare professionals locate qualified massage therapists nationwide, through AMTA’s Find a Massage Therapist free national locator service available at www.findamassagetherapist.org or toll-free at 888-843-2682 [888-THE-AMTA].

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