Massage Therapy for Regular Health Maintenance:
75% of individuals surveyed claim their primary reason for receiving a massage in the past 12 months was medical (43%) and stress (32%) related, according to the 17th annual consumer survey, sponsored by the American Massage Therapy Association® (AMTA®). Medical reasons include pain relief, soreness, stiffness or spasms, injury recovery, migraines, prevention, and general well-being.
- 88% view massage as beneficial to overall health and wellness.
- 88% believe massage can be effective in reducing pain; with 24% saying they have used massage therapy for pain relief.
- The overall mean (excluding none) was 4.1 massages for those receiving massage in the past 12 months. Those whose primary reason for getting massage was medical got a mean of 5.7 massages.
Americans’ Reasons for Getting Massages are Changing: More people are turning to massage therapy to assist with medical conditions.
- As few as 34% of those surveyed believe massage therapy is only a form of pampering.
- In the previous 12 months, 17% of respondents received a massage at a spa compared to 19 percent in 2012. This decline, and the presence of chiropractor’s offices, health clubs and physician’s offices/medical clinics on the list of locations where people receive massage, indicates consumers identify massage as an important component of overall health and wellness.
- 56% of people received a massage for one or more of the following reasons: soreness, stiffness or spasms, to relieve or manage stress, for prevention or to improve quality of life, injury recovery or rehabilitation, to keep fit or health/maintain wellness, or to control headaches or migraines.
- 39% indicated that medical benefits would be their primary motivation for having a massage.
Health Care Providers Recommending Massage as a Viable Form of Treatment: Health care providers and doctors are more commonly viewing massage therapy as a legitimate option to address health concerns.
- 48% of respondents indicated that they were encouraged by their doctor to receive a massage.
- 53% of respondents said their physician has recommended they get a massage.