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