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Survey Shows Many Hospitals Using Massage Therapy Used Mostly for Stress Relief and Pain Management

Survey Shows Many Hospitals Using Massage Therapy Used Mostly for Stress Relief and Pain Management

(October 15, 2003) – As an increasing number of people realize that the benefits of massage extend beyond reducing stress and promoting relaxation, a new study released this week by the American Hospital Association (AHA), with support from the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), shows that many hospitals are incorporating massage therapists into their pain management programs.

Of the 1,007 hospitals responding to the AHA survey, massage therapy was the most prevalent CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) offering, with 82 percent of the hospitals reporting CAM use saying they include massage therapy. Of the hospitals with massage therapy programs, more than 70 percent utilize massage therapy for pain management and pain relief.

Seventy-four percent of hospitals using massage say it is offered for stress management in patients, and 69 percent provide it for staff stress management. A total of 59 percent say they provide massage for cancer patients, while 55 percent offer pregnancy massage.

This survey has significant implications for the management and treatment of pain, which the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has identified as a significant national health issue. According to NIH, pain is the most common reason people seek medical care and that more than one-third of all Americans will suffer from chronic pain at some point in their lives. Chronic pain accounts for more than $100 billion in annual losses to American businesses (through healthcare expenses and lost productivity) and approximately 14 percent of all employees take time off from work due to pain each year.

The AHA survey and the growing use of massage therapy as revealed in annual consumer surveys suggests that hospitals and healthcare organizations are positively responding to the consensus of research and evidence highlighting the benefits of massage. Recent clinical research on the efficacy of massage for pain management has demonstrated that:

• Massage therapy is more effective for chronic back pain than other complementary therapies.

• Massage therapy promotes relaxation and alleviates the perception of pain and anxiety in cancer patients.

• Massage therapy reduces post-traumatic headaches better than cold pack treatments.

• A pilot study conducted at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles found that massage, as part of hospital-based surgery treatment, reduces pain and muscle spasms in patients who have undergone heart bypass surgery.

• Massage stimulates the brain to produce endorphins.

The American Massage Therapy Association, the largest professional association representing the field of massage therapy, can help navigate the process of linking pain specialists with massage therapists. Finding a qualified massage therapist is paramount – only 33 states and the District of Columbia regulate the profession of massage therapy. AMTA helps consumers and other healthcare professionals locate an AMTA member massage therapist via its free Find a Massage Therapist national locater service, www.amtamassage.org  or 1-888-THE-AMTA.

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