● Thirty-three percent of massage consumers had a massage for relaxation/stress reduction between July 2014 and July 2015. Massage in health care More Americans are discussing massage with their doctors or health care providers: ● In July 2015, more than fifty-one million American adults, 16 percent of the population, had discussed massage therapy with their doctors or health care providers in the previous year. ● Of those who discussed massage with their doctor or health care provider, 69 percent of their doctors or health care providers referred them to a therapist, strongly recommended massage therapy, or encouraged them to get a massage. ● While physicians in 2015 led the way in recommending massage, 54 percent vs. 59 percent in 2014, chiropractors, 46 percent vs. 49 percent in 2014, and physical therapists, 37 percent vs. 43 percent in 2014, State regulation of the profession ● Forty-four states and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands regulate massage therapists through licensing requirements. ● Forty-six 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. Frequency of massage ● According to the AMTA 2015 consumer survey, an average of 18 percent of adult Americans received at least one massage between July 2014 and July 2015, and an average of 27 percent of adult Americans received a massage in the previous five years. ● In July 2015, 19 percent of women and 16 percent of men reported having a massage in the past twelve months. Research on massage therapy The therapeutic benefits of massage continue to be researched and studied. Recent research has shown the effectiveness of massage for the following conditions: ● 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. ● Injury recovery or prevention. ● Pregnancy and pre-natal topics. ● Effects on general well-being. ● PTSD symptom management. ● Autism in children. ● Treating depression (AMTA, 2016b). Massage therapy for regular health maintenance According to the 20th annual consumer survey sponsored by the American Massage Therapy Association, 78 percent of individuals surveyed claimed their primary reason for ● Easing alcohol withdrawal symptoms. ● Decreasing pain in cancer patient. ● Fibromyalgia relief. ● Migraine relief. ● Treating muscle stiffness or spasms.
● The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts an increase of 23 percent in Massage Therapist jobs between 2012 and 2022, with 30,000 jobs created during that time period (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015). also recommended massage therapy when their clients discussed it with them. ● More referrals come from chiropractic offices than other sources, with 11 percent of respondents reporting receiving referrals at least once per week, and another 25 percent receiving referrals several times per month. ● Fifty-five percent of massage therapists received at least one referral every six months or less from a hospital or medical office in 2015. ● Nearly two-thirds of adult Americans would like to see their insurance cover massage therapy. ● The vast majority of massage therapists, 96 percent, believe massage therapy should be considered part of the health care field (AMTA, 2016b). ● 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. ● Eighteen percent of massage consumers reported receiving their last massage at a massage therapist’s office or location in 2015, surpassing spas as the top place to receive massage for the first time. ● 19 percent of consumers surveyed reported receiving a massage from a professional massage therapist in the past year (AMTA, 2016b). receiving a massage in the previous 12 months was medical. These medical reasons included massage for pain relief, muscle soreness, stiffness or spasms. An additional 50 percent sought massage for stress relief and 28 percent sought massage for symptoms they reported were related to stress. The consumer survey also included the following results: ● 88 percent of individuals view massage as being beneficial to overall health and wellness. ● 89 percent of consumers surveyed believe that massage can be effective in reducing pain; with 28 percent of respondents stating they have used massage therapy for pain relief. ● The overall mean, excluding none, was 3.8 massages for those receiving massage in past 12 months. ● Overall mean, excluding none, was 10.2 massages for those receiving massage in past 5 years (AMTA, 2016b). Americans reasons for getting massages are changing Instead of seeking massage therapy solely for relaxation and pampering purposes, individuals clearly are turning to massage therapy to assist with medical conditions. ● As few as 27 percent of individuals believe massage therapy is only a form of pampering with 71 percent of consumers responding that massage therapy should be considered a form of healthcare.
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