An article published in FSView, an online version of the Florida State University newspaper, touts the therapeutic benefits of massage therapy beyond stress reduction. A number of athletes are quoted and the consensus is that massage helps with performance and reduces injuries.
The article states that the number of Americans receiving massage regularly is at 40% while the rest of the world is at 80%. While these numbers seem a bit overstated and there is no source presented for these statistics, it is obvious that the trend for massage therapy is up. And as the benefits of massage, especially for athletes, become more apparent, the demand for well-trained, highly qualified massage therapists will only increase.
This trend elevates the profile of massage beyond simple self-indulgence and pampering to mainstream health maintenance. Attending a reputable massage school with good instructors is more critical than ever. Do your research and make a good choice. The future is wide open.
Great information. Thank you for starting a blog and putting information like this on it.
Carol
Great info (and great blog)! Even though the acceptance and use of massage therapy is increasing in the U.S., it surprised me to see the discrepancy between the U.S. and the rest of the world. As you say, the statistics may be a bit off, but if they’re anywhere close, it sure says a lot about how far we have to go in this country for true acceptance of the value of massage and bodywork. I’ve been a massage therapist for over 25 years, and I’ve seen a lot of changes, but there are still a LOT of people who don’t understand the importance of massage as part of their health care arsenal.
Jan
Seattle WA massage therapist