Bringing massage home

Massage is moving mainstream in the lifestyles of millions of Americans who rely on the millennia-old therapeutic practice not just for relaxation but for a host of health benefits, including pain relief. In fact, nearly a quarter of all adult Americans had a massage at least once in 2007, according to the American Massage Therapy Association.

The aging of the baby boom population, and broader knowledge of massage’s health benefits among younger generations, like X and Y, are likely driving the trend. The AMTA, which surveyed more than 1,000 adults, reports that respondents aged 45 to 63 had an average of seven massages in a 12-month period, while those 18 to 44 had an average of five.

“Clearly, the perception of massage as a luxury or indulgence is changing,” says Phillip Mattison, President of Core Products, a company that offers therapeutic products. “Many Americans now view massage as a key tool for improving and preserving their overall health.”

What’s more, people are taking massage home with them, viewing self-massage at home as a natural extension of the therapeutic benefits of professional massage. “You can get the pain relief of a massage without the expense of a professional masseuse or the wait in a chiropractor’s office,” says Pat Dawson, a Texas native. Dawson’s husband, a pilot, uses a home massager to ease sore shoulder and arm muscles.

More doctors are now recommending massage to patients as helpful in treating a host of health problems, including:

•Pain relief

•Poor circulation

• Muscular spasms and cramping

• Dependence on medication

•Post-surgery swelling, pain and adhesions

• Weak or atrophied muscles

Massage is also thought to stimulate the release of endorphins that promote pain-relief, stress-relief and an overall sense of well-being.

“Unfortunately, not all health insurance policies cover professional massage therapy,” Mattison points out. “And professional massage can be expensive, with some treatments ranging over $100 per hour in top clinics.”

Since discovering a home massager 10 years ago, Dawson’s greatest massage expense has been buying multiple massagers. She’s given away two already to family members and friends who borrowed it and loved it.