Study Finds Value in Massage Therapy Culture

A new study released in August has found value in not only Massage Therapy but also in the culture of the Massage Therapy world.

The objective of the study,  “to explore the attributes of the therapy encounter valued by repeat users of health-related massage therapy”, found six valued elements of the massage therapy encounter.  These six elements valued by repeat users revealed that the benefit most are experiencing comes, not only from the practice, but also from the culture experience of  massage therapy itself.

The six elements found to be valued the most are:

• Time for Care
• Personal Attention
• Engaging and Competent Therapist
• Trust Partnership
• Holism and Empowerment
• Effective Touch and Enhanced Relaxation

These elements are important because each one reveals something unique about the success of massage therapy and the benefits it offers to those interested in its practice.  Time for care and personal attention is very important to anyone  searching for an alternative to mainstream medicine.  We all know, from experience, what it feels like to go to the doctor and find you didn’t have the time to communicate to them all of the information you felt would enhance any care you might receive.

Having an engaging, competent Therapist makes the experience of massage more beneficial.  Knowing the Therapist has the knowledge and skills from their education to perform an effective massage helps the client relax and rest assured in the therapy session, receiving all of the benefits offered making the encounter a partnership in trust.

The last set of elements carry benefits all their own.  Offering the benefit of Holism and empowerment is a gift.

Each client who leaves the Massage Therapy encounter with a sense holism and empowerment will always return to the Therapist who helped them experience the true benefits of massage therapy.

The conclusion of this study, directly from the research,  states the final conclusion best.

“The culture of massage therapy care incorporates a number of characteristics that are congruent with the complementary and alternative medicine approach to health. In addition, massage specific factors were identified. The humanistic aspects of the therapy encounter valued by clients offer insight into the growing use of massage therapy and the success of massage therapy outcomes”.

As Massage Therapists we know all of the benefits from massage therapy.  It is very encouraging to see more and more studies find their way through the research cycles giving us the information we need that reveals the benefits to everyone. We offer a vital alternative to mainstream medicine that is becoming recognized and recommended.

Author
Punkie Spelts is a Massage Therapist living in Southern California. She is also a Web Publisher and writes extensively for multiple web sites like HealthPositive!, cureyourbody.com and many other research sites.