massage therapy

noun

: the manipulation of the muscles and other soft tissues of the body (as by stroking, kneading, or rubbing with one or both hands or an instrument) by a massage therapist for therapeutic purposes (as to relieve pain, promote healing, or improve physical functioning)

Last year, 42 percent of American adults used some type of alternative care—herbal therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, massage therapy or any of a number of other methods not taught in medical school, according to a nationwide telephone survey …

—Jane E. Brody

Examples of massage therapy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For example, my area of focus, massage therapy, helps people recover from injuries, manage pain and reduce stress. —Jay Reddick, Orlando Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2024

Your decision to try massage therapy or other alternatives is personal and completely up to your preferences. —Sherri Gordon, Health, 15 Aug. 2024

Henry also takes recovery seriously, using cold therapy, infrared sauna, hyperbaric oxygen, massage therapy and bodywork to come back stronger. —Dan Pompei, The Athletic, 18 July 2024

Additionally, with the rising demand for massage therapy services, the industry faces a growing shortage of qualified therapists, with the number of massage therapy schools in the U.S. dropping from 1,600 in 2009 to around 900 today. —Dennis Ledenkof, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined above