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1. Massage Therapy As A Profession
2. Who Is Today’s Massage Therapist?
3. Massage Therapy as a Career
4. Education and Credentials Valued In The Massage Therapy Profession
5. State Regulation Of The Massage Profession Rapidly Growing
6. Who Gets Massage, Where and Why?
7. Massage And Healthcare
8. Massage Therapy Research

The Massage Therapy Profession

In 2005, massage therapy was projected to be a $6 to $11 billion a year industry.1
AMTA estimates that in 2010, massage therapy was a $12-17 billion industry. 2
It is estimated that there are 280,000 to 320,000 massage therapists and massage school students in the United States.2

• According to the U.S. Department of Labor in 2010, employment for massage therapists is expected to increase 19 percent from 2008 to 2018, faster than average for all occupations. However, this is one percentage point lower than their forecast in 2006. 3
• Between July 2009 and July 2010, roughly 48 million adult Americans (18 percent) had a massage at least once.4
• The economy affected the number of people who had a massage from July 2009 to July 2010 (down 4 percentage points from 2008-2009). 4

Who is Today’s Massage Therapist?

Today’s massage therapists are…

• Most likely to enter the massage therapy profession as a second career.
• Predominantly female (87 percent).
• In their early 40s, on average.
• Most likely to be members of a professional organization.
• Most likely to be sole practitioners
• Working an average of 15 hours a week providing massage. (Excludes time spent on other business tasks such as billing, bookkeeping, supplies, maintaining equipment, marketing, scheduling, etc.)
• Charging an average of $60 for one hour of massage.
• Earning an average wage of $41 an hour (including tips) for all massage related work.
• Heavily dependent on repeat clients.
• Likely to provide massage therapy in a number of settings, including clients home/office, spa/salon, their own office, a healthcare setting, health club/athletic facility, or massage therapy only franchise or chain.
• Use an average of eight modalities/techniques
• Eighty-eight percent (88 percent) of massage therapists provide Swedish massage, followed by 84 percent who provide deep tissue massage, 55 percent trigger point, and 53 percent sports massage.

Massage Therapy as a Career

• In 2010, the average annual income for a massage therapist (including tips) who provides approximately 15 hours of massage per week was estimated to be $31,980, compared to $37,123 for 2009. The reduction in income reflects both a decrease in the number of average hours worked and lower numbers for consumer use of massage in 2010 6
• While massage therapists work in a variety of work environments, sole practitioners account for the largest percentage of practicing therapists (65 percent).  Thirty-nine percent work at least part of their time at a client’s home/business/corporate setting or their home, 26 percent in a spa setting and 25 percent in a healthcare setting, 5
• Nearly three-fourths (73 percent) started practicing massage therapy as a second career.5
• Forty-seven percent of massage therapists say they would  like to work more hours of massage than they presently do.5
• More than half of massage therapists (57 percent) also earn income working in another profession.5
• Of those massage therapists who earn income working in another profession 23 percent practice other form of bodywork, while 22 percent work in education  and 18 percent work in healthcare .5

Education and Credentials in the Massage Therapy Profession

• There are more than 300 accredited massage schools and programs in the United States.8
• Today there are nearly 90,000 nationally certified massage therapists and bodyworkers.  To become nationally certified, a massage therapist must demonstrate mastery of core skills and knowledge, pass an exam, uphold the standards of practice and code of ethics of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork and take part in continuing education.9
• Ninety-two (92) percent of massage therapists strongly or somewhat agree there should be minimum education standards for massage therapists.5
• Massage therapists have an average of 660 hours of initial training.5
• The vast majority of massage therapists (97 percent) have taken continuing education classes.5
• Massage therapists take an average of 22 hours of continuing education per year.5
• The most popular choices for continuing education are training for new modalities/techniques, advanced training for specific modalities, and massage for specific populations (e.g. pregnant women, geriatrics and athletes).5

State Regulation of the Massage Therapy Profession

• Currently, 43 states and the District of Columbia regulate massage therapists or provide voluntary state certification.
• In states that regulate massage therapy, massage therapists must meet the legal requirements to practice, which may include minimum hours of initial training and passing an exam.
• In states that do not regulate massage therapy, this task may fall to local municipalities.
• Most states that license massage therapists require a passing grade on the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) or one of two exams provided by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork.
• The American Massage Therapy Association and most other massage therapy organizations prefer the MBLEx, administered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Board (FSMTB), as a state licensing exam.
• AMTA supports fair and consistent licensing of massage therapy in all states.

Who Gets Massage, Where and Why?

• According to the 2010 AMTA consumer survey, an average of 18 percent of adult Americans received at least one massage between July 2009 and July 2010, and an average of 28 percent of adult Americans received a massage in the previous five years.6
• In July 2010, 25 percent of women and 10 percent of men reported having a massage in the past twelve months.4
• Spas are where most people continue to receive massage, with 24 percent of those surveyed in July 2009 saying they had their last massage at a spa.4

While the use of massage decreased in 2010, people still recognize it as an important element in overall health and wellness. 4

• Twenty-nine (29) percent of adult Americans who had a massage between July 2009 and July 2010 received it for medical or health reasons.
• Of those that have ever had a massage, fifty-four (54) percent say they’ve used massage therapy at least one time for pain relief.
• Of the people who had at least one massage in the last five years, 31 percent reported they did so for health conditions such as pain management, injury rehabilitation, migraine control, or overall wellness.
• Eighty-six (86) percent agree that massage can be effective in reducing pain.
• Eighty-five (85) percent agree that massage can be beneficial to health and wellness.

Consumers are increasingly seeking massage for stress reduction and relaxation.

• In July 2010, 40 percent of adult Americans said they had at least one massage in the last five years to reduce stress or relax—up from 22 percent reported in 2007.

Massage and Healthcare

Healthcare providers promoted the benefits of massage to their patients slightly less in 2010.

• In July 2010, over thirty-nine million American adults (16 percent) had discussed massage therapy with their doctors or health care providers, compared to 18 percent in 2009.4
• Of those 16 percent, 31 percent of their health care providers strongly recommended massage therapy, compared to 35 percent in 2009. While physicians led the way in recommending massage (50 percent vs. 55 percent in 2009), chiropractors (35 percent vs. 48 percent in 2009) and physical therapists (42 percent vs. 40 percent in 2008) also recommended massage therapy when their patients discussed it with them.4
• Nearly three quarters of massage therapists (73 percent) indicate they receive referrals from health care professionals, averaging 1.5 referrals per month.

Massage therapists and consumers favor integration of massage into healthcare.

• 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.11
• Low back pain.12
• Osteoarthritis of the knee.13
• Reducing post-operative pain.14
• Boosting the body’s immune system functioning.15
• Decreasing the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.16
• Lowering blood pressure.17
• Reducing headache frequency.18
• Easing alcohol withdrawal symptoms.19
• Decreasing pain in cancer patients.20

The American Massage Therapy Association® (AMTA®) is the largest non-profit, professional association serving more than 56,000 massage therapists, massage students and massage schools.  The association is directed by volunteer leadership and fosters ongoing, direct member-involvement through its 51 chapters.  AMTA works to advance the profession through ethics and standards, the promotion of fair and consistent licensing of massage therapists in all states, and public education on the benefits of massage.

The association also helps consumers and health care professionals locate professional massage therapists nationwide, through AMTA’s Find a Massage Therapist® national locator service. The free national locator service is available via AMTA’s website at www.FindaMassageTherapist.org or toll-free at 888-THE-AMTA [888-843-2682].
__________________________________________________________________________
1  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.
2  Data compiled by American Massage Therapy Association  2009.
3   U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook
4   2010 and 2009 AMTA Consumer Surveys
5   2010 AMTA Industry Survey
6   AMTA Consumer Surveys 2003-2010
7   Based on a comparison of results of an AMTA 2010 Industry Survey and 2006 U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
8   American Massage Therapy Association
9   The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork
10  National Survey conducted by the Health Forum/American Hospital Association 2007
11  Currin, J. Meister, E.A. (2008) A hospital-based intervention using massage to reduce distress among oncology patients.  Cancer Nurs. 31(3):214-21.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18453878?ordinalpos=3&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
12  Preyde M. (2003) Effectiveness of massage therapy for subacute low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Soft Tissue Manipulation, 8, 4 – 10.
13  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.
14  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.
15 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.
16  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. http://www.massagetherapyfoundation.org/pdf/Massage%20and%20carpal%20tunnel%20syndrome.pdf
17  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.
18  Quinn C, Chandler C, Moraska A. Massage Therapy & Frequency of Chronic Tension Headaches. (2002) American Journal of Public Health. 92(10):1657-61
19 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.
20 American College of Physicians. (2008) Massage Therapy May Have Immediate Positive Effect On Pain And Mood For Advanced Cancer Patients. Science Daily 16 September. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080915174534.htm.

Study Anti Cellulite Massage At Home

Susan Brown has her popular anti cellulite massage class now on DVD so you can study massage therapy at home. This is a great way to learn about what causes cellulite and how you can help your clients look better.  The DVD shows before and after photos of Susan’s clients and the results are quite amazing.

Susan goes step-by-step through a complete anti cellulite massage treatment. This technique is entirely done by hand; no additional equipment is required.

She goes over the benefits and contraindications, initial client assessment, client forms, pricing, setting realistic client goals and expectations, measuring and tracking client progress, and follow-up recommendations for your clients to help maintain the results.

Your clients will get long lasting results with this anti cellulite treatment.

Cellulite reduction works by loosening up the fascia, softening it, so it’s not so rigid, and softening the fat tissue and expressing the toxins and directing them into the lymphatic system. However, it’s not a one-time deal. It involves a 6-week program, with 3 massages per week, totaling 18 massages. It’s intensive work, but it’s worth the effort and creates repeat clients.

Anti Cellulite Massage

A full session runs between 35 to 45 minutes. The going rate for 18 sessions on the lower body is $1899.

For your clients, this six-week program of this intensive massage promotes dimensional inch loss, smoothes out dimpled skin, and flushes toxins stored in fat cells.

Since cellulite affects most women, regardless of age or weight, this is a great treatment to get repeat clients and to increase your income. The best part is that it is extremely effective and does not require any expensive equipment.

Client Assessment

Clearly, the selling benefit of cellulite massage is the dimensional loss. Without changing their lifestyle, your clients can expect to lose 6 to 12″ total from the abdomen to the lower thighs, even if they’ve dieted and exercised to a point where they’ve reached a plateau.

By following the anti cellulite massage protocol, the treatment series even retrains the body on what to do with toxins. Toxins come from everywhere, with whatever our bodies come into contact — food we eat, air we breathe, water we drink, lotions we put on our bodies, antiperspirants…. whatever toxins we ingest or encounter in our environment.

This treatment works by softening the fat tissue and expressing the stored toxins into the lymphatic system. The body then flushes the toxins out through the urinary tract or lower intestine. So the massage breaks up the toxins in the cellulite that have been weighing down the client, literally and figuratively.

Cellulite massage retrains the body to flush out toxins instead of storing them in the tissues.

Your clients will also have more energy and just feel better. This is such a great resource to study massage therapy at home.

The Cellulite Massage DVD (1 Hr. 13 Mins.) can be ordered for $69.95 plus shipping, by calling 1-800-414-2434 or visiting http://www.videoshelf.com/anti_cellulite_massage_treatment.html

You can watch the pay-per-view version for $55.96.

Click on the play button to watch a clip from the DVD.

Cellulite DVD

Massage & Bodywork Magazine Jan-Feb 2010

The January 2010 issue of Massage and Bodywork magazine is now online.

This is such a great resource.  You can see the online version at http://massagebodywork.idigitaledition.com/issues/10/

With more than 70,000 influential members, Associated
Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) is the
largest association serving the profession. Massage & Bodywork
magazine is ABMP’s flagship publication.

From the start, massage therapist Michelle Moe and former NFL lineman Jeff Criswell have been at the forefront of this movement with their KISSES FROM HEAVEN Infant Massage Kit. Nevertheless, they were surprised and gratified to learn that healthcare professionals now believe that infant massage may have its greatest impact yet in short-circuiting the “cycle of violence” and other factors that contribute to child abuse.

Since learning of the link, Michelle and Jeff – both of whom have young children of their own – have become tireless advocates of providing information on infant massage to at-risk parents. In fact, hospitals and community outreach programs in Missouri, Florida, New York, Michigan and South Dakota are using their KISSES FROM HEAVEN Infant Massage Kit, designed for infants and children, as part of their ongoing parental education programs with the specific aim of preventing incidents of child abuse. The centers say that they find the kits particularly helpful because the instructional materials, which are written for a third-grade reading level, make it easy for people of all backgrounds and education levels to grasp the basics of infant massage and begin using it within minutes of opening the box.

Michelle and Jeff’s efforts have been bolstered by the fact that every day more health care professionals are taking a serious look at how teaching infant massage, a practice which has been in use for over two decades, may prevent abuse. Many believe that massage allows at-risk parents to replace the violent touching they may have received from their parents with a loving and constructive alternative, while providing others a useful way to cope with the stresses of parenting while forging stronger bonds with their children. The early evidence on the subject is, in fact, truly compelling. In one dramatic instance, a county in Oregon where infant massage techniques have been taught to parents has seen an astonishing decrease of 50 percent in their rate of child abuse.

The link between preventing child abuse and infant massage is of great significance because, up to now, there have been no known effective preventive measures against it. In the meantime, abuse remains an extremely serious and growing problem. According to the Federal Government, over one million incidents and two thousand deaths from child abuse are reported yearly. Some conservative estimates suggest that the real numbers are much worse, with at least 80 percent of cases going unreported. In addition, the Children’s Defense Fund states that one in every three victims of physical abuse is an infant less than twelve months old. Sadly, when it comes to child abuse, government interventions are rarely effective – by the time police and social workers become involved, the real damage has been done.

With these facts in mind, Michelle and Jeff –have been working to persuade government agencies and public health facilities to educate new parents about infant massage. In fact, the Children’s Trust Fund of Missouri has recently allocated funding for infant massage programs. This represents the first time a Missouri state agency has funded any such program, representing their belief in the efficacy of infant massage as a pro-active tool in the fight against abuse.

Michelle, herself a survivor of abuse, is passionate on the subject. “Anyone who’s given a massage to an infant or child has experienced something profound. The powerful bond infant massage creates makes it a lot harder for a mom or dad to raise a hand against their child, ” Michelle said. “Infant massage gives parents a simple, positive step to take when things get tough,” Jeff said. “It’s sort of a bridge over the most difficult and frustrating times of child rearing when abuse is most likely to happen. It’s hard for me to see how anyone could resort to shaking or otherwise hurting a baby who won’t stop crying once they’ve been using massage,” he added.

Jeff, who is also the spokesman for the Child Abuse Prevention Association of Jackson County, Missouri, is fond of demonstrating infant massage techniques for the hospital and social service centers that are utilizing the kits. Observers can’t help but be impressed by the sight of the 6′7″, 300 pound former lineman’s impressive frame gently massaging a seven or eight pound infant. Criswell, however, is quick to bring the focus back to the subject of bonding and preventing child abuse.

“Of course it’s a great honor to have played for the Chiefs all those years, but when you think about it, it’s comparatively minor,” Jeff states. “The real honor, the really important achievement of my life so far, is spreading the message that infant massage is not only healthy and emotionally fulfilling for parents and children, but may prevent an enormous amount of pain and perhaps save countless lives.”

For more information go www.kissesfromheaven.com . To schedule an interview with either Jeff Criswell or Michell Moe, please contact either Bob Bovie or Marie Wente of Productivity, Inc. via e-mail at ProResponz@aol.com.

THE KISSES FROM HEAVEN STORY

The idea for KISSES FROM HEAVEN came about when Michelle Moe met Jeff Criswell through her massage therapy work with several Kansas Chiefs’ players. When Criswell and his wife, Nita, discovered that they were parents-to-be, Moe wanted to give a special gift to a special baby. She created a “prototype” infant massage kit, complete with her book, “Sprinkles of Love.” Criswell was so impressed with the kit’s concept, benefits and value that he became Moe’s business partner in the KISSES FROM HEAVEN venture. Edward R. Christophersen, Ph.D., a renowned professor of Pediatrics at the University of Missouri and Chief Psychologist at Kansas City’s Children’s Mercy Hospital noted, “Researchers have known for some time about the importance of touch to infants and toddlers but parents don’t read the research articles. It took Michelle Moe, a professional massage therapist, to develop and describe therapeutic massage in a way that’s easy to follow. Her book, Sprinkles of Love, can be used by parents to improve their relationship with their ‘little one.’”