Many Americans view massage as a luxury—too expensive and indulgent. At around $60 per hour, it makes sense why people think that. Massage is a standard enough service at spas, the most common being Swedish or therapeutic massage, which are relaxing and light. Massage can be more than that, though. It can help people alleviate chronic musculoskeletal issues, prevent injury and the need for expensive surgery, and it has its reasons for being as expensive as it is.
How Massage Helps
Those who regularly get massages see benefits beyond just “feeling good.” Massage can help in rehabilitation, relieve pain, reduce anxiety/depression, alleviate muscle tension (obviously), boost immunity, and improve range of motion and flexibility. Many seek out massage therapy as a means to improve overall health. Different modalities of massage help in various ways:
Sports massage is explicitly geared toward injury prevention. It’s typically used to prepare for significant sporting events and reduce soreness and fatigue afterward.
Lymph massage reduces inflammation in the body after injury and surgery. It’s also used as a preventative for colds and flu as it aims to affect the lymph system, which can boost immunity.
Deep tissue/Neuromuscular Therapy and Medical massage address underlying musculoskeletal issues that cause long-term pain and dysfunction. Its goal is to improve range of motion, strengthen weak muscles, and balance the body.
Many different massage modalities can help alleviate other musculoskeletal disorders. More physicians are realizing the full benefits of massage, which is why it is now more frequently prescribed to treat muscular dysfunctions.
A Preventive Measure Against Injury and the Cost of Surgery
Tight muscles pull the body out of alignment, and if enough of them are tight, they pull against each other, creating adhesions and limiting joint range of motion. Pushing the body in these states without proper care and stretching leads to injury. In some cases, if the injury is bad enough or the issue is chronic and steadily worsening, surgery is called for. Massage loosens tight muscles and tendons, allowing for better function and eliminating antagonistic pulls that limit it.
Surgery costs more and comes with long recovery times. Sometimes, it fails to restore proper function. Common issues like carpal tunnel syndrome, rotator cuff tears, and low back strain often require surgery.
- Carpal tunnel surgery costs about $10,273.
- Rotator cuff surgery averages $21,800.
- Steroid or cortisone shots for back pain range from $100–300 each.
These treatments may only offer temporary relief if the root issues remain uncorrected.
So if massage is so beneficial, why is it so expensive?
In part, you are paying for the knowledge, skill, and experience of the therapist that has trained to safely work on your body. The training needed to perform this work takes time and diligence. Many massage therapists earn multiple certifications in different modalities and work to master these skills.
This pay needs to cover living costs but also the overhead of running a business, marketing, upkeep, supplies, fees and taxes. The cost of a massage business has grown especially in regards to marketing as social media has become a requirement. The price for massage can be different depending on if they are a small provider or a corporate, and also includes what the cost of living is in that state. Repeated sessions over time can cost quite a bit. At $60 per session, biweekly massage costs about $1,560 per year. Over time, your body should hold less tension, requiring less intense work.
Which cost is worth it?
Ultimately this decision comes down to the client and most likely is a mix depending on what works for them. Massage can be of great benefit to those who experience chronic musculoskeletal issues. Regularly taking care of your body, stretching and exercising it, also has its part in maintaining healthy tissues and preventing injury. About 15 million Americans undergo surgery anually so it is fairly common for most to at some point need surgery. For those who want to avoid invasive treatment, massage is a worthwhile investment.