The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) yesterday released its annual report on the massage-therapy profession.

The "2010 Massage Profession Research Report" is free to AMTA members and available for purchase on its website (www.amtamassage.org) by nonmembers.

A small sampling of the results includes:

• Massage use rose slightly again in 2009, with 22 percent of all adult Americans receiving a massage at least once in the last 12 months, compared to 20 percent in 2008.

• 2009 saw an increase in the average hourly wage of massage therapists, from $41.50 the previous year, to $44.90 (including an average tip of

$9.50).

• Thirty-two percent of Americans that received a massage in the past five years said their last massage was primarily to reduce stress or relax—up from 22 percent since the recession started in 2007.

• Cost is the most-quoted obstacle that prevents consumers from having regular massages.

• As a person ages, he or she tends toward a greater acceptance of massage therapy.

• The average age of a massage therapist is 49, reflecting a five-year jump from 2008.

• Eighty-three percent of massage therapists had a different profession prior to becoming massage therapists.

Visit www.amtamassage.org for more information.

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