10 Interesting Massage Facts

Massage has been a part of human history for ages, working its magic on muscles everywhere. But here's the thing—there's always something new to learn! Check out these fun facts about massage therapy that might just hit the spot!

1. Bob Hope got a massage every day and lived to be 100

Bob Hope got a massage every day for 63 years, saying it's one of life's greatest pleasures with tons of therapeutic benefits.

2. The longest ever ‘massage chain’ involved 1600 people

A massage chain is basically when three or more people line up, and each person gives a massage to the one in front. The biggest massage chain ever recorded had 1,600 people! This happened at an event put together by The Philippine Association of Licensed Massage Therapists in Boracay, Malay Aklan, Philippines, on May 16, 2014. The chain stretched along the beach in Boracay.

3. Thailand holds the mass-massage world record

The Department of Health Service Support at the Ministry of Public Health in Thailand pulled off this achievement in Nonthaburi, Thailand, on August 30, 2012. A total of 641 couples, making up 1,282 people, took part in this record attempt, which was kicked off by Thailand’s Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra.

4. Only blind and visually impaired people can practice massage in South Korea

In South Korea, the constitutional court says that only blind people should offer professional massage services since they have fewer job options. If you're caught giving massages and you're not visually impaired, you could face five years in jail or get slapped with a $46,000 fine.

5. Julius Caesar was a massage fan

From 100-44 BC, Julius Caesar got daily massages to help with his nerve pain and epileptic seizures.

6. The first electric massage chair was invented in Japan before World War II

They say the inventor had a daughter who was often unwell, and he wanted her to enjoy a massage whenever she needed one.

7. ‘Massage’ as a word, has been around officially since the 15th Century

Back in the day, 'massage' didn't mean what it does now. The first time it popped up in English was around 1450, and back then, it meant "the action of saying Mass." It wasn't until 1866 that it got its current meaning. The terms 'masseur' and 'masseuse' followed in 1876 and 1879.

8. More Americans are getting massage for health and wellness

According to AMTA's 2023 Consumer Survey, 43% of consumers who got a massage for health and wellness reasons stated it was part of a treatment plan from a doctor or medical provider.

9. Virtual Reality (VR) Massage is an actual spa treatment

VR massage is a spa session where you wear VR headsets and noise-canceling headphones to escape into a virtual world while getting a massage. The whole experience can have sights, sounds, and even smells to make it feel super immersive. 

10. Swedish massage isn’t actually Swedish!

People often think that 'Swedish' massage techniques were created by Swedish fencing instructor Per Henrik Ling. However, it was actually a Dutch guy named Johan Georg Mezger who came up with the massage style we know today. He's also the one who named all the strokes we still use: effleurage for those smooth, gliding moves; petrissage for the squeezing, rolling, and kneading actions; and tapotement for the rhythmic tapping.