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NCCAM Releases National Health Interview Survey In July 2009, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), released figures detailing adult American spending on out- of-pocket CAM expenses. The findings show 38 percent of Americans use some form of CAM at a total cost of $33.9 billion. Approximately $22 billion was spent on self-care materials such as fish oil, glucosamine, and echinacea, equivalent to one-third of the total out- of-pocket expenditures on prescription drugs. Adults spent $11.9 billion on CAM services such as massage and acupuncture, making an estimated 354.2 million visits to CAM providers. A summary of the survey is available at http://nccam.nih. gov/news/2009/073009.htm. Craniosacral Therapy and Fibromyalgia Researchers in Spain have published a study on the usefulness of craniosacral therapy to treat anxiety and depression in fibromyalgia sufferers. Eighty-four patients participated and were randomly split into a group that received craniosacral therapy or a placebo group. The patients were treated over 25 weeks and assessed at intervals for up to a year posttreatment. The craniosacral group reported reduced anxiety and improved quality of life levels over the control group. The study was published in September 2009, in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (www. ecam.oxfordjournals.org). New Pilates Study The University of Miami has released findings on a Pilates study involving 22 adults with no prior Pilates experience. An eight-week study showed that individuals who participated in a one-hour Pilates program three days a week significantly reduced relative body fat, improved shoulder reach, and achieved greater muscular endurance. The program was designed to provide beginner and intermediate levels of exercise. The participants were measured against a control group that reported no physical changes. The findings were published in the September 2009 issue of Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport. connect with your colleagues on massageprofessionals.com 17