Editing Massage (section)

=== United States ===
[[File:Hot stone massage.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.8|A hot stone massage performed by a professional in Oxnard, California.]]
According to research done by the American Massage Therapy Association, as of 2012 in the United States, there are between 280,000 and 320,000 massage therapists and massage school students.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2012 Massage Therapy Industry Fact Sheet |url=https://www.amtamassage.org/uploads/cms/documents/amta2012_industryfactsheet.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021085026/http://www.amtamassage.org/uploads/cms/documents/amta2012_industryfactsheet.pdf |archive-date=21 October 2012 |access-date=17 July 2012 |publisher=American Massage Therapy Association}}</ref> As of 2022, there are an estimated 872 state-approved massage training programs operating in the U.S.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 21, 2023 |title=Massage Graduate Numbers on the Rise |url=https://www.abmp.com/updates/news/massage-graduate-numbers-rise |access-date=August 31, 2024 |website=Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals}}</ref> Most states have licensing requirements that must be met before a practitioner can use the title "massage therapist", and some states and municipalities require a license to practice any form of massage. If a state does not have any massage laws then a practitioner need not apply for a license with the state. Training programs in the US are typically 500 hours to 1000 hours in total training time and can award a certificate, diploma, or degree depending on the particular school.<ref name="overview">{{Cite journal |vauthors=Sherman KJ, Cherkin DC, Kahn J, Erro J, Hrbek A, Deyo RA, Eisenberg DM |date=June 2005 |title=A survey of training and practice patterns of massage therapists in two US states |journal=BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine |volume=5 |pages=13 |doi=10.1186/1472-6882-5-13 |pmc=1182347 |pmid=15955245 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Study will often include [[anatomy and physiology]], [[kinesiology]], massage techniques, first aid and [[CPR]], business, [[medical ethics|ethical]] and legal issues, and hands-on practice along with [[continuing education]] requirements if regulated.<ref name=nccam/> The Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA) is one of the organizations that works with massage schools in the U.S. and there are almost 300 schools that are accredited through this agency.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eastwestcollege.com/massage-school-education-and-regulation-by-the-numbers/|title=Massage School Education and Regulation, by the Numbers|date=28 December 2019}}</ref>

Forty-seven states, [[Puerto Rico]], and the [[District of Columbia]] offer some type of credential to professionals in the massage and bodywork field—usually licensure, certification or registration.<ref name=":2" /><ref name="policy">{{Cite journal |vauthors=Myklebust M, Iler J |date=May 2007 |title=Policy for therapeutic massage in an academic health center: a model for standard policy development |url=https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/63197/1/acm.2007.6323.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819042900/http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/63197/1/acm.2007.6323.pdf |archive-date=2017-08-19 |url-status=live |journal=Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine |volume=13 |issue=4 |pages=471–5 |doi=10.1089/acm.2007.6323 |pmid=17532742 |hdl=2027.42/63197|hdl-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=State Regulations {{!}} AMTA |url=https://www.amtamassage.org/state-regulations/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=American Massage Therapy Association |language=en}}</ref> Forty-five states require some type of licensing for massage therapists.<ref name=":2" /><ref name="stellin">{{Cite news |date=15 July 2007 |title=Beyond the Body Wrap: What Makes a Spa Stand Out? |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/15/business/yourmoney/15spa.html |access-date=20 September 2007 |vauthors=Stellin S}}</ref> There are two nationally recognized tests to gain a massage therapy license, as well as state-specific exams.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What you need to know |url=http://www.wellnessgeeky.com/states-require-ncbtmb-exams-national-certification-board-therapeutic-massage-bodywork |access-date=27 September 2007 |publisher=National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork |archive-date=30 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730013328/http://www.wellnessgeeky.com/states-require-ncbtmb-exams-national-certification-board-therapeutic-massage-bodywork |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=July 2024 |title=Massage State Regulation Guide |url=https://www.abmp.com/sites/abmp_com/files/state-regs/ABMPStateRegCard_072024.pdf |access-date=7 July 2024 |website=Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals}}</ref> In the US, 38 states accept the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork's (NCBTMB) later unavailable certification program as a basis for granting licenses either by rule or statute.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=26 June 2022 |title=States that require NCBTMB exams |url=http://www.wellnessgeeky.com/states-require-ncbtmb-exams-national-certification-board-therapeutic-massage-bodywork |access-date=7 July 2024 |publisher=National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork |archive-date=24 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524044112/https://www.wellnessgeeky.com/states-require-ncbtmb-exams-national-certification-board-therapeutic-massage-bodywork/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The NCBTMB formerly offered the designation Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCTMB) but {{asof|2024|lc=y}} only offers its certificate program, Board Certification in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (BCTMB) which does not qualify for licensure.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hultquist |first=Ivy |date=2010-11-08 |title=NCETMB vs MBLEx: Which massage exam should you take? |url=https://www.massage-therapy-blog.com/ncetmb-vs-mblex/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=Massage & Bloggywork |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Board Certification |url=https://ncbtmb.org/board-certification/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=NCBTMB |language=en-US}}</ref> Forty-three states, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, accept the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx), administered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-03 |title=MBLEx - Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards |url=https://fsmtb.org/mblex/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=fsmtb.org |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-16 |title=Regulated States - Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards |url=https://fsmtb.org/regulated-states/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=fsmtb.org |language=en-US}}</ref> Between 10% and 20% of towns or counties independently regulate the profession.<ref name="law">{{Cite web |title=Massage Therapy Law and Licensure and States Regulating Massage |url=http://www.naturalhealers.com/qa/massage.html |access-date=27 September 2007 |publisher=Natural Healers}}</ref> These local regulations can range from prohibition on opposite sex massage, fingerprinting and venereal checks from a doctor, to prohibition on house calls because of concern regarding sale of sexual services.<ref name=law/><ref name="walsh">{{Cite web |title=Massage craze: Hands-on therapy attracting more patients |url=http://www.massagemag.com/Magazine/2003/issue106/statelaw106.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807031336/http://www.massagemag.com/Magazine/2003/issue106/statelaw106.php |archive-date=7 August 2007 |access-date=31 August 2007 |publisher=Massage Magazine |vauthors=Walsh K}}</ref>

In the US, [[licensure]] is the highest level of regulation and this restricts anyone without a license from practicing massage therapy or calling themselves by that protected title. Certification allows only those who meet certain educational criteria to use the protected title and registration only requires a listing of therapists who apply and meet an educational requirement.<ref name=walsh/> In the US, most certifications are locally based. A massage therapist may be certified, but not licensed. Licensing requirements vary per state, and often require additional criteria be met in addition to attending an accredited massage therapy school and passing a required state-specified exam. Only Kansas, Minnesota, and Wyoming, California and Vermont do not require a license or a certification at the state level.<ref name=":2" /> Some states allow license reciprocity, where licensed massage therapists who relocate can relatively easily obtain a license in their new state.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lyons |first=Neal |title=MTSI Institute |url=http://www.massagetherapyschoolsinformation.com/ |access-date=3 August 2013 |publisher=MTSI |name-list-style=vanc}}</ref>

In New York State in 2024, a man was arrested and charged with three counts of third-degree [[Sexual Abuse]] and three counts of [[Forcible touching|Forcible Touching]], as well as New York State Education Department Law violations, for providing massage therapy services without a New York State license to do so.<ref>[https://cbs6albany.com/news/local/unlicensed-man-gives-massages-accused-of-forcible-touching-at-a-queensbury-nail-salon-lily-spa-sexual-abuse-massaging-warren-county-ny-new-york-route-9- "Unlicensed man gives massages, accused of forcible touching at a Queensbury nail salon,"] CBS6Albany.</ref>

In 1997 there were an estimated 114 million visits to massage therapists in the US.<ref name=overview/> Massage therapy is the most used type of [[alternative medicine]] in hospitals in the United States.<ref name=policy/> Between July 2010 and July 2011 roughly 38 million adult Americans (18 percent) had a massage at least once.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 February 2012 |title=2012 Massage Therapy Industry Fact Sheet&nbsp;– American Massage Therapy Association |url=https://www.amtamassage.org/uploads/cms/documents/amta2012_industryfactsheet.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021085026/http://www.amtamassage.org/uploads/cms/documents/amta2012_industryfactsheet.pdf |archive-date=21 October 2012 |access-date=18 October 2013 |publisher=Amtamassage.org}}</ref> People state that they use massage because they believe that it relieves pain from [[musculoskeletal]] injuries and other causes of pain, reduces stress and enhances relaxation, rehabilitates sports injuries, decreases feelings of anxiety and depression, and increases general well-being.<ref name=nccam/>

In a poll of 25–35-year-olds, 79% said they would like their [[health insurance]] plan to cover massage.<ref name=facts/> In 2006 [[Duke University Health System]] opened up a center to integrate medical disciplines with CAM disciplines such as massage therapy and [[acupuncture]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 2007 |title=First-of-its-Kind Center Treats the Whole Person |url=http://www.massagemag.com/News/2007/January/Whole.php |access-date=27 September 2007 |publisher=Massage Magazine}}</ref> There were 15,500 spas in the United States in 2007, with about two-thirds of the visitors being women.<ref name=stellin/>

The number of visits rose from 91 million in 1999 to 136&nbsp;million in 2003, generating a revenue that equals $11&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ellin |first=A. |date=21 July 2005 |title=Now Let Us All Contemplate Our Own Financial Navels |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/21/business/21sbiz.html |access-date=20 September 2007}}</ref> Job outlook for massage therapists was also projected to grow at 20% between 2010 and 2020 by the [[Bureau of Labor Statistics]], faster than the average.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Massage Therapists |url=http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/massage-therapists.htm |access-date=8 July 2013 |publisher=Bureau of Labor Stats}}</ref>