Based on the evidence, massage therapy can provide significant improvement for pain, anxiety and health-related quality of life for those looking to manage their pain. This is the conclusion of a collaborative meta-analysis of research on massage therapy for pain conducted by the Samueli Institute and commissioned by the Massage Therapy Foundation, with support from the American Massage Therapy Association. The first part of the three-part review and analysis published online by the journal Pain Medicine, indicates:

• Pain is a major public health concern, affecting approximately 100 million Americans
• It is recognized as the most compelling reason to seek medical attention, and accounts for approximately 80% of physician visits
• Chronic pain accounts for approximately $600 billion in annual health care expenditures and lost productivity
• This annual cost is greater than the cost of other national priority health conditions, highlighting the significant economic burden of pain