• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Massage Changes Lives

  • Home
  • Massage Therapy Careers
  • Find a Massage School
  • Equipment and Supplies
  • Types of Massage
  • News
You are here: Home / History of Massage Therapy in Healthcare

History of Massage Therapy in Healthcare

1700’s “As an occupation, massage therapy dates back to the 1700s, where forerunners of today’s massage therapists were called rubbers. Rubbers were experts in treating orthopedic problems with manual rubbing and friction. Medical rubbers were typically women hired by surgeons to assist with the rehabilitation of patients after surgery, and with treatment of lameness and joint diseases. Rubbers had little education, but possessed a knack for hands-on therapy. ”   Patricia Benjamin.  Brush up on the history of the massage profession.

1843 – Johann Mezger of Holland brought medical massage to scientific community and is considered the founder of scientific massage. Started using the terms effleurage, petrissage and tapotement.  Massage Nerd

1850s– scientific massage therapy was introduced in the United States by two New York physicians, brothers George and Charles Taylor, who had studied in Sweden.

1856 – Mathias Roth, English physician, taught Charles Fayette Taylor and George Henry Taylor who brought massage to the US

1852-1943 – John Harvey Kellogg, Battle Creek Sanitarium used massage and hydrotherapy.  Published magazine called “Good Health”

1880 – Mary Putnam Jacobi and Victoria A White in New York City.  Medical Doctors and professors who researched the benefits of massage and ice packs in the management of anemia.

1895 -Harvey Kellogg -“The Art of Massage” -Full text available online at
The Meridian Institute.

1915  – First state to implement licensing was Ohio.

1916 – First licensed massage therapist in OH – Agnes Forbes
See article on Agnes Forbes  (PDF)

1927 – New York State Society of Medical Massage Therapists (first massage association)

1930’s “Swedish masseuses and masseurs utilized soft tissue manipulation, movements, hydrotherapy and electrotherapy for applications ranging from general health promotion to treating diseases to rehabbing injuries. They worked as physiotherapists in conventional medicine (prior to physical therapy licensing in the 1950s), and in YMCAs, public baths and spas, and beauty parlors. Many opened private practices in their neighborhoods in the form of health clinics and reducing salons. ”  Patricia Benjamin.  Brush up on the history of the massage profession.

1939 – The Florida State Massage Therapy Association Inc. (FSMTA) was first organized on June 15, 1939 one of the oldest massage organization, with 85 charter members. The first Massage Act was passed by the Florida Legislature in 1943

1943 – Chicago American Association of Masseurs and Masseuses formed (AAMM).  Later to become American Massage Therapy Association.  Dues were $.50.   29 members

1950’s  – Doctors regularly referred patients to Swedish masseuses and masseurs up to the 1950s.  Patricia Benjamin.  Brush up on the history of the massage profession.

1958 – “1958, the AAMM changed its name to the American Massage & Therapy Association, and from that point on encouraged calling the profession massage therapy and practitioners massage therapists. The “&” was dropped in 1983, reinforcing the identity of the unified profession as massage therapy. The term therapy was defined generally as promoting good health and encompassed the whole range of applications envisioned by Ling over a century earlier. The title massage therapist was readily understood by the general public, and helped give the field legitimacy as a health profession. ”  Patricia Benjamin.  Brush up on the history of the massage profession.

1981 – Lauren Berry, a physical therapist and mechanical engineer, recorded his methods of manipulating joints, “The Berry Method, Volume I”

1981–  Lawrence H. Jones identifies tenderpoints and develops “Strain- Counterstrain” techniques of treating points.

1983 – Janet Travell writes book. with David Simons.  “Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction:  The Triggerpoint Manual : Volumes I & 2

1987 – ABMP was founded by Sherri Williamson ( a disgruntled massage therapist according to Robert Calvert in his book “The History of Massage”)

1989 – AMTA also created the Commission on Massage Training/Accreditation (COMTAA) in 1989 when it was created by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) to set educational standards for the massage therapy profession with a goal of eventual recognition by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). – See more at: http://comta.org/about-comta/#sthash.yPQKwWuu.dpuf

1990 – Massage Therapy Foundation created by AMTA to further research in the massage profession.

1991 –  Touch Research Institute created.

1992 – National Certification .  see also: licensing and legislation issues

1996 – Myotherapy developed by Bonnie Prudden

1989 – AMTA also created the Commission on Massage Training/Accreditation (COMTAA) in 1989 when it was created by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) to set educational standards for the massage therapy profession with a goal of eventual recognition by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). – See more at: http://comta.org/about-comta/#sthash.yPQKwWuu.dpuf

April 1993    The Washington State legislature adopted the “every category of provider” mandate as part of the 1993 Health Care Reform Act.

April 1995    The Washington State legislature adopted the every category of provider mandate in RCW 48.43.045. The statute was to be effective January 1, 1996.

April 1996 –  ABMP was sold to a group of four people who now comprise the core of the company’s management team.

1999 – Commission on Massage Training/Accreditation (COMTAA)  was officially changed to the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA)

January 1999    WA State Every Category Law: US Supreme Court denies Plaintiffs petition for Writ of Certiorari, leaving the decision of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to stand.

For full history of the Every Category Law in WA see – Issues in Complementary Medicine on www.massagepracticebuilder.com

2002– AMTA Contributed report on massage therapy to White House Commission on CAM Policy (PDF). Began relationship with American Medical Association (AMA) to work toward future clarity on use of Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Codes for massage therapy

2004 -COMTA officially separated from AMTA

According to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey, which included a comprehensive survey of CAM use by Americans, an estimated 18 million U.S. adults and 700,000 children had received massage therapy in the previous year.

Barnes PM, Bloom B, Nahin RL. Complementary and alternative medicine use among adults and children: United States, 2007.CDC National Health Statistics Report #12 2008.

2004 – MyoPAC created in WA State.  The first Political Action Committee for massage therapists.  Now is the WA Massage Alliance for Health. (www.wamah.org)

2005: State board members from 22 states come together to talk about aligning the profession and creating standard licensure requirements. This organization, the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB), creates an entry level licensure examination to create reciprocity throughout the country, the MBLEx.

2008 – Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge created which is a  compendium of what an individual must know and/or be able to do, to successfully work in a specific field – massage therapy. See also: Developing, Maintaining, and Using a Body of Knowledge for the Massage Therapy Profession

JoEllen M. Sefton, PhD, ATC, CMT, Michael Shea, PhD, LMT, and Chip Hines, LMT, PMP

2008 – Rick Rosen writes a White Paper :  On Becoming a Profession. (PDF on massagemag.com)

2009 – Alliance for Massage Therapy Education founded.  (Founding Members)

Jan 2009 -AMTA – Announced view that Massage & Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx), developed by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB), is the best choice for a licensing exam that can lead to portability of massage practice… NOT the exam from the company they started and recommended, NCBTMB.

2013: NCBTMB introduces the Board Certification credential, the highest voluntary credential in the massage therapy profession which required 750 of training. (Except it was the same exam used for the old National Certification exam that required 500 hours of education.)

October 3, 2014, NCBTMB and FSMTB signed a collaborative agreement. This agreement stated that, as of November 1, 2014, NCBTMB would no longer offer its NCETM and NCETMB licensure exams to the public. Moving forward, NCBTMB supports FSMTB’s MBLEx as the country’s entry level licensure examination.

2014: NCBTMB agrees to no longer offer licensing examinations to the public, focusing exclusively on Board Certification, Approved Providers and Assigned Schools.

2014 -Entry Level Analysis Project recommends minimum required competencies for entry level massage therapists.  www.elapmasssage.org

2017 – National Alliance for Medical Massage and Bodywork formed in CO.  Their goal is to see all states to include massage therapy in healthcare benefits.  (www.nammb.net)

2018.  The National Certification Board for Massage and Bodywork introduces new Board Certification exam which requires only 500 hours of training, taking the massage profession back 5-10 years.

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
{"hide_search_input":"0","hide_near_input":"0","bg":"","mt":"","mr":"","mb":"3","ml":"","pt":"","pr":"","pb":"","pl":"","border":"","rounded":"","rounded_size":"","shadow":"","show":"main"}
Find Schools Near Me
  • Become a Massage Therapist
    • Massage is Medical Care
      • Getting Massage Covered by Health Insurance
    • Wellness Massage/Health Promotion
    • Evidence Based Massage Therapy
    • Massage Licensing Laws
    • Massage Therapy Works!
    • A Career in Massage -Is It For You? The Truth!
  • Massage Therapy Jobs
    • Massage Therapy Job Outlook
    • Massage Therapist Salary
  • Choose the Best School
    • Types of Massage Schools
    • Online Massage School
  • Pass the Massage Licensing Exam
  • Start Your Own Massage Business
  • Glossary of Terms
  • For Massage Schools
  • Stories
  • Share Your Story

Recent Posts

  • Discover How Much You Can Make as a Massage Therapist – An Exciting Look at Massage Therapy Salaries!
  • The Number of Massage Schools in the US
  • Most Massage School Websites Suck
  • How to choose the best massage gun
  • Sexual Assault in the Massage therapy profession

Footer

  • About Massage Changes Lives
  • Privacy Policy
  • For Massage Schools
  • Massage School Websites
  • School Website Review
  • Add Massage School
  • A Sample Listing Massage School
{"hide_search_input":"1","hide_near_input":"1","bg":"","mt":"","mr":"","mb":"3","ml":"","pt":"","pr":"","pb":"","pl":"","border":"","rounded":"","rounded_size":"","shadow":"","show":""}

Copyright. Julie Onofrio, LMT Pine Woods Publishing, LLC© 2023 ·

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Change Location
Find awesome listings near you!