Why Massage Is In Americans' Futures

[Guest guest]

Why Massage Is In Americans' Futures

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=54974

More than one out of every 6 Americans gets a massage each year,

that's 25 million more Americans than 10 years ago, according to an

annual survey commissioned by the American Massage Therapy

Association® (AMTA®). In the past, relaxation was the leading

motivator for massage, but increasingly Americans are looking to

massage therapy for medical reasons (30 percent) such as injury

recovery, pain reduction, headache control, and overall health and

wellness.

" About one third of Americans still think massage is a luxury, but

our latest survey shows that 40 percent have had a massage to

relieve pain, " says Beth Braun, president of the AMTA. " And

while we have seen a strong interest in massage therapy for health

reasons from all age groups, there's been a real increase in

understanding of the value of massage among Generation Y. It looks

like their interest will grow stronger as this group ages. "

In fact, 72 percent of Generation Y respondents disagree that

massage is just a luxury; ninety-two percent say they believe

massage can be an effective way to relieve pain, while 48 percent of

18- to 24-year-olds have already had a massage to relieve pain.

" Younger people are telling us that massage can be a valuable part

of their personal health routine, " says Braun. " As they come to rely

more and more on massage for therapeutic reasons, as well as for

stress relief, they'll need to know how best to find professional

massage therapists who can be relied upon to provide the best

possible service. "

Finding a professional massage therapist who is well-trained and

knowledgeable can make or break a person's massage experience. AMTA

offers a professional massage therapist locator service

(http://www.findamassagetherapist.org) and encourages consumers to

look for an AMTA massage therapist. The organization also recommends

asking massage therapists specific questions, including if they are

licensed to practice massage, if they are Nationally Certified in

Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork and where they received massage

therapy training.

Why people get massages

According to AMTA's annual survey, more than 39 million Americans

received a massage in the last year, and almost one out of three

people (30 percent) who had a massage in the past 5 years received

massages for " medical/health reasons " other than stress relief. More

than half (53 percent) who discussed massage with their healthcare

providers say their doctor recommended they get massage therapy.

-- Men and respondents 65 and older are especially likely to get

massages for medical/healthcare reasons.

-- Women indicated massage therapy was their first choice when

asked " what gave you the greatest relief from pain? " (24 percent

versus 22 percent who chose medications as their number one pain-

relief choice).

-- Men placed medications first (24 percent) and massage second (19

percent).

-- Almost one out of three (32 percent) of Hispanic respondents

chose massage therapy as their preferred choice of pain relief, and

more than half (57 percent) of Hispanics have had a massage to

relieve pain.

-- The number of people who indicated having their massage paid by

an insurance company or a co-pay doubled from 5 percent last year to

10 percent this year.

" Relaxation/stress reduction " (26 percent) and " because it was free

or a gift " (21 percent) are also common reasons for having massage

as shown in ten years of consumer surveys.

" Massage is a hot topic, " says Braun of the AMTA. " As the medical

community increasingly recognizes its benefits, and as more

insurance companies begin to include it in their plans, massage will

become a more common component of people's health and wellness

practice. "

Types of massage

While finding the right massage therapist is critical, consumers

also need to understand how massage can help them by understanding

what types of massage are best-suited to their individual

needs. " The more people know about massage, " notes Braun, " the

better they'll be able to take advantage of its benefits. "

There are many types of massage and AMTA recommends that people

discuss with their massage therapists their physical condition and

what they hope to achieve from their massage. The four most common

types of massage are:

Swedish massage: a gentle, relaxing massage using a system of long

strokes, kneading and friction techniques.

Deep tissue massage: beneficial for muscle damage from an injury,

such whiplash or back strain.

Sports massage: helps prevent athletic injury, keeps the body

flexible and may aid in healing the body in the event of an injury.

Chair massage: massage of the upper body, while fully clothed and

seate in a special portable chair and is meant to relax and improve

circulation.