Massage in health care More Americans are discussing massage with their doctors or health care providers (AMTA, 2021a): ● In 2015, more than fifty-one million American adults, 16% of the population, had discussed massage therapy with their doctors or health care providers. ● Of those who discussed massage with their doctor or health care provider, 69% 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, 49% of chiropractors and 43% of physical therapists also recommended massage therapy when their clients discussed it with them. 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.
● More referrals come from chiropractic offices than other sources, with 11% of survey respondents reporting receiving referrals at least once per week, and another 25% receiving referrals several times per month. ● 55% 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.
● 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
● 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.
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.
● 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. ● 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. ● 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.
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.
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