Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
www.pharmpress.com/fact
Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 1998; 3: 187
Current situation on demand and supply of massage and acupuncture treatments in Japan was investigated.
National life-event survey and National surveys on health resources carried out in 1995 were used for the analysis.
According to national health surveys 1995, 134 males and 238 females per each thousand complained of skeletal muscle and/or joint pains, the most common symptom, in Japan. In general, patients with these complaints attend medical and/or massage/acupuncture out-patient clinics. The rates of attending these clinics were 24 males and 40 females per each thousand. 156,616 massagists and 103,194 acupuncturists have already licensed at 1995. About 1600 massagists and 1800 acupuncturists were licensed every year. Their distribution relatively fits to patient-demand in Japan. In addition, the medical expenses for massage is gradually increasing but not for acupuncture.
In Japan, complaints of skeletal and/or joint pains are the most common, and give the reasonable distribution of massagists and acupuncturists and an increase in the number of professionals in these fields.
