National consumer research released by Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) again shows the increasing popularity of massage among American adults, continuing a 20-year climb in massage use and acceptance. There was a remarkable jump in the number of men reporting massage use, an increase of 5.3 million men from 2004 to 2006, or growth from 8 percent of male adults to 13 percent. The research was conducted by Boulder, Colo.-based Harstad Strategic Research in January.(1)
A full 33.6 million American adults aged 21 or older received at least one massage in 2006, up nearly 9 million from the 2004 level. That represents growth from 12 percent in 2004 to 16 percent in 2006.
It's pretty impressive that fully one in six American adults sought out massage therapy during 2006," says Les Sweeney, nationally certified massage therapist and ABMP president. "It reflects a steady increase in acceptance of, and respect for, massage therapy and massage therapists over the last 20 years.
