The followinis a compilation of data gathered by the American Massage Therapy Association® (AMTA®) from U.S. government statistics,
surveys of consumers and massage therapists and recent clinical studies on the efficacy of massage. These data provide an overview of the
current state of the massage therapy profession, public and medical acceptance of the value of massage and increasing consumer usage of
massage therapy in the U.S.
Who Gets Massage, Where and Why?
• According to the 2009 AMTA consumer survey, an average of 22 percent of adult Americans received at least one massage between July 2008 and July 2009, and an average of 34 percent of adult Americans received a massage in the previous five years.
• In July 2009, 40 percent of women and 29 percent of men reported having a massage in the past five years.
• Spas are where most people continue to receive massage, with 24 percent of those surveyed in July 2009 saying they had their last massage at a spa. (CFMNH conducted their own Poll on FaceBook and found that overwhelmingly, 88% preferred private practitioners to spas or other venues. You are welcome to visit and have a look for yourself.)
While the use of massage is growing, the reasons people are turning to massage therapy are also expanding. More and more people recognize it as an important element in their overall health and wellness.
• Thirty-two (32) percent of adult Americans who had a massage between July 2008 and July 2009 received it for medical or health reasons.
• Nineteen (19) percent of adult Americans say they’ve used massage therapy at least one time for pain relief.
• Of the people who had at least one massage in the last five years, 31 percent reported they did so for health conditions such as pain management, injury rehabilitation, migraine control, or overall wellness.
• Eighty-six (86) percent agree that massage can be effective in reducing pain.
• Eighty-five (85) percent agree that massage can be beneficial to health and wellness.
Consumers are increasingly seeking massage for stress reduction and relaxation.
• In July 2009, 32 percent of adult Americans said they had at least one massage in the last five years to reduce stress or relax—up from 22 percent reported in 2007.
• Forty-nine percent of consumers said they have considered a massage to manage stress in the last year, as compared to 38 percent in 2008.
Attend massage school at the Center for Massage & Natural Health in Asheville, North Carolina. CFMNH is COMTA Accredited (Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation) and approved by the U.S. Department of Education to offer Federal Financial Aid. You may qualify to attend for tuition as low as $1780 and can begin your new career in just 6 months.
