October 2001

Survey: More Consumers Turn to Massage Therapy

Evanston, Ill. - People today look to massage therapy for more than pampering. A consumer survey released recently by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) shows that consumers seek massage for health and medical reasons (60%) more than for sheer indulgence (6%). In addition, health-care providers are increasingly referring their patients to massage therapists. And, more seniors said they got their last massage for medical reasons (56%).

“The data collected this year indicates a significant ongoing shift in consumers’ understanding of massage therapy.,” said Steve Olson, president of AMTA. “...I’m glad to see this perception emerge, especially among seniors, who tend to have greater health and medical needs. So the percentage of people who get massage probably will continue to grow as the ‘baby boomer’ generation ages.”

The number of American adults who report getting a massage over the last 12 months continued to steadily increase -- more than twice as many had one or more massages from a massage therapist in the past year (17%) than did in 1997 (8%), the first year AMTA began tracking consumer data.

Consumers increasingly report having favorable conversations about massage with their health-care providers (79% of those who discussed massage with them). Of those who spoke with a medical professional about massage, 31% were referred to a massage therapist by their chiropractor and 26% were referred by an allopathic physician.

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