2014 Massage Therapy Fact Sheet
Massage therapy is a highly rewarding career that uses practical application of the sciences, enlivened by the creativity of the healing arts.
NHITA equips graduates to be successful and competitive in this growing health care profession with a thorough and knowledgeable education.
The following is a compilation of data gathered by the American Massage Therapy Association® (AMTA®) from U.S. government statistics, surveys of consumers and massage therapists and recent clinical studies on the efficacy of massage. These data provide an overview of the current state of the massage therapy profession, public and medical acceptance of the value of massage and increasing consumer usage of massage therapy in the U.S.
Massage Therapy Industry Facts
- In 2013, massage therapy was projected to be a $8 to $10 billion a year industry.(1)
- By comparison, AMTA estimates that in 2005, massage therapy was a $6-11 billion industry.(2)
- According to the U.S. Department of Labor in 2012, employment for massage therapists is expected to increase 20 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than average for all occupations.(3)
- Between July 2012 and July 2013, roughly 35 million adult Americans (16 percent) had a massage at least once.(4)
Massage Therapy Career Facts
- While massage therapists work in a variety of work environments, sole practitioners account for the largest percentage of practicing therapists (62 percent). Sixty-five percent work at least part of their time at a client's home/business/corporate setting, 38 percent at their office, 35 percent at their home, 26 percent in a spa setting and 26 percent in a healthcare setting.(5)
Who Gets Massage, Where and Why?
- According to the 2013 AMTA consumer survey, an average of 16 percent of adult Americans received at least one massage between July 2012 and July 2013, and an average of 26 percent of adult Americans received a massage in the previous five years.(6)
- Forty-three percent of adult Americans who had a massage between July 2012 and July 2013 received it for medical or health reasons such as pain management, soreness/stiffness/spasms, injury rehabilitation, or overall wellness, a number that did not change from 2012.(4)
Massage And Healthcare
More Americans discussing massage with their doctors or health care providers.
- In July 2013, more than fifty million American adults (16 percent) had discussed massage therapy with their doctors or health care providers in the previous year, a number that did not change from 2012.(4)
- Of those 16 percent who discussed massage with their doctor or healthcare provider, 62 percent of their doctors or health care providers strongly recommended massage therapy/encouraged them to get a massage, compared to 50 percent in 2012.(5)
Massage therapists and consumers favor integration of massage into health care.
- More than half of adult Americans (58 percent) would like to see their insurance cover massage therapy.(4)
- The vast majority of massage therapists (96 percent) believe massage therapy should be considered part of the health care field.(5)
Massage Therapy Research
The therapeutic benefits of massage continue to be researched and studied. Recent research has shown the effectiveness of massage for the following conditions:
- Cancer-related fatigue(7)
- Low back pain(8)
- Osteoarthritis of the knee(9)
- Reducing post-operative pain(10)
- Boosting the body's immune system functioning(11)
- Decreasing the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome(12)
- Lowering blood pressure(13)
- Reducing headache frequency(14)
- Easing alcohol withdrawal symptoms(15)
- Decreasing pain in cancer patients(16)
- Fibromyalgia(17)
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- Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2004) National Health Expenditure Projections 2004-2014.Barnes P, Powell-Griner E, McFann K, Nahin R. CDC Advance Data Report #34.
- Data compiled by American Massage Therapy Association 2013.
- U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook
- 2013 and 2012 AMTA Consumer Surveys
- 2013 AMTA Industry Survey
- AMTA Consumer Surveys 2003-2013
- Currin, J. Meister, E.A. (2008) A hospital-based intervention using massage to reduce distress among oncology patients. Cancer Nurs. 31(3):214-21. (link)
- Preyde M. (2003) Effectiveness of massage therapy for subacute low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Soft Tissue Manipulation, 8, 4-10.
- Perlman AI, Sabina A, Williams AL, Njike VY, Katz DL. (2006) Massage Therapy for Osteoarthritis of the Knee. Arch Intern Med. 166(22):2533-8.
- Piotrowski, M., Paterson, C., Mitchinson, A., Kim, H. M., Kirsh, M., Hinshaw, D. B. (2003) Massage as Adjuvant Therapy in the Management of Acute Postoperative Pain: A Preliminary Study in Men. Journal of the American College of Surgeons, 197(6), 1037-1046.
- Rapaport, M. H., Schettler, P., Bresee, C. (2010) A Preliminary Study of the Effects of a Single Session of Swedish Massage on Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal and Immune Function in Normal Individuals. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 16(10), 1-10.
- Field, T., Diego, Miguel, Cullen, Christy, Hartshorn, Kristin, Gruskin, Alan, Hernandez-Reif, Maria, Sunshine, William. (2004). Carpal tunnel
syndrome symptoms are lessened following massage. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. 8:9-14. (link)
- Hernandez-Reif M, Field T, Krasnegor J, Theakston H, Hossain Z, Burman I (2000). High blood pressure and associated symptoms were reduced by massage therapy. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 4, 31 - 38.
- Quinn C, Chandler C, Moraska A. Massage Therapy & Frequency of Chronic Tension Headaches. (2002) American Journal of Public Health. 92(10):1657-61
- Reader M, Young R, Connor JP. (2005) Massage therapy improves the management of alcohol withdrawal syndrome. J Altern Complement Med. 11(2):311-3. PMID: 15865498.
- American College of Physicians. (2008) Massage Therapy May Have Immediate Positive Effect On Pain And Mood For Advanced Cancer Patients. Science Daily 16 September. (link)
- Castro-Sánchez, A.M., Matarán-Peñarrocha, G.A., Granero-Molina, J., Aguilera-Manrique, G., Quesada-Rubio, J.M., Moreno-Lorenzo, C. (2011). Benefits of massage-myofascial release therapy on pain, anxiety, quality of sleep, depression, and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011:561753.
View the full AMTA 2014 Massage Therapy Industry Fact Sheet for more detailed information.