Table 2

Most common reasons for visits to massage therapists licensed in Connecticut (1999) and Washington (1998) by broad and specific categorization

Connecticut
Washington

(N = 965 visits)
(N = 1040 visits)

Broad Categories*
% with Primary Reason

Broad Categories*
% with Primary Reason





1. Musculoskeletal Symptoms
59.2

1. Musculoskeletal Symptoms
63.0

2. Wellness**
19.5

2. Wellness**
18.7

3. Psychological and Mental Health Symtoms
8.8

3. Psychological and Mental Health Symtoms
5.7

4. General Symptoms
4.5

4. Nervous System Symptoms
4.9

5. Nervous System Symptoms
3.7

5. General Symptoms
3.7

Top 5 Categories
95.7

Top 5 Categories
96.0


% with

% with
Specific Reasons
Primary Reason
Any Reason
Specific Reasons
Primary Reason
Any Reason
1. Back Symptoms
20.4
34.4
1. Back Symptoms
20.2
39.8
2. Massage Wellness
19.5
25.8
2. Neck Symptoms
20.0
38.5
3. Neck Symptoms
13.0
24.1
3. Massage Wellness
18.7
26.5
4. Shoulder Symptoms
8.4
23.1
4. Shoulder Symptoms
7.4
26.6
5. Anxiety or Depression
8.8
17.4
5. Anxiety or Depression
5.2
12.3
6. Leg Symptoms
5.0
10.0
6. Headache
3.7
8.4
7. Unspecified Muscle Symptoms
4.0
6.3
7. Leg Symptoms
2.6
6.3
8. Generalized Pain
3.1
4.5
8. Generalized Pain
2.1
3.5
9. Headache
1.6
5.2
9. Hip Symptoms
1.9
6.7
10. Unspecified Joint Symptoms
1.4
2.2
10. Arm Symptoms
1.8
5.6
Top 10 reasons
85.2

Top 10 reasons
83.6


* Broad Categories of Primary Reason for Visit Codes correspond to ICD chapters

** Wellness was not originally part of the NAMCS Reason for Visit Classification. Most of these visits are for relaxation.

Sherman et al. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2005 5:13   doi:10.1186/1472-6882-5-13