Pain Awareness Month: AMTA’s Commitment to Advancing Massage Therapy for Pain Relief

As Pain Awareness Month comes to a close, AMTA is proud to highlight the many ways we are championing massage therapy as an effective approach to pain relief. From advocacy and research to award-winning public campaigns, our efforts continue to elevate the massage therapy profession while advancing integrative, whole-person healthcare solutions.

AMTA Leads the Way with the Pain Collaborative

The Pain Collaborative is dedicated to expanding access to high-quality, comprehensive care for individuals living with pain. By fostering partnerships across diverse healthcare fields, the Collaborative promotes equitable, innovative, and evidence-based solutions.

In October 2024, AMTA was honored to serve as the leading sponsor of the Collaborative’s inaugural hybrid meeting. This event brought together experts and advocates to advance a biopsychosocial approach to whole-person pain care. Through this sponsorship, AMTA reinforced our commitment to integrated care models that empower patients, elevate pain management practices, and position massage therapy as a vital component of effective treatment.

Learn More About AMTA’s sponsorship with the Pain Collaborative

Elevating Pain Relief for Veterans Through Award-Winning Campaigns

AMTA’s advocacy consistently highlights the healing power of massage for pain relief. Our Massage for Veterans Campaign showcases massage therapy as an essential, non-pharmacological option for managing chronic pain, PTSD, and related conditions. By encouraging providers—especially within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA)—to prescribe massage therapy, this initiative supports veterans with safe alternatives to opioids while enhancing overall quality of life.

The campaign’s impact has been recognized with a Hermes Gold Award, a Communicator Award of Distinction, and an APEX Award for Publication Excellence. These honors reflect the strength of AMTA’s advocacy and our unwavering dedication to expanding access to massage therapy for those who need it most.

Read About AMTA’s Other Award-Winning Campaigns

Advocacy for Non-Pharmacological Pain Management

AMTA continues to champion legislation that limits opioid prescriptions and expands access to non-pharmacological approaches to pain relief, such as massage therapy. Through our partnerships with Voices for Non-Opioid Choices and the U.S. Pain Foundation, we successfully supported the passage of the NOPAIN Act in December 2022, which increases access to non-opioid options for acute pain management.

Building on this progress, our recent Advancing the Integration of Massage Therapy in Healthcare Campaign focuses on expanding massage access nationwide. From federal legislation to state-level initiatives, AMTA works with lawmakers to ensure responsible policies that encourage providers to recommend massage as an effective pain relief option. Additionally, we advocate for Medicare Advantage and insurance coverage of massage therapy where clinical evidence supports its effectiveness.

Discover How AMTA Advocates for You

Advancing Research: AMTA Commits $2.5 Million to Massage Therapy Foundation

While massage therapy is increasingly recognized as an effective treatment for pain, more research is needed to further establish its role in integrative healthcare. As the Massage Therapy Foundation’s (MTF) sustaining benefactor for 35 years, AMTA has long supported evidence-based research that benefits the profession and strengthens the case for massage in pain management.

In January 2025, AMTA and MTF announced a renewed commitment: $2.5 million in funding over the next five years to directly support research initiatives. This investment ensures that the evidence base for massage therapy continues to grow, helping elevate massage as a proven, trusted approach to pain relief.

Learn more about AMTA’s Commitment to Research

AMTA's Ongoing Commitment

From sponsoring national collaborations and advocating for legislation to launching award-winning campaigns and funding critical research, AMTA remains steadfast in advancing massage therapy as a cornerstone of pain management and integrative healthcare. Our work ensures that more individuals have access to safe, effective, and evidence-based massage therapy—helping people live with less pain and more quality of life.