Have you ever gotten a really great massage? You are not alone. According to the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) 2013 Industry Fact Sheet:
1. 22% of women and 10% of men reported having a massage.
2. More than 34 million American adults (16%) had discussed massage therapy with their doctors or health care providers.
3. Of those 16% who talked about massage with their doctor, 50% of those medical professionals strongly recommended massage therapy.
Doctors are not the only professionals recommending massage therapy as a valuable adjunct to healthcare. According to the same AMTA Industry Fact Sheet:
1. 43% of chiropractors and 38% of physical therapists also recommended massage therapy when their patients discussed it with them.
2. 25% of nurses recommended massage.
Research Shows: The Effectiveness of Massage
Physicians and other health care professionals recommend massage based on the tangible, documented benefits. Here are a few of the many health advantages attributed to massage:
1. Decreases muscle pain, tension, stiffness and spasm
2. Improves joint flexibility and range of motion
3. Enhances blood flow and lymph drainage
4. Improves immune function
5. Relieves stress and increases relaxation
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), research on massage therapy points toward beneficial effects on pain and other symptoms associated with a number of different conditions:
1. Pain: related to chronic low-back, neck and knee issues
2. Cancer: decreases pain, promotes relaxation, and boosts mood
3. Mental health: reduces depression and anxiety
4. Fibromyalgia: reduces pain, fatigue, and other associated symptoms
5. HIV/AIDS: improves the quality of life for people with HIV or AIDS
6. Neonatal Infant Care: improves weight gain in babies born pre-term
Massage Therapy: Career Opportunity
Massage therapy certification is the ticket to employment in a variety of interesting settings from private practice to work in the travel industry:
1. Doctor and Chiropractors Offices: massage augments the benefits of medical treatment and helps maintain good health between regular check-ups.
2. Sports Teams: professional and college athletic teams employ massage therapists to address pre-game fitness, post-game injury and maintain health during the playing season.
3. Fitness Clubs and Gyms: massage helps melt muscle tension after work-outs.
4. Spas and Resorts: massage therapy is offered as a part of the regimen which complements other healing services.
5. Helping Others through the Power of Touch
As statistics show, people from all walks of life receive massage therapy. It is routinely recommended by other health care professionals as a way to address pain associated with a wide array of conditions. As a career path, massage therapy certification provides many unique employment opportunities. Meaningful work within this fast-growing field offers liberation from traditional work settings, cubicles and desks. The physical inactivity of being chained to a computer is traded for vibrant, active work centered on health, healing and the prospect of making a positive difference in people’s lives.
