December
Survey says: Massage more
popular than ever
A new nationwide survey
shows that 47 million adult Americans received massage in the
past year; and that massage is ranked on a par with medication
as a pain-reliever by people who receive massage.
The nationwide survey was conducted
by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA); it marked
the ninth annual such survey conducted by the association. Results
were released in October.
Among those who received a massage
for pain relief, the same percentage of respondents (28 percent)
ranked massage therapy and medication as bringing the greatest
relief from pain. The latest survey results also show an increase
in the number of consumers receiving a massage, with 2 million
more people having received a massage than a year ago.
Consumer confidence in massage
therapy rose from 2004, with 73 percent of respondents stating
they would recommend massage to someone they know, compared to
65 percent a year ago.
The survey also shows increases
in the number of health-care providers who promote the benefits
of massage to their patients. Twenty-one percent of consumers
surveyed said they had discussed massage therapy with their doctor
or other health-care provider, up from 14 percent in 2002. When
asked who recommended massage therapy, 60 percent of respondents
said a physician, followed by a physical therapist (50 percent)
and a chiropractor (38 percent).