A community-based survey on massage therapy in Saudi Arabia

Publication date: Available online 18 November 2019Source: Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative MedicineAuthor(s): Hanan M. Al-Yousef, Syed Wajid, Ibrahim SalesAbstractMassage therapy (MT) is the physical manipulation of the soft tissues. It primarily consists of manual or hands-on techniques such as applying fixed or movable pressure, holding, and moving muscles and body tissues. MT is beneficial for pain relief, sport-related injury rehabilitation, stress reduction, and to address psychological disorders. MT is the most prevalent form of complementary and alternative (CAM) therapy worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions regarding MT among the Saudi community. A cross-sectional online survey using WhatsApp©, Google Forms©, Facebook©, and Twitter© was conducted among the general community of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions regarding MT. Data was collected using a 20-item, self-administered questionnaire consisting of a series of both closed-ended and Likert-type questions. A total of 436 respondents completed the survey. Most of the respondents were female 84.2% (n = 367). Approximately 65% resided in the central region of KSA. The majority of the respondents, 81.4%, believed that MT is effective, 27.7% thought that MT leads to complications, and more than half of the residents, 55.7%, believed that patients should consult with their physicians prior to MT. The most c...
Source: Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine - Category: Complementary Medicine Source Type: research