State regulation of the profession • 44 states and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands regulate massage therapists through licensing requirements. • 46 states have practice law and regulation of some form. • In states that regulate massage therapy, massage therapists must meet the legal requirements to practice, which may include minimum hours of initial training and passing an exam.
• In states that do not regulate massage therapy, this task may fall to local municipalities. • Most states that license massage therapists require a passing grade on the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx), or one of two exams provided by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork.
RESEARCH ON MASSAGE THERAPY
• In July 2015, 20% of women and 22% of men reported having a massage in the past 12 months. Massage use among male consumers was higher than that of female consumers, a change from previous consumer report findings. • Spas continue to be the most frequent sites for massages, with 41% of consumers having had a massage there in 2020 and 23% reporting that a spa was the location for their most recent massage. • The average consumer received 3.5 massages in the past year. Americans’ reasons for getting massages are changing (AMTA, 2021a) • Instead of seeking massage therapy solely for relaxation and pampering purposes, individuals are clearly turning to massage therapy to assist with medical conditions. • As few as 28% of individuals believe massage therapy is only a form of pampering, with 83% of consumers responding that massage therapy should be considered a form of healthcare. • Overall, 63% of consumers received a massage for health and wellness reasons, with pain relief, pain management, soreness, stiffness, spasms, relaxation, and stress reduction being the primary reasons that consumers sought out massage. Consumers are discussing specific medical conditions with their doctors (AMTA, 2021a) • 57% of respondents discussed pain relief or pain management with their doctor. • 47% discussed soreness/stiffness/spasms. • 43% discussed relaxation or stress reduction. • 36% discussed injury recovery or rehabilitation with their doctor. Health care providers recommending massage as a viable form of treatment for the conditions discussed above (AMTA, 2021a) Health care providers and doctors are more commonly viewing massage therapy as a legitimate option to address health concerns: • A total of 18% of consumers reported discussing massage therapy with their doctors. Of these consumers: • 25% were referred to a massage therapist. • 24% were strongly recommended to get a massage. Physicians were the most likely health care professionals to recommend massage to their patients (50%), followed by physical therapists (36%) and chiropractors (24%). NCBTMB Glossary of Terms (NCBTMB, 2017b) • Acceptable accounting procedures : Rules, conventions, standards, and procedures that are widely accepted among financial accountants. • Boundary : A boundary is a limit that separates one person from another. Its function is to protect the integrity of each person.
The therapeutic benefits of massage continue to be researched and studied. Recent research has shown the effectiveness of massage for the following conditions (AMTA, 2021a): • Cancer-related fatigue. • Low back pain. • Osteoarthritis of the knee. • Reducing post-operative pain. • Boosting the body’s immune system functioning. • Decreasing the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. • Lowering blood pressure. • Reducing headache frequency.
• Easing alcohol withdrawal symptoms. • Decreasing pain in cancer patients. • Fibromyalgia relief. • Migraine relief. • Treating muscle stiffness or spasms. • Injury recovery or prevention. • Pregnancy and pre-natal topics. • Effects on general well-being. • PTSD symptom management.
• Autism in children. • Treating depression. Massage therapy for regular health maintenance (AMTA, 2021a) According to the 24th annual consumer survey sponsored by the American Massage Therapy Association, 75% of individuals surveyed claimed their primary reason for receiving a massage in the previous 12 months was health or wellness (49%) or stress related (26%). The reported medical reasons included massage for pain relief, muscle soreness, stiffness, or spasms. The consumer survey also included the following results: • 93% of individuals view massage as being beneficial to overall health and wellness. • 92% of consumers surveyed believe that massage can be effective in reducing pain; with an additional 25% stating that they have used massage therapy for pain relief. Frequency of massage (AMTA, 2021a) • According to the AMTA 2020 consumer survey, an average of 21% of consumers received at least one massage in the year prior. • As many as 38% of adults reported that they have had a professional massage in the past. Glossary of terms The major organizations that guide the massage therapy and bodywork professions have their own specific glossaries that reflect the unique practice of their members and the goals, ethics, and standards of the association. These often overlap, but the following terms that relate to this course are included.
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Book Code: MMD0926
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