Massage Benefits

Massage therapy is the manual manipulation of soft tissue intended to promote health and well-being.

There is significant evidence supporting the inclusion of massage therapy for many important patient health treatments, including those for chronic pain management (such as back pain, headache, carpal tunnel syndrome, osteoarthritis, neck and shoulder pain, fibromyalgia, and hospice care), behavioral health treatment (anxiety and stress, depression, PTSD, and substance use disorder recovery), rehabilitation/physical training (athletic training/injury treatment, ergonomics and job-related injuries, cardiac rehab, joint replacement surgery, and scar management), and acute medical conditions (cancer management, post-operative pain, lymphatic drainage, and maternity and newborn care).

Incorporating massage therapy into approaches to pain management, and as an integrated complement to some pharmacological approaches, can help many suffering both chronic and acute pain.

According to a recent national survey, an average of 19 percent of adult Americans received at least one massage from a professional massage therapist between July 2016 and July 2017. Of those who had a massage in that timeframe, 72 percent received it for medical or stress-related reasons. Medical reasons include pain relief, stiffness or spasms, injury recovery, migraines, prevention, pregnancy or prenatal care, and general well-being.

Eighty seven percent of individuals surveyed view massage as beneficial to overall health and wellness, and 71 percent agree that massage therapy should be considered a form of health care. Eighty nine percent believe that massage can specifically be effective in reducing pain, with 29 percent stating that they have used massage therapy for pain relief.

Information and data come from AMTA’s report: "The Value and Efficacy of Massage Therapy in Integrated Healthcare," available on amtamassage.org.

For more and complete information, you can download the document with the link below or go to www.amtamassage.org

www.amtamassage.org/publications/massage-therapy-integrative-care-pain-management/

The latest research on consumers' views of the massage profession and their use of massage from AMTA's annual survey.

Massage therapy is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of integrative health and wellness, supported by years of research demonstrating its effectiveness for various treatments. Today, more consumers than ever are turning to massage to address their health needs. 

• 95% of individuals surveyed view massage as being beneficial to overall health and wellness.
   
• 94% of individuals surveyed believe that massage can be effective in reducing pain; with 30% of respondents stating they have used massage therapy for pain relief.
   
• Consumers received an average of 2.5 massages in the past 12 months.

Research data comes from the AMTA 2024 Consumer Views & Use of Massage Therapy, available on amtamassage.org.

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