A quick reference
Useful numbers, with the context that makes them meaningful.
Massage therapy is used for more than one reason. The figures below separate overall visits from use for pain and for restoring overall health, so writers, clients, and wellness professionals can describe the data accurately.
Last updated September 15, 2026. Survey data: 2022.
11.1%
of U.S. adults visited a massage therapist in the past year
This estimate comes from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey, a nationally representative survey of the civilian, noninstitutionalized U.S. population.
View the study ↗6.0%
of U.S. adults used massage for pain in the past year
The same national survey asked adults about massage use specifically for pain, offering a useful view of one reason clients seek care.
View the study ↗8.5%
of U.S. adults used massage to restore overall health in the past year
This figure reflects adults who reported massage use for restoring overall health, a distinct measure from massage use for pain.
View the study ↗Sources and method
How to read these figures.
All three statistics come from a 2024 peer-reviewed analysis of the 2022 National Health Interview Survey. The study analyzed responses from 27,651 adults and reports past-year massage therapy use among U.S. adults.
The National Health Interview Survey is conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics and is designed to represent the U.S. civilian, noninstitutionalized population. These percentages describe reported use, not treatment outcomes or medical advice.
- Prevalence and determinants of massage therapy use in the U.S.: Findings from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey, published 2024.
- National Health Interview Survey, National Center for Health Statistics.
Cite this page
Suggested citation: A Pillar of Light Healing. “Massage Therapy Statistics in the U.S.” Updated September 15, 2026. apolhealing.org/massage-therapy-statistics.
Individualized care
Data can describe the landscape. Your session begins with you.
At A Pillar of Light Healing, therapeutic massage is shaped around what your body needs that day. The Tranceformation Code™ offers a broader whole-person space when you want to explore what may be influencing your well-being and next step.