Trends in Massage Therapy
You've gotta love statisticians. You know, the people who keep track of all things numerical in every industry imaginable. Massage therapy is no different. The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) has released its latest data of just who is taking advantage of massage therapy and why. In this article, we will highlight and comment on these recent stats.
Massage Therapy is on the Rise
More people than ever before are getting massages. These are just a few of the stats backing up the rise in popularity.
- According to AMTA, 2 million more people received massages in 2005 than in 2004. That's remarkable!
- 47 million American adults reported receiving a massage within the last five years. That's one in five people!
- Use of massage in those 65 and older has tripled since 1997.
- 90% percent of those polled said that massage therapy is beneficial to their health and 94% of 18-24 year olds supported that same statement.
- 73% of people would recommend massage therapy to someone they know, up from last year.
Males are Getting More Massages
It always seemed as if men were a little more hesitant to be touched by strangers, or that it was primarily women who went to spas for a little bit of the star treatment. AMTA's research shows that massage is growing among men.
- 17% of men surveyed reported getting a massage in the last year, up from 14% in 2004.
- 28% of men surveyed stated they received a massage in the past five years, up from 23%.
Massage for Pain Relief Easing up the Charts
More people are getting massages for pain relief than ever before as well, as opposed for just relaxation or other reasons.
- 28% of people in this survey ranked medication and massage as the most effective methods of pain relief, which says a lot about the growth of massage for pain. Massage ranked above chiropractic care, physical therapy and acupuncture.
- 46% of all respondents said they received a massage for pain relief.
- Pain is the most common reason for regular massage.
- 93% of people say that massage is beneficial to pain relief.
Where Americans are Getting Massages
In the AMTA survey, they asked where people get massages. Most were in professional settings. Ranked in order, here are the top three places:
- A professional massage at home (30%)
- A spa (27%)
- A massage therapist's location (24%)