I grabbed this article a while ago from The American Massage Therapy Association. It might not be terribly exciting reading but it shows how the understanding of the value of therapeutic massage is changing.
It also shows why YOU should consider massage as a natural tool for stress and pain relief.
These statistics are old and the numbers have gone up a ton since.
Who Gets Massage, Where And Why?
* According 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 2008 and 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.
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 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 report they did so for health conditions such as pain management, injury rehabilitation, migraine control, or overall wellness.
* Eight-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.
With numbers like this, and always increasing, you can see why people are getting–insisting even–on massage therapy for all kinds of pain issues.
