American Massage Therapy Association^®

AMTA Provides Massage Information Podcast for NIH

Evanston, IL – The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) is collaborating with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on an educational podcast about the benefits of massage therapy for stress relief.  The five minute audio segment explains the benefits of massage for stress relief and includes research citations. 

“This is a result of our ongoing commitment to building relationships within the healthcare community,” says AMTA President Judy Stahl.  “We were invited to develop this educational segment for those involved with the NIH, as well as the public.  It is a significant advancement towards achieving the respect that massage deserves as an essential element of integrated health care.” 

The podcast will become part of a series of educational segments focused on the science and practice of stress management modalities. The NIH will make it available to NIH staff by the end of July and to the public by late August.

“AMTA is working consistently in many arenas to promote massage therapy, especially for those massage therapists who want to work within the healthcare system, in the spa setting, in sports and athletics, and in private practice,” says Stahl.  “Wherever a massage therapist works, part of their practice is undoubtedly focused on stress relief.”

The American Massage Therapy Association is the largest nonprofit, professional association for massage therapists with more than 58,000 massage therapist members.  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. 

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