AMTA Continues to Advocate for Robust NIH Funding for Massage Therapy Research

AMTA continues to seek out opportunities to support research and elevate standards for the massage therapy profession. New research is vital because it helps support evidence-based massage therapy practice, promotes advancements in techniques and modalities, and reinforces the value of massage therapy as a complementary approach to care for many health conditions.

In March, the Biden Administration released its proposed budget for FY 25, which will start October 1. Each year, Congress must approve the level of funding allocated for the various federal agencies, and the budget must be signed into law by the President.

For the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), the budget includes detailed estimates, accomplishments, and future plans, and a  ‘justification’ document to summarize the need for continued support by the federal government in order for the NCCIH to carry out its research priorities. While federal research on massage therapy overlaps with several NIH offices, NCCIH is the primary source of federal government funding for massage therapy research. View the FY NCCIH budget justification. 

It is important to note that the FY 25 proposed NCCIH budget—much like all proposed federal budgets – are never adopted in their entirety by Congress. At the same time, the budget is important as it lays out key areas of particular interest for the agency in layperson-friendly language, and may help massage therapists who are involved in research activities tailor their proposals to mesh with the goals and interests of NCCIH.

Federal research findings help drive future policy decisions on the value and efficacy of massage therapy. For this reason, AMTA remains dedicated to advocating for a robust NIH funding stream for massage therapy and we will continue our efforts this year as the budget moves forward.