Massage Therapy Journal Fall 2025

24 • Massage Therapy Journal

pain reduction outcomes gives the massage industry additional evidence to continue to increase educational standards. Ultimately, massage research significantly contributes to the ongoing professionalization of the field, enhances its seamless integration into mainstream health care systems, and ensures that clients receive safe and beneficial therapeutic interventions from educated massage therapists, which in turn protects and elevates our profession within the broader health care landscape. ■ Rivera-Placido: While massage therapy offers a wealth of anecdotal evidence regarding its benefits, more rigorous scientific research is needed to validate its role in health care. The effects of massage on muscle tissue, for instance, remain poorly understood. Can massage therapy help regenerate tissue? Is it effective in alleviating delayed onset muscle soreness after intense physical activity? These are critical questions that require well-conducted studies. As the profession evolves, it is crucial for massage therapists to develop research literacy. Understanding how to read, analyze and integrate scientific findings will empower therapists to provide evidence-based treatments and confidently engage with the broader medical community.

■ Peckinpaugh: Moving forward, we will work closely with our health care allies to continue promoting the evidence-based benefits of massage therapy. Our efforts will focus on universal recognition of massage therapy as a legitimate and valuable form of health care. We will advocate for both its inclusion and expansion in insurance coverage, Medicare and VA health care systems—so that more Americans can access its proven benefits. Research will continue to be a cornerstone of this movement. We will expand the body of evidence demonstrating its efficacy in treating myriad conditions ranging from chronic pain to the effects of cancer to PTSD. This will further legitimize the field and demand the respect both the practice and its practitioners deserve. 7 The Future of Massage is Human-Centric ■ Bonzi: We also foresee significant growth in corporate massage. Employees increasingly expect wellness support in the workplace, and companies are stepping up to provide it. Younger generations, in particular, are driving this shift, advocating for better care and well being at work. As a result, corporate massage services are becoming an integral part of many companies’ employee wellness programs. This trend is expected to continue as more and more businesses recognize the importance of prioritizing their employees’ mental and physical health. ■ Rivera-Placido: The issue of fair pay is central to the future of massage therapy. While clients may pay upward of $150 for a massage, therapists often receive a fraction of that amount—sometimes as little as $16 per hour. The disparity between what clients pay and what therapists earn is glaring, particularly when compared to other health care providers.

As more insurers begin to cover massage therapy, more health care providers will see the value in integrating massage

therapists into their teams.

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