Wellness Key to Increase in Massage Therapy: Massage Therapy Grows as Wellness Tool According to AMTA Survey

DENVER—More people get massage therapy for medical purposes than for relaxation,
according to an annual survey conducted by the American Massage Therapy Association
(AMTA). The 2007 survey showed that baby boomers have more massages than their younger
counterparts—and are more likely to use massage for medical reasons.

“Massage is an important tool for pain management and overall wellness,” says Jonathan
Bergstrom, president of the Colorado chapter of the AMTA. “Professional massage therapists
have always understood this and now, healthcare providers and consumers are also
recognizing its importance.”

Thirty percent of all people who received a massage in the last five years got it for medical
reasons, compared to 22 percent who sought relaxation and 13 percent for a simple indulgence.
Almost one-third (32 percent) of Americans say they’ve used massage therapy at least one time
for pain relief—just behind those who have turned to chiropractic (38 percent) and physical
therapy (44 percent).

Survey respondents said they most frequently sought massage therapy for medical reasons
including pain management, injury recovery, soreness, general wellness and control of
headaches or migraines. A scholarly review of scientific studies published in the July 2007 issue
of Evidence Based Complementary Medicine has shown that professional massage therapy can
be more effective than some other therapies in managing certain types of pain, particularly
lower back pain, shoulder complaints and headaches.

Boomers See Wellness Benefits of Massage

Respondents aged 45 to 64 have had an average of almost seven massages during the past 12
months, while those aged 18 to 44 have had an average of five. Among those who have had a
massage in the past five years, boomers have had an average of just under 20 massages
compared to an average of about 10 for those aged 18 to 44.
The tendency to seek massage for health conditions was stronger among people from the
immediate postwar generation as well. Thirty-eight percent of those aged 45 to 64 said the
massages they’ve received were for medical reasons, while 25 percent of people 18 to 44 cited
that reason for massage. In addition, 23 percent of those 45 to 64 have discussed massage
therapy with their doctors or healthcare providers, compared to 18 percent of those 18 to 24.

Doctors and Public View Massage Therapy Positively

The AMTA-sponsored survey showed that people know about the role massage therapy plays
in maintaining health and wellness:
• 87 percent agree that massage can be effective in reducing pain,
• 85 percent agree that massage can be beneficial to health and wellness,
• 59 percent would like to see their insurance plans cover massage therapy.
Nearly one in five people said they had discussed massage therapy with their doctors or
healthcare providers, and among those who had, more than half (58 percent) said their doctors
had either “strongly recommended” or “encouraged” the use of massage.
“It’s not surprising that more and more people are relying on massage therapy to improve their
overall health,” commented Bergstrom. “Massage therapy is an important part of a person’s
healthcare regime as it’s a proven way to manage pain, recover from injury, and improve one’s
quality of life. In addition, it often reduces the need for medications or invasive treatments.”

Who’s Getting and Giving the Gift of Massage

With holiday gift giving just around the corner, the survey found interesting trends with the giving
of massage as gifts. For example, when it comes to giving massage as a gift to a spouse or
significant other, men are on board. Of the men who gave massage as a gift, 58 percent gave it
to their spouse, and 32 percent chose a “significant other.”
In comparison, women’s gifts of massage went to spouses just 28 percent of the time and only
14 percent went to a significant other. Forty-one percent gave massage as a gift to a friend and
39 percent to a family member.

Overall, women are more likely than men to give gift massages (32 vs. 23 percent).

How to Find a Qualified Massage Therapist
To find a qualified massage therapist near your home or work to discuss the benefits of regular
massage therapy as part of health management, the AMTA Find a Massage Therapist national
locator service can help you through its free online service at www.amtamassage.org or toll-free
at 888-THE-AMTA.

About American Massage Therapy Association®, Colorado Chapter

The Colorado Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association has more than 1,300 members
throughout Colorado. The chapter is dedicated to furthering the professionalism of the massage therapy
field and educating consumers on the benefits and use of massage in maintaining active and healthy
lifestyles. For more information, visit www.amtacolorado.org.

The American Massage Therapy Association is a non-profit, professional association with more than
56,000 members throughout the United States and in some 27 other countries. The Association is
directed by volunteer leadership chosen through its national election and fosters ongoing, direct-member involvement through its 51 chapters.