The percentage of adults who sought professional massage therapy doubled between 1997 and 2001, according to the American Massage Therapy Association.
The Penn community is no exception to this trend, as many are patronizing the on-campus massage studio.
Second-year Law student David Shifren tries to take advantage of the massages, which are located at the Office of Health Education, every other week during the school year.
"It's amazing," Shifren says. "Massages got me through exams last year. I credit my grades to Health Education."
The OHE has been offering subsidized massages for Penn students and staff for the past three years.
The massage program attempts to combat stress and help Penn students who complain of back pain -- an overwhelming 43 percent of students, according to Health Education Director Susan Villari, citing a survey conducted by the OHE last year.
Through e-mail and focus groups, the OHE often conducts surveys about alcohol, sleep, sex and anything else which may be affecting students' health.
But its work doesn't stop with surveys. Health educators use the data to combat issues imperiling student health. And according to Villari, the No. 1 self-reported concern among students is stress.
"I have done the massage right before final exams, and you can feel the stress level right like a force of electricity," Penn massage therapist Iris Bloom says.
In addition to massages, the OHE offers intervention programs, stress reduction-themed weeks, education programs for University staff and a variety of Web links to everything from yoga studios to educational information on stress.
But massages -- costing $20 for staff and $15 for students for a 20-minute private-chair massage, or $45 for staff and $30 for students for a private 45-minute table massage -- may just be students' favorite aspect of the program.
"We always have happy customers," Villari says. "It's been a popular program."
While Villari notes that massage is "one of the [OHE] programs that does appeal to graduate students," she says customers come from all over Penn.
The program is popular with staff, students and even groups who rent out the masseurs for social events, office treats or on-campus promotions.
According to Bloom, it is also a great place to work.
"It's fantastic," she says. "The staff is incredibly supportive. There is a nice, spacious, quiet private room. It is a very good environment to do massages, and students are very appreciative."
In the words of Office and Wellness Coordinator Stephen McCann, "Everyone loves massage."
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