In 1997, the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) first commissioned the Opinion Research Corporation, from Princeton, New Jersey, to conduct a survey of massage use by the consumer population.

This year, the AMTA commissioned its fourth annual survey of American consumers among a probability sample of 1,006 adults (506 men and 500 women) ages 18 and older living in private households in the continental United States. The results¹ provide some interesting perspectives on the current role of massage therapy in the general population:

• More people getting massage - Twice as many adult Americans reported receiving one or more massages from a massage therapist in the past year (16 percent) than in 1997 (only eight percent).
• Twenty-one percent of adults surveyed said they expected to schedule a massage with a massage therapist within the next 12 months.
• All income groups - Although high income (family income of $50,000 or more) strongly predicted use of massage in the previous 12 months (23% of adults), adults from lower-income families also utilized massage services: 15% of adults with family incomes under $15,000 or with incomes of $35,000 - $50,000; 14% of those with family incomes of $25,000 - $35,000; and 10% of adults with incomes of $15,000 - $25,000.
• All age groups - Massage proved popular among all age groups, particularly those ages 35-44 (21% reporting at least one massage in the past 12 months). Other age groups also reported substantial use of massage: 14% of adults ages 18-24; 16% of those 25-34; 17% of those 45-54; 13% for the 55-64 age group; and 11% of adults aged 65 and older.
• More women than men - Eighteen percent of women surveyed reported receiving one or more massages in the previous year, compared with 13% of men. More women than men also expected to receive massage in the next year (25% of men vs. 17% of women).
• Reasons for massage - "Medical reasons" were the greatest reported motivation to receive massage (29% of adults), including relief of muscle soreness/stiffness or pain; rehabilitation of a previous injury; prevention of injury or illness (wellness); improvement of joint flexibility or range of motion; or a physician's recommendation. Twenty percent said they would seek massage for relaxation; 10% said they would utilize massage to reduce stress.
• Thumbs up from doctors - Of the 14% of adults who spoke to their doctors about massage therapy, 71% reported a "favorable" conversation about massage, while 20% reported that the conversation was "neutral." Among the senior population (ages 65 and older), 84% deemed conversations with their doctor on the subject of massage as "favorable."

The AMTA survey also provided insights into regional and ethnic variations in massage therapy use. Twenty-one of West Coast adults receiving a massage in the past 12 months compared to only 14% in the South and Northeast. Fifteen percent of Hispanic adults received at least one massage in the past 12 months, compared with 16% of the general adult population surveyed.

An interesting statistic from the survey involved reasons for not getting a massage: 20% of Americans noted they were "too busy" to receive a regular massage. This figure is consistent with previous years (21% in 1999, 18% in 1998, and 24% in 1997).

Reference:

1. 2000 Massage Consumer Survey Fact Sheet. Available on line at http://www.amtamassage.org/infocenter/2000survey.htm.