Five Surprising Benefits of Massage

I'm very happy to see a mainstream source putting the word out about massage at all, but I have to say, as a LMT, that this article leaves quite a bit to be desired. I know this is a magazine, but it's supposed to be called NEWSweek for a reason, right? I feel like Cosmopolitan magazine could have done a more thorough job.

And just to respond to a couple of the comments below. ziglos, the reason that the only study cited was by the TRI was because it's the most known and most respected research center in this field. It's not surprising to me that the AMA has very little real research in touch, they are afraid of anything holistic and perpetuate ignorance by NOT researching. They do the same thing with Chinese Medicine.
ngy460, i've never know any massage therapist who had a problem touching anyone (after being trained, of course, some folks are skiddish about some random stuff in the beginning, sometimes touching anyone at all), and i'm wondering if you're not just making this stuff up anyway. I mean, has anyone met anyone who actually talks like the way he's typing? And furthermore, that types like that? Please stop calling massage therapists "ho's" while describing your physique like it's a personal ad. Massage Therapists are NOT prostitutes. And "massage parlors" or places advertising 24-hour massage, are 99% likely not places where you'll get real work.

Some good tips here. For more tips and a great massage while in Fort Lauderdale, visit Planet Massage at http://www.PlanetMassage.com MM18188

I am a massage therapist , and no matter what modality you use to massage a person, it brings tremendous benefits to his or her health. And to comment on ngy460 comment, he is associating with the wrong people, even his friend. To start his calling himself negro , such an insulting word for somebody with a dark skin. I do not discrimanate anybody, as long as my clients respect me and pay me , I do not care what religion , race , color you are. Find a therapist , and get a massage to release a little bit the anger that shows in your writting.
DD LMT

It???s not surprising that the Touch Research Institute (TRI) found massage/touch to be beneficial. In order for this article to be taken seriously as real news the findings would need to be repeated by independent researchers.

It???s not surprising that the Touch Research Institute (TRI) found massage/touch to be beneficial. In order for this article to be taken seriously as real news the findings would need to be repeated by independent researchers.

I am a nationally certified, state licensed massage therapist. I am also a professional member of AMTA. Your concern is real and if I might suggest you check out credentials of the therapist before making an appointment. Not all states require a license, or certification or professional affiliations. When you check in the phone book, only look under theraputic massage. The other is not what you are looking for. By all means, call , ask questions, ask co workers if they know someone the would reccomend. Consumer ratings might be on some sort of website, but not any I know of.

I am a massage therapist, if you want to check on credentials or specialitys with a therapist do go to www.amtamassage.org or to www.ncbtmb.org and see if you can find that persons name. The best way locally to check a therapist is to ask friends or actually visit a few. If the therapist is on the up and up, so to speak, they will have taken the national certification exam, have a professional membership with either AMTA or ABMP. Ask a therapist how many hours of continuing education they take a year, what their interest is, how many clients they see on a daily basis, or how many hours a day they work. Ask what their interest is.

Be sure to visit the "Find a Massage Therapist" feature on the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) web site to find a massage provider near you. http://amtamassage.org/findamassage/locator.aspx

Other great resources:
http://www.healthprofs.com
http://www.linkedin.com
http://www.yelp.com (depends on popularity of site locally)

Many powerful medical, as well as emotional, benefits of massage have been documented and scientifically validated for many years. The research continues to grow by leaps and bounds. It is finally time for all health insurance companies to start realizing the ENORMOUS savings that massage offers, both now and surely in the long-run, and start reimbursing massage therapists as valuable medical providers.