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