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Massage Therapy Careers Are Thriving
Five Reasons Why Massage Therapist Careers Are Growing in Numbers
Five Reasons Why Massage Therapist Careers Are Growing in Numbers
Find Massage Schools | Natural Healers Career Resource Center
| | To relieve stress and treat muscle pain—those are the standard reasons many Americans first started making appointments with massage therapists. Today that list of reasons has expanded, thanks in a large part to the voices of physicians and the participation of insurance companies and hospitals in supporting the health and long-term wellness benefits of massage therapy. |
Discover five reasons why massage therapists are growing in numbers and find a massage therapy school to begin your massage therapist career today!
1. More Doctors Are Recommending Massage Therapy
According to Forbes Magazine, over 9 million more people talked with their physicians about massage therapy in 2006 than they did in the five years prior. A recent survey conducted by the American Massage Therapy Association shows that doctors strongly recommend massage to more than half of the patients who broach the subject with them. What's more, 63 percent of massage therapists report having received referrals from health care professionals, including orthopedists, cardiologists and other physicians.
2. Massage Therapy Can Help Maintain Wellness and Ease Pain
For what medical reasons do people pursue massage? Injury recovery, pain management and migraine control. Plus, many have found that getting massages on a regular basis contributes to their overall health and wellness. Research into massage therapy has shown that it provides medical benefits for those suffering from cancer-related fatigue, chronic low back pain, osteoarthritis and post-operative pain following surgery.
3. Insurance Companies Have Started To Cover Massage Therapy
Over half of the Americans surveyed said they would like to see their insurance companies cover massage therapy treatments, and the insurance companies have started to respond. Between 2005 and 2006, the number of people who were able to use insurance to help pay for visits to their massage therapists doubled from five to 10 percent, making massage therapy more accessible to greater numbers of the population.
4. Hospitals Have Created Massage Therapy Programs
In response to the growing demand, hospitals have instituted massage therapy programs to serve a variety of health care needs. Forbes Magazine reports that the number of hospitals offering massage therapy increased more than a third between 2004 and 2006, with patients receiving treatment to reduce anxiety, blood pressure and pain. Hospitals have also started offering infant massage, pregnancy and post-partum massage, and "pick-me-up" massages for employees.
5. Massage Therapy is Expected to Continue to Grow
Sponsorship among physicians, hospitals and insurance companies, combined with a projected 20 percent increase in employment through 2016, makes now an ideal time to join the massage therapy profession. The United States offers more than 300 accredited massage schools and programs, and 38 states and the District of Columbia regulate the practice, making today a great time to join the thriving industry.
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Sources:
Forbes Magazine, June 2007
American Massage Therapy Association, 2008
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