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Written by veronica wilson
on Monday, 16 March 2009 23:54 |
March 5, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Nora Brunner, MA, APR
Public Relations
1-800-458-2267, ext. 647
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
NATIONAL CONSUMER RESEARCH SHOWS MANY
AMERICANS MORE STRESSED THAN A YEAR AGO
Most 2008 massage users sought 'stress relief, relaxation and restoration'
(Golden,
Colo., March 5) -- National consumer research released today said 81
percent of American adults feel as stressed (45 percent) or more
stressed (36 percent) now than they did a year ago and are using a
variety of strategies to cope. The research was conducted by Boulder,
Colo.-based Harstad Strategic Research and sponsored by Associated
Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP).1 Despite the sour
economy, the overall use of massage therapy remains consistent: 14
percent of adult Americans had a professional massage in 2008 compared
to 12 percent in 2004 and 16 percent in 2006. Those who did not receive
a massage in 2008 were more likely to cite their pocketbooks as the
reason than has been the case in previous surveys. Among those who had
a professional massage in 2008, 58 percent said they did so for
"relaxation, restoration or stress relief," and 85 percent of 2008
massage users were satisfied with the experience, predicting they would
seek massage again in 2009.
Stress at Home and Work
Massage therapy can play a role in helping consumers deal with trying
economic times. "When many people are curtailing spending on vacations
and other big-ticket items, massage is an ideal and lower-cost option
for reducing stress," said ABMP president and nationally certified
massage therapist Les Sweeney. "Massage therapy has been shown to
reduce stress hormones, relieve anxiety and depression, strengthen the
immune system and improve attentiveness, so it's an excellent strategy
for challenging times." The nation's leading mental health association,
Mental Health America, recommends massage therapy as a way to diffuse
stress. Some employers are turning to workplace massage to help
employees cope with uncertain times and increased workloads. "As
employers are looking for ways to manage workplace productivity and
stress, perhaps using fewer employees to do more work, some are
bringing chair massage into the mix," Sweeney said. "At about $1 a
minute, it's an inexpensive way to maintain loyalty, and manage anxiety
and lost work time."
Massage and Health Care
Another
Harstad Research finding was that visits to all types of health
professionals, including medical doctors, declined slightly in 2008 as
compared to 2006. "This is not surprising in a year of belt-tightening throughout the
economy," Sweeney said. "It may be a matter of postponing rather than
forgoing care. Consumers should keep in mind massage could be useful in
helping stave off routine doctor visits, co-pays and missed work time
because of the immunity-boosting power of massage." The proportion of
adults who made at least one visit to a massage therapist (14 percent)
again exceeded the proportions visiting a chiropractor (12 percent) or
a physical therapist (9 percent). Forty-two percent of American adults
have received at least one massage in their lifetime.
Massage as a Gift
The
cost of massage has remained stable in recent years, up slightly to a
median cost of $65 an hour in 2008 from $60 in recent years, the
Harstad survey showed. High approval ratings for massage therapy among
those who have tried it continue to hold -- more than eight out of 10
rated the experience of receiving a massage a positive one. As in past
surveys, nearly a third of adults -- 27 percent -- who got a massage
last year did so because they received it as a gift. "Thoughtful
friends and family have been giving massage as a gift for years and it
will probably never be more welcomed than now by the economically
stressed or overworked," Sweeney said. "The more relaxed and healthy
people are in these times, the more effective they will be as workers,
employers, spouses and parents." Associated Bodywork & Massage
Professionals is a professional membership association serving the
massage therapy profession by promoting ethical practice, fostering
acceptance of the profession and protecting the rights of legitimate
massage and bodywork practitioners. Founded in 1987 and headquartered
in Golden, Colo., ABMP is the largest massage membership association in
the United States with more than 66,000 members.
# # #
1 The
January 2009 Health Care Survey was conducted by Harstad Strategic
Research, Inc., the national public opinion research firm in Boulder,
Colo. The survey results are based upon 602 random telephone interviews
among adults age 21 or older nationwide. Interviews were conducted from
Jan. 6 to 11, 2009. A random sample of 602 has a worst-case 95 percent
confidence interval of plus or minus 4.0 percent about any one reported
percentage.
Nora Brunner, MA, APR
Public Relations
Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals
303-679-7647
800-458-2267, X647
M-Th, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. MST
25188 Genesee Trail Rd., Suite 200
Golden, CO 80401
www.massagetherapy.com
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