FACT SHEET

Following are findings of a survey conducted by Opinion Research Corporation, Princeton, N.J., and commissioned by the American Massage Therapy Association® (AMTA®). A total of 1,007 American adults were polled August 13, 1998. The survey has a confidence level of + 3 percent.

This is the second annual survey of American consumers commissioned by AMTA. Opinion Research Corporation conducted its first survey of consumers on massage by telephone in June 1997. The surveys were conducted among a national probability sample of 1,007 adults (503 men and 504 women) age 18 and older, living in private households in the continental United States.

More than one in five Americans (22 percent) report having had a massage from a massage therapist in the past five years. Thirteen percent report receiving one or more massages in the past year — an increase from 8 percent of Americans in a survey conducted by ORC in1997.

Of those who spoke to their physicians about massage therapy, 76 percent reported that the conversation was favorable about massage.

Almost three in four (72 percent) American adults in 1998 could name some form of benefit that would motivate a person to get a massage — compared to 55 percent in 1997. Thirty percent said they would get a massage from a massage therapist for a specific healthcare reasons, including relief of muscle soreness, pain reduction and injury recovery.

Fifty-two percent said they think of massage as therapeutic, up from 45 percent in 1997. Twenty-three percent said it feels good and 19 percent said it is both therapeutic and feels good.

The three most often cited reasons for getting a therapeutic massage are relaxation (27 percent), relief of muscle soreness, stiffness or spasms (13 percent) and stress reduction (10 percent).

Massage therapy is growing in popularity among the 25-54 age group. In 1998, 31 percent of 25-34 year olds reported having a massage in the past five years, compared to 22 percent in 1997; 25 percent of 35-44 year olds reported having a massage in the past five years in 1998, compared to 18 percent in 1997; and 22 percent of 45-54 year olds reported having a massage in the past five years in 1998, compared to only 16 percent in 1997.

The proportion of men who received one or more massages from a massage therapist doubled to 12 percent from 1997 to 1998, while 14 percent of women reported getting a massage from a massage therapist in the same period.

Massage therapy is equally popular among men and women and in all regions of the country. The West shows the highest percentage of people who had a massage in the last five years — 35 percent.

The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) is a professional organization of more than 35,000 members. AMTA Professional members have demonstrated a certain level of skill and knowledge through education and testing. New Professional members must be graduates of training programs accredited or approved by the Commission on Massage Training Accreditation (COMTA) or be Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork, and have all current city, state or provincial licenses for the area in which they practice.

The American Massage Therapy Association provides information about massage therapy for consumers and will help consumers or healthcare professionals locate qualified massage therapists in their area. For more

information and/or to locate a qualified massage therapist, contact AMTA, 820 Davis St., Suite 100, Evanston, IL 60201-4444; telephone (847) 864-0123; fax (847) 864-1178; or via the Web at www.amtamassage.org.

For more information, contact:

Molly Ring or Alicia Schuster
Public Communications Inc.
312/558-1770

AMTA Mission and Goals

The mission of the American Massage Therapy Association is to develop and advance the art, science and practice of massage therapy in a caring, professional and ethical manner in order to promote the health and welfare of humanity.

To serve its members, the public and the profession, the AMTA pursues the following goals:

1. To establish massage therapy as integral to the maintenance of good health.

2. To increase public awareness of the massage therapy profession.

3. To promote high standards in providing massage therapy to the public.

4. To increase access to quality massage therapy for all persons.

5. To be an influential member of the health care community.

6. To be a leader and a resource for issues in the field of massage therapy including:               definitions; practice and education standards; legislation and regulation.

7. To enhance the professional development and personal growth of members.

8. To continue AMTA’s growth, development, organizational effectiveness and visibility.

In pursuit of the above goals, AMTA will be guided by the values of care and competency.

AMTA Fast Facts

The American Massage Therapy Association® (AMTA®) is the oldest and largest international member-driven organization representing the massage therapy profession.

AMTA was founded in 1943.

AMTA has more than 37,000 members in more than 30 countries.

AMTA has chapters in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

AMTA is governed by an elected National Board of Directors.

AMTA plays an important role in ensuring high standards and ethical behavior in the practice of massage therapy.

AMTA initiated the creation of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB), which is formally recognized by the National Commission of Certifying Agencies. The National Certification Exam has become the standard for licensure used by at least 16 of the 26 states that regulate massage, to measure a competent and qualified practitioner. More than 29,000 massage therapists now have National Certification.

AMTA develops guidelines for the ethical practice of massage such as a Practice Standards document and a Code of Ethics. It also is developing behavioral guidelines for its members. Such standards help to ensure a safe and nurturing environment for all who seek the benefits of massage.

The Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA) was established by AMTA in 1989 to uphold AMTA’s principles of ethics and professionalism in all phases of career training and professional development. Operating independently, COMTA is determining benchmarks of massage therapy education. COMTA-accredited educational

programs must demonstrate compliance with COMTA standards by completing a comprehensive self-study, onsite observation by external professionals and educators, and evaluation by an independent commission.

AMTA provides massage therapists with opportunities for continuing education in their profession.

AMTA requires its Professional Members to provide evidence of continuing education in the massage field. The AMTA National Convention, conferences and workshops provide continuing education and networking opportunities for massage therapists. Keynote speakers at these events have included such leaders in health as Tiffany Field, Ph.D., Director of the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami; Bernie Siegel, M.D., author of Love, Medicine and Miracles; and Andrew Weil, M.D., author and founder of the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center in Tucson.

AMTA’s 52 chapters provide additional regional and local continuing education conferences and workshops.

AMTA supports the Sports Massage Education Council (SMEC). SMEC administers the profession’s only event sports massage testing and certification program.

AMTA is a key contributor to the advancement of the art, science and practice of massage therapy.

AMTA created the AMTA Foundation (a tax-exempt, public charity) to fund massage therapy-related research, community outreach and educational scholarships. The AMTA Foundation has awarded more than $203,000 since its inception in 1993.

AMTA created a Law and Legislation Assistance Program (LLAP) in 1992 to help its chapters fund legislative efforts that will foster a legal climate supportive of the practice of therapeutic massage. Since 1992, the number of states regulating massage has grown from 17 to 26, plus D.C. Through the LLAP, AMTA has distributed more than $685,000 to support members’ efforts.

AMTA created the National Sports Massage Team to promote sports massage by working with athletes at various national sporting events, such as the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, and worldwide events such as the Olympic Games.

AMTA is providing funding for a pilot study on the use of massage therapy for pain management. The study is being directed by David M. Eisenberg, M.D., Director of the Center for Alternative Medicine at Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

Through AMTA’s National Massage Therapy Awareness Week, the last full week of October, AMTA actively promotes therapeutic massage and the massage profession to the public, medical professionals and health insurance companies.

AMTA’s web site at www.amtamassage.org provides the public with accurate information about the benefits of massage therapy, recent research on its efficacy, and a means to locate qualified massage therapists.

AMTA offers consumers and medical professionals a National Locator Service to find qualified massage therapy professionals in their area.

AMTA’s National Locator Service at 847-864-0123 includes listings for more than 22,000 professional massagetherapists.

Standards of Practice Document

Purpose Statement: These American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) Standards of Practice were developed to assist the professional Massage Therapist to:

• provide safe, consistent care
• determine the quality of care provided
• provide a common base to develop a quality practice
• support/preserve the basic rights of the client and professional Massage Therapist assist the public to understand what to expect from a professional Massage Therapist

This document allows the professional Massage Therapist to evaluate and adapt performance in his/her massage/bodywork practice. The professional Massage Therapist can evaluate the quality of his/her practice by utilizing the Standards of Practice in conjunction with the Code of Ethics, the Bylaws and Policies of the AMTA, and precedents set by the AMTA Grievance, Standards, and Bylaws Committees.

1. Conduct of the Professional Massage Therapist or Practitioner, hereinafter referred to as "Practitioner"

1.1 AMTA members must meet and maintain appropriate membership requirements.

1.2 Individual AMTA members who engage in the practice of professional massage/bodywork, shall adhere to standards of professional conduct, including the AMTA Code of Ethics.

1.3 The Practitioner follows consistent standards in all settings.

1.4 The Practitioner seeks professional supervision/consultation consistent with promoting and maintaining appropriate application of skills and knowledge.

2. Sanitation, Hygiene and Safety

2.1 Practitioner provides an environment consistent with accepted standards of sanitation, hygiene, safety and universal precautions.

2.2 Pathophysiology (Contraindications)

2.2.1 The Practitioner maintains current knowledge and skills of pathophysiology and the appropriate application of massage/bodywork.

2.2.2 The Practitioner monitors feedback from the client throughout a session.

2.2.3 The Practitioner makes appropriate referrals to other reputable healthcare providers.

3. Professional Relationships with Clients

3.1 The Practitioner relates to the client in a manner consistent with accepted standards and ethics.

3.2 The Practitioner maintains appropriate professional standards of confidentiality.

3.3 The Practitioner relates to the client in a manner which respects the integrity of the client and practitioner.

3.4 The Practitioner ensures that representations of his/her professional services, policies, and procedures are accurately communicated to the client prior to the initial application of massage/bodywork.

3.5 The Practitioner elicits participation and feedback from the client.

4. Professional Relationships with Other Professionals

4.1 The Practitioner relates to other reputable professionals with appropriate respect and within the parameters of accepted ethical standards.

4.2 The Practitioner's referrals to other professionals are only made in the interest of the client.

4.3 The Practitioner's communication with other professionals regarding clients is in compliance with accepted standards and ethics.

4.4 A Practitioner possessing knowledge that another practitioner:

    (1)   committed a criminal act that reflects adversely on the Practitioner's competence in              massage therapy, trustworthiness or fitness to practice massage therapy in other              respects;

    (2)   engaged in an act or practice that significantly undermines the massage therapy              profession; or

    (3)   engaged in conduct that creates a risk of serious harm for the physical or emotional              well being of a recipient of massage therapy; shall report such knowledge to the              appropriate AMTA committee if such information is not protected or restricted by a              confidentiality law.

5. Records

5.1 Client Records

5.1.1 The Practitioner establishes and maintains appropriate client records.

5.2 Financial Records

5.2.1 The Practitioner establishes and maintains client financial accounts that follow accepted accounting practices.

6. Marketing

6.1 Marketing consists of, but is not limited to, advertising, public relations, promotion and publicity.

6.2 The Practitioner markets his/her practice in an accurate, truthful and ethical manner.

7. Legal Practice

7.1 American Massage Therapy Association members practice or collaborate with all others practicing professional massage/bodywork in a manner that is in compliance with national, state or local municipal law(s) pertaining to the practice of professional massage/bodywork.

8. Research

8.1 The Practitioner engaged in study and/or research is guided by the conventions and ethics of scholarly inquiry.

8.2 The Practitioner doing research avoids financial or political relationships that may limit objectivity or create conflict of interest.

Code of Ethics for Massage Therapists

This Code of Ethics is a summary statement of the standards by which massage therapists agree to conduct

their practices and is a declaration of the general principles of acceptable, ethical, professional behavior.

Massage therapists shall:

• Have a sincere commitment to provide the highest quality care to those who seek their professional service.
• Perform only those services for which they are qualified and represent their education, certifications, professional affiliations, and other qualifications honestly.
• Acknowledge the inherent worth and individuality of each person and, therefore, do not unjustly discriminate against clients or colleagues and work to eliminate prejudices in the profession.
• Strive for professional excellence through regular assessment of personal strengths, limitations and effectiveness and by continued education and training.
• Actively support the profession through participation in local, state, and national organizations which promote high standards of practice of massage therapy.
• Work in their communities toward the understanding and acceptance of massage therapy as a valuable health service, abide by all laws governing massage practice and work for the repeal or revision of laws detrimental to the legitimate practice of massage therapy.
• Acknowledge the confidential nature of the professional relationship with a client and respect each client’s right to privacy.
• Respect all ethical heath care practitioners and work together amicably to promote health and natural healing.
• Conduct their business and professional activities with honesty and integrity and project a professional image in all aspects of their practices.
• Accept the responsibility to self, clients and associates to maintain physical, mental and emotional well-being.
• Respect the integrity of each person and, therefore, do not engage in any sexual conduct or sexual activities involving their clients.

MASSAGE THERAPY ENHANCES IMMUNE FUNCTION:

NEW STUDY SUPPORTS PREVIOUS RESEARCH

WASHINGTON — A new study adds to the body of evidence that massage therapy bolsters immune function in people who are healthy as well as those who are fighting disease, according to presentations made today at the annual meeting of the American Massage Therapy Association® (AMTA®).

A panel of researchers discussed recent studies that have shown cellular changes in immune function following massage therapy, including the new research on healthy women that indicates increases in disease-fighting white blood cells and natural killer-cell activity.

"In one study after another, research is suggesting that massage therapy has a positive impact on immune function," said Diane Zeitlin, research associate at the Center for Research in Complementary and Alternative

Medicine, Kessler Medical Rehabilitation and Education Corporation, West Orange, N.J.

Zeitlin and colleagues studied the reaction to massage therapy of nine healthy female medical students who reported being under considerable acute stress related to an academic examination the following day. After one full-body massage therapy session, all participants experienced reduced levels of anxiety and five of the nine (56 percent) experienced a substantial increase in white cell count and natural killer-cell cytotoxicity (toxicity to cells).

"An increase in white blood cells and natural killer-cell activity better prepares the body to fight off possible invading cells," said Zeitlin. "These cellular changes suggest the immune system benefited from the massages, and these findings fall in line with previous research."

The participants in Zeitlin’s study showed an immediate reaction to massage therapy, whereas participants in previous studies have shown reaction after a series of massage therapy sessions. Zeitlin’s research was funded by the AMTA Foundation.

In a 1996 study published in the International Journal of Neuroscience (Vol. 84, pp 205-217) and conducted by the Touch Research Institute of the University of Miami School of Medicine, massage therapy improved immune function in HIV-positive gay men with no AIDS defining symptoms. The 29 HIV-positive men received daily massages for one month, according to Gail Ironson, M.D., Ph.D., professor of psychology and psychiatry at the University of Miami. The majority of men studied had a significant increase in the number of natural killer cells and in their cytotoxicity, according to Ironson. "We also noted that they had reduced anxiety and cortisol (stress hormone) levels and increased relaxation," she said.

In a third study, Ironson and Maria Hernandez-Reif, Ph.D., director of research at the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami, studied 20 women diagnosed with breast cancer in the previous five years. The women were randomly selected for either a non-treatment control group or a treatment group. Those in the treatment group received massage therapy three times a week for five weeks, with 80 percent showing improved immune function. Those in the non-treatment group did not receive massage and only 30 percent showed improved immune function. This study is an ongoing pilot study.

"These are the first studies that show an effect of massage therapy on an immune function test, which can support the use of massage therapy to alleviate stress, relax muscles and now possibly serve as an alternative

medical practice," said Michael Ruff, Ph.D., research associate professor at Georgetown University Medical School with a specialty in virology and immunology. "While effects of disease outcome have not been shown in these early studies, in view of the safety and pleasantness of the intervention, further studies seem warranted and should be pursued."

"These studies, while not large, are very important," said Dr. Janet Kahn, president of the AMTA Foundation. "Collectively, they suggest that massage therapy has positive effects on the immune function of both healthy and immunologically challenged populations. They further suggest that this enhancement of immune function is a result of a reduction in stress and anxiety. When we consider the range of illnesses that are now considered to be stress-induced or stress-related, we begin to see how important massage could be in reducing illness."

Based on anecdotal data, massage therapists have said for years that massage relaxes people, reduces blood pressure and heart rate, relaxes muscles, increases range of motion, and increases the flow of blood and lymph, thereby cleansing the system. "Now it is time to put these assertions to the test through systematic research," said Kahn. "We are, of course, delighted by the creation of the Office of Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health, and the increased attention being given to alternative medicine by hospitals and research centers across the country. We also recognize our responsibility, as massage therapists, to support this research," Kahn said.

More than 750 massage therapists are attending AMTA’s 55th national convention, October 28 – November 1, 1998, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington.

The American Massage Therapy Association is a professional organization of more than 35,000 members. All AMTA Professional members have demonstrated a certain level of skill and knowledge through education and testing. New Professional members must be graduates of training programs accredited or approved by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA), be Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork, or have a current AMTA-accepted city, state or provincial license. AMTA supports research on the efficacy of therapeutic massage through the AMTA Foundation.®

American Massage Therapy Association® & (AMTA®). are registered to the American Massage Therapy Association.