Alternative Health Blog

Stress is part of life. How we manage stress is what we can control. And studies are clear: The more we feel in control, the less stressed we tend to be. One way to manage your stress level is schedule regular massage therapy into your month.

Apparently more Americans agree. A new independent study by the American Massage Therapy Association found that six of every 10 U.S. adults say they feel more stressed this year than in 2007; about half of those respondents point to the economy as the primary reason. In the past five years, the number of Americans who seek out a certified massage therapist for stress relief has increased from 22 percent in 2003 to 36 percent this year. 

That’s a wellness trend built on a sound health strategy. Research shows massage therapy contributes to improved lymphatic function and blood circulation, along with significantly enhancing perceived state of relaxation. Other studies have linked massage therapy as a method to offset high blood pressure and headaches.

One surprise finding from the report: Young-adultAmericans and individuals in lower income brackets are more likely to seek out massage therapy for stress relief than older U.S. adults and people in higher income groups, respectively. Fifty percent of Americans 18 to 24 years old say they consider massage therapy to be a stress-buster and nearly half (46 percent) Americans making $25,000 or less per year responded that massage therapy was a health option they would turn to if stress pushed them to it.

Doctors appear to be positively influenced by the healing art too. Nearly 60 percent of individuals who talked to their doctors about massage therapy as a potential stress reliever report that the physicians encouraged them to seek out the therapy.  Yet that doesn’t seem to extend to health insurance plans, which typically do not cover the therapy even when prescribed by MDs. Not surprisingly, six of every 10 people in the survey said they would like massage therapy to be covered by health plans. 

Bob Condor blogs for Alternative Health Journal every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.