|
Medical massage therapy is the application of safe therapeutic massage techniques to
specific medical conditions. Medical massage therapists are knowledgeable about the precautions and considerations of working
with individuals whose health is compromised and are familiar with the hospital setting, use of medical terminology and jargon,
and often are involved in medical treatment plans. Medical massage therapy deals with the treatment of medical conditions
utilizing therapeutic and treatment-based massage. Medical massage therapists are able to identify and treat the stresses
endured by the body in cases of multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, stroke, diabetes, AIDS, cancer,
burns, and post-surgical complications, chronic pain and fatigue, fibromyalgia and other chronic medical conditions.
Massage therapy has been shown to increase blood and lymph flow; decrease
post-exercise soreness; reduce swelling and joint and muscle stiffness; increase range of motion of the joints; release the
body's own pain relievers, the substances called endorphins; promote relaxation; relieve some fatigue; and promote a feeling
of well-being.
Therapeutic massage consists of hands-on manipulation of the body's
soft tissue, skin, muscles, tendons, and ligaments using different techniques and levels of pressure. For cancer patients,
massage can reduce symptoms of disease and side effects of treatment like anxiety and pain. For caregivers, massage can provide
a relaxing respite, and reduce stress, anxiety, and tension.
Facts Sheet on Massage
More than 100 million Americans suffer from lower-back pain, and nearly $25 billion
a year is spent in search of relief. A 2003 study showed that massage therapy produced better results and reduced the need
for painkillers by 36 percent when compared to other therapies, including acupuncture and spinal modification. Today, massage
therapy is one of the most common ways people ease back pain.
Source: Annals of Internal Medicine, June 3, 2003
Studies show that seventy to eighty five percent of Americans experience back pain at some point in life. It is the usual culprit when people below the age of forty five have limited range of motion and need
to curtail normal activity. It can be triggered by inactivity or too much activity or the wrong kind of movement. Standing
or sitting for long periods can trigger it. In women, wearing high heels often becomes impossible. You can prevent and treat
back pain through massage therapy.
Back pain is affliction that plagues the United States and will affect 90% of all Americans,
some point in their life. Typically back pain strikes health and unhealthy adults at age 45+ and is typically caused by doing
an awkward movement after sitting for a long period of time. Since most of us sit down 90% of our waking hours every time
we get up back pain can strike.
Back pain is the second leading chronic pain condition for physician visits, and the
morbidity rate associated with back pain is the most frequent cause of work absenteeism, the study reports. The study included
30 adults experiencing low back pain with duration for at least 6 months. Business
Wire, July 11, 2006, http://www.rehabpub.com/news/2006-08-07_01.asp
|
