The Growing Massage Therapy Industry
Are you seeking a meaningful change in your life or just additional income? A part time or full time career as a Massage Therapist may be an excellent solution. The number of Americans receiving massages has more than doubled in the last decade (now over 114 million treatments per year) and the profession has consistently been one of the fastest growing in the country in recent years.
Massage therapy has become widely accepted by both the public and the medical community. No longer just an enjoyable pastime and means of relieving stress, massage has become an important component in treating many types of injuries and medical conditions and enhancing athletic performance.
MASSAGE THERAPY JOB OPPORTUNITIES EXIST AT:
• Spa's and Salons
• Hospitals
• Corporations
• Sports teams
• Physical Therapy offices
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• Fitness Centers
• Hotels and Resorts
• Chiropractor's Offices
• Cruise Ships
• Home Health Care
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One significant benefit of becoming a massage therapist it the flexibility it offers in choice of work location and hours. In addition to the part time and full time options listed above, many therapist choose to open their own Private Practice independent of an employer.
The following statistics are from the 2004 American Massage Therapy Association® (AMTA®) Survey of 507 men and 502 women.
- Massage follows medication as the form of pain relief respondents said gave the greatest relief from pain:
30 percent said medication, followed by 21 percent for massage therapy, 19 percent chiropractic and 16 percent physical therapy.
- Sixty-five percent of those polled would recommend massage therapy to someone they know.
- For those who discussed massage therapy with their healthcare providers, 62 percent of the providers strongly recommended or encouraged their patients to get a massage.
Massage therapy is a recognized insurance-eligible member of mainstream health care. With the establishment of national certification and the development of licensing laws for massage therapy, the massage therapy profession has moved toward recognition and credibility among health-care providers and insurance companies.
Massage Practitioners in the Medical Field
Health-care providers such as chiropractors, osteopaths, physical therapists, and athletic/fitness organizations actively employ qualified, well-trained massage practitioners. In these settings the massage therapy professional may work alone or in conjunction with the health-care provider.
