IN THIS ISSUE

Dear e-touch reader,

More and more Americans are discovering the benefits of making massage a regular part of their lives, say the results of AMTA's latest consumer survey.   Also, read how one man used massage in his political campaign!  All this and more, in this month's e-touch.

Enjoy the issue, and happy holidays!
-The Editors

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More Americans are Turning to Massage

One in six American adults had a massage in the past year—25 million more Americans than 10 years ago, according to an annual survey commissioned by AMTA. When these surveys began in 1997, only 8 percent of adults said they had a massage in the past year. In 2006, 18 percent said they had a massage in the past year.

In the past, relaxation was the leading motivator for massage, but increasingly Americans are looking to massage therapy for medical reasons such as injury recovery, pain management, headache control, and overall health and wellness.

In this year’s survey, 40 percent of adults said they have had a massage at some time to relieve pain. Thirty percent of people who had a massage in the past five years did it for health reasons other than stress relief. Fifty-three percent of those who discussed massage with their health care providers said their doctor recommended they get massage therapy.

Many young adults feel massage can be a valuable part of their personal health routine. This year, 72 percent of respondents aged 18 to 24 disagreed with the idea that massage is just a luxury. Ninety-two percent say they believe massage can be an effective way to relieve pain, while 48 percent have already had a massage to relieve pain.

Older Americans are increasing their use of massage as well. Annual use has tripled over the past 10 years for those ages 55 to 64, from 7 percent in 1997 to 21 percent in 2006, and for ages 65 and up, from 4 percent in 1997 to 12 percent in 2006.

“Massage is a hot topic,” says Mary Beth Braun, president of AMTA. “As the medical community increasingly recognizes its benefits, and as more insurance companies begin to include it in their plans, massage will become a more common component of people’s health and wellness practice.”

Why people choose massage

  • Men and people 65 and older are especially likely to get massage for medical/health care reasons.
  • Women indicated massage therapy was their first choice when asked what gave them the greatest relief from pain—24 percent, versus 22 percent who chose medication as their number one pain-relief choice.
  • Men placed medication first (24 percent) and massage second (19 percent).
  • The number of people who indicated their massage was paid or co-paid by an insurance company doubled, from 5 percent in 2005 to 10 percent in 2006.
  • Twenty-six percent of respondents gave relaxation or stress reduction as their reason.
  • Twenty-one percent had a massage “because it was free or a gift.”

Source: American Massage Therapy Association, 2006.

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Find the Right Massage for You

Finding a professional massage therapist who is well-trained and knowledgeable can make or break a person’s massage experience. AMTA offers a national locator service at www.findamassagetherapist.org that makes it easy for you to locate a professional AMTA member for massage. AMTA professional members have demonstrated a level of skill and knowledge through education and/or testing and are required to meet continuing education standards to remain members.

When you’re choosing between massage therapists, you should ask them specific questions, including if they are licensed to practice massage, if they are nationally certified and where they received massage therapy training. You should feel comfortable with your massage therapist, and confident that he or she meets state regulatory requirements and professional standards for practice..

For more information on how to choose a qualified massage therapist, what to expect from a massage and more, just go to AMTA’s online consumer information page at www.amtamassage.org/consumer.html.

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And He Approved This Massage

By Pete Reinwald

Phil Maymin

Reasons to get a massage include::

  • to relieve pain;
  • to relieve tension;
  • to feel good;
  • to improve health;
  • to get elected to Congress.

To get elected to Congress? Well, Phil Maymin certainly gave it a go.

Maymin, 31, brought massage into his message this fall when he ran for incumbent Christopher Shays’s seat in Connecticut’s fourth Congressional district—producing perhaps the funniest and most bizarre political ad of the 2006 election season. The ad featured him getting a “massage” as a “therapist,” who lightly dabbed her fingers on his back, asked him about his candidacy.

Maymin ended the ad by saying, “I’m Phil Maymin, and I approved this massage.”

Maymin, a Libertarian, used the “massage”—clearly not meant to depict a real massage—and the pun to make fun of the law requiring that the person speaking in the ad “also admit he approves what he says,” Maymin said in an e-mail response to questions. “The pun was nice but it only made sense because the law is so inane.”

Another theme of the 30-second ad was that “Democrats and Republicans stress people out. Libertarians let people relax,” said Maymin.

MSNBC’s Tucker Carlson showed the ad under the title “Most Outrageous Political Ad,” and FactCheck.org gave it the honor of “Best Send-up of an Ineffective Federal Mandate.”;

Yet, for Maymin, massage didn’t mean magic: Republican Shays was re-elected. Maymin finished third with about one percent of the vote.

Asked if he had been offered any real massages since the ad ran, Maymin said, “No. Are you offering?”

Maymin says he does get massages as frequently as he can.

The entire ad can be viewed online at YouTube.

Pete Reinwald has been full-time journalist for 25 years, and currently works as an editor in Chicago for a major financial news service. On the side, he writes freelance articles on subjects that interest him.

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Table Tips

Partner with a friend after a hectic week

After a long week, get together with a friend and give each other massages! Instead of running around like crazy trying to find something relaxing to do, try making a peaceful atmosphere at your home. Start out easy with a hand or a foot, and practice 10-minute massages on each other.

You’ll be surprised how good it feels, and how it will lower your blood pressure. It doesn't take a lot of effort, but the results are amazing.

Barbara Lavender
Massapequa, New York

For a different massage tip each week, visit AMTA's Massage Room.

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Click 'n' Pick

Here are the results from last month's e-touch survey:  Have you used any of the features for consumers available on the AMTA website?

Number of responses:  2

Have you ever used the following services on the AMTA website (please check all that apply):

  • Consumer information page 33.33% (www.amtamassage.org/consumers.html)
  • Find a Massage Therapist locator service 33.33% (www.findamassagetherapist.org)
  • Massage Information Center 33.33%
    (www.amtamassage.org/infocenter)

Did you find the services you used helpful?

Would you use these web services again?

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Legal Notice

Articles submitted by individual authors are copyrighted by those authors and reprinted with their permission. Views expressed in these articles are not necessarily the views of the American Massage Therapy Association®, and should in no way be construed as an endorsement. They are for informational purposes only.

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AMTA Mission

To serve AMTA members while advancing the art, science and practice of massage therapy.