The benefits of massage therapy have become widely acknowledged by both the public and the medical community. In the last decade alone, the number of Americans receiving massage health benefits has doubled.

No longer just an enjoyable pastime and means of pampering oneself, massage has become an important component in treating many types of injuries and medical conditions, and enhancing athletic performance. Now people seek out massage for neck pain relief, stress relief and to promote a wide range of motion in athletes.

Increasingly, massage is being embraced by the medical community. One study by the American Massage Therapy Association noted that more than 75 percent of practicing massage therapists receive referrals from healthcare professionals. Hospitals that look to the benefits of massage therapy are drawn by massage’s ability to relieve pain, aid cancer therapy, assist with pregnancy, and be an integral part of physical therapy. For the holistic health practitioner, it’s massage health benefits without medications.