1999 MASSAGE THERAPY CONSUMER SURVEY FACT SHEET

Following are findings of a survey conducted by the Opinion Research Corporation, Princeton, NJ, and commissioned by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA). The survey was conducted August 5, 1999 among a national probability sample of 1,008 adults (502 men and 506 women) ages 18 and older, living in private households in the continental United States. The survey has a confidence level of plus or minus 3 percent.

This is the third annual survey of American consumers commissioned by AMTA. Opinion Research Corporation conducted its first survey of consumers on massage by telephone on June 5 1997 and its second survey on August 13, 1998.

  • More than one in four Americans (27 percent) report having had a massage from a massage therapist in the past five years. This is an increase from 22 percent in 1998 and 17 percent in 1997. Fifteen percent report receiving one or more massages in the past year. This is an increase from 13 percent in 1998 and 8 percent in 1997.

  • Over half (51 percent) of the adults surveyed believe massage therapy is beneficial for people of all ages.

  • Americans between the ages of 55-64 are the fastest growing segment of adults who report having massages. Thirty-five percent had a massage in the last five years as compared to 19 percent in 1998. They also have the greatest increase of any age group polled in massages received during the past 12 months, with 17 percent in 1999, compared to 11 percent in 1998.

  • Massage is popular among all age groups and is nearly evenly divided against the following age groups for people who have had massage in the past 12 months: ages 25-34 (17 percent), ages 35-44 (16 percent), ages 45-54 (16 percent) and ages 55-64 (17 percent).

  • The number of people who have had a massage in the past five years has increased across all age groups. 1999 data for ages 18-24 (24 percent), ages 35-44 (27 percent), ages 45-54 (31 percent), ages 55-64 (35 percent) and ages 65 and older (16 percent).

  • Almost three in four (73 percent) adults could name some form of benefit that would motivate a person to get a massage. One in three adults (34 percent), across all age groups (18-65+) had a massage for medical reasons.

  • The three most cited reasons people seek massage therapy are relaxation (21 percent), relief from sore muscles (15 percent) and stress reduction (13 percent).

  • Fifty percent of American adults in 1999 think of massage as something therapeutic.

Nineteen percent (23 percent in 1998) said it feels good and 24 percent (19 percent in 1998) said it is both therapeutic and feels good.

  • Of those who spoke to their doctors about massage therapy, 69 percent reported that the conversation was favorable about massage.

  • More women than men got one or more massages in the past 12 months (18 percent vs. 11 percent).

  • West Coast residents are twice as likely as Southerners to have had a massage in the past 12 months — 23 percent compared to 12 percent.

The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) is a professional organization of 40,000 members in 30 countries. All AMTA Professional members have demonstrated a level of skill and knowledge through education and/or testing. New Professional members must be graduates of training programs accredited or approved by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA); be graduates of AMTA Council of Schools member-schools; be Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork; or have a current AMTA-accepted city, state or provincial license.

The American Massage Therapy Association provides information about massage therapy to the public. The association also helps consumers and health care professionals locate qualified massage therapists nationwide, through its Find A Massage TherapistSM national locator service. The free national locator service is available via AMTA’s web site at www.amtamassage.org and toll-free at 888-843-2682 [888-THE-AMTA].

The American Massage Therapy Association
500 Davis Street, 9th Floor, Suite 100, Evanston, IL 60201-4444
Telephone: (847) 864-0123 Fax: (847) 864-1178
Web site: www.amtamassage.org

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