1Recognizing the week of October 20 through 26, 2013, as
2"National Massage Therapy Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, Massage therapy is beneficial to overall health and
4is increasingly part of integrated health care; and

5WHEREAS, Consumers are spending $8 to $12 billion annually on
6massage therapy; and

7WHEREAS, Therapeutic massage can benefit people of all ages;
8and

9WHEREAS, A growing body of clinical research shows massage
10therapy is beneficial for a wide variety of health issues,
11including stress, high blood pressure, fibromyalgia, arthritis,
12back pain, muscle injury and soreness, headaches and just
13maintaining good health; and

14WHEREAS, The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), a
15professional association for massage therapists, provides
16consumer and professional education information on massage and
17helps consumers and health professionals locate qualified

1massage therapists in their area; therefore be it

2RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the week of October 20
3through 26, 2013, as "National Massage Therapy Awareness Week"
4in Pennsylvania.