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Massage
Sat, 02/25/2012 - 2:49pm
Had a good massage lately?
Ahhh, what a wonderful feeling after a relaxing massage. Whether you are an athlete looking to reduce muscle pain and stiffness, a driver wanting to reduce pain of injuries following an accident, or an individual who wants to reduce everyday stress, a licensed massage therapist can be invaluable.
What is Massage Therapy?
Massage therapy is recognized as one of the oldest methods of healing, with references in medical texts nearly 4,000 years old. Massage therapy involves the manipulation of both muscular and soft tissues of the body through the use of compression, friction, movable pressure, stretching, and kneading. This is usually performed with the hands, althought he use of forearms, feet, and elbows may be used. Each technique used can affect circulation, lymph movement, muscle tone, and the nervous system as well as other systems within the body. People use massage for a variety of health-related purposes, including to relieve pain, rehabilitate sports injuries, reduce stress, increase relaxation, address anxiety and depression, and aid general wellness.
Is There a Scientific Basis for Massage Therapy?
Years of personally reported benefits cannot be denied, yet there are some among us who love facts and data. Recent research shows emerging evidence that massage therapy is effective in treating a number of specific conditions, including ADHD, Fibromyalgia, Pain Management, and Stress Reduction.
One such study was published in September 2010 in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine by Dr. Mark Hyman Rapaport. This preliminary study compared one 45 min session of Swedish Massage Therapy with a control treatment of light-touch therapy. The response of both stress hormones and immune function were measured to help determine why massage works so well physiologically. Two stress hormones, arginine-vasopressin (AVP) and cortisol (CORT) decreased significantly. Massage also increased the number of circulating disease-fighting lymphocytes while at the same time decreased inflammatory cytokines. This study shows actual biological effects that would have great implications in the care of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. (1)
Other recent studies have been investigating:
- The effects of massage on chronic neck pain and low-back pain
- Massage to treat anxiety disorder, alleviate depression in patients with advanced AIDS, and promote recovery in women who were victims of sexual abuse as children
- Massage to relieve fatigue in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, reduce treatment-related swelling of the arms in breast cancer patients, and alleviate pain and distress in cancer patients at the end of life
- Whether massage improves weight gain and immune system function in preterm infants
- Whether massage given at home by a trained family member helps reduce pain from sickle cell anemia.
Safety of Massage
via NIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Massage therapy appears to have few serious risks—if it is performed by a properly trained therapist and if appropriate cautions are followed. The number of serious injuries reported is very small. Side effects of massage therapy may include temporary pain or discomfort, bruising, swelling, and a sensitivity or allergy to massage oils.
Cautions about massage therapy include the following:
- Vigorous massage should be avoided by people with bleeding disorders or low blood platelet counts, and by people taking blood-thinning medications such as warfarin.
- Massage should not be done in any area of the body with blood clots, fractures, open or healing wounds, skin infections, or weakened bones (such as from osteoporosis or cancer), or where there has been a recent surgery.
- Although massage therapy appears to be generally safe for cancer patients, they should consult their oncologist before having a massage that involves deep or intense pressure. Any direct pressure over a tumor usually is discouraged. Cancer patients should discuss any concerns about massage therapy with their oncologist.
- Pregnant women should consult their health care provider before using massage therapy.
Massage Therapy: Is it Right for You?
Massage has the power to release tension, relax, reduce pain, and even benefit our immune system.(1) Through this powerful healing touch we are able to enhance both our physical and our emotional wellness. When deciding whether you want to get a massage, consider your personal health needs. Be sure to talk with your physician about the safety of massage therapy if you have any serious medical conditions. And be sure to use the services of a professional licensed massage therapist. They will have been trained in the proper modalities that will give you the best massage at optimum results. You will then be able to relax and enjoy the many health benefits of your massage.
I want to know of your experiences with massage therapy. There are many different styles of massage that have different health benefits. If you have had a particularly good health result through massage, please feel free to recommend the technique or particular therapist in the comments below.
Live Well!
Robin
References:
I want to thank Ivy Jo Staton at FUZION Massage for her time and valuable information on massage therapy and its important role in complementary medicine.
- 1.Rapaport MH, Schettler P, Bresee C. J Altern Complement Med. 2010 Sep 1. A Preliminary Study of the Effects of a Single Session of Swedish Massage on Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal and Immune Function in Normal Individuals. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center , Los Angeles, CA.
Useful websites about massage therapy:
__________________
Robin started contributing to Lumigrate in August 2010. "Meet Robin Thomas", a topic in our biographies/vitae forum is at http://www.lumigrate.com/forum/meet-robin-thomas to read all about her journey, which was greatly influenced by the need to help solve her youngest son's significant health challenges. For those who want just the overview here: After working over 22 years in medical research at the University of North Carolina on chronic inflammatory diseases she switched her focus to preventive health in 2004 when she was introduced to USANA Health Sciences. Robin is passionate about helping others improve their health, have more energy, manage their weight, and improve their skin.
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"I dream of a world free from pain and suffering. I dream of a world free from disease. The USANA family will be the healthiest family on earth. Share my vision. Love life and live it to its fullest in happiness and health."
-Dr. Myron Wentz, Founder and Chairman, USANA Health Sciences
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Thanks for this, Robin. I know that long before I had enough symptoms going 'down the illness path from wellness' to have a diagnosis of 'fibromyalgia', I had symptoms which took me to massage therapy. I had joined a health club to continue my ongoing activity/exercise which was part of my recovery from a significant case of what today is called "chronic fatigue syndrome"/CFS and they hired their first yoga instructor, and that seemed about right for what I was needing. She was also a massage therapist and held advanced certification in neuromuscular. Yup, I was spoiled from the start!
I would hope that all massage therapists today, if they had someone coming to them with symptoms of a medical condition 'in development' would let the client know so they could pursue medical advise and intervention. I know that eight years ago this summer, after moving to western Colorado, my new massage therapist was who saw the additional tissue on my thyroid and insisted I go back to my MD/specialist I was seeing about fibromyalgia, who had simply not palpated my thyroid nor done any sort of physical exam at the start, nor tested for thyroid. Don't ask me why, and I was not yet into the 'You' Model at Lumigrate as I am today. YOU have to either on your own or with the help of an advocate, look into your health issues and come up with ideas, and build a team around you to assist you. Like 'hiring consultants' in a way.
You'll notice "Massage" is one we put as most people have massage therapists available to them; I hope all who want find the means with time, energy and $ to meet regularly with theirs. (Yourself included, Robin!) Thank you again for this contribution! ~~ Mardy
Live and Learn. Learn and Live Better! is my motto. I'm Mardy Ross, and I founded Lumigrate in 2008 after a career as an occupational therapist with a background in health education and environmental research program administration. Today I function as the desk clerk for short questions people have, as well as 'concierge' services offered for those who want a thorough exploration of their health history and direction to resources likely to progress their health according to their goals. Contact Us comes to me, so please do if you have questions or comments. Lumigrate is "Lighting the Path to Health and Well-Being" for increasing numbers of people. Follow us on social networking sites such as: Twitter: http://twitter.com/lumigrate and Facebook. (There is my personal page and several Lumigrate pages. For those interested in "groovy" local education and networking for those uniquely talented LumiGRATE experts located in my own back yard, "LumiGRATE Groove of the Grand Valley" is a Facebook page to join. (Many who have joined are beyond our area but like to see the Groovy information! We not only have FUN, we are learning about other providers we can be referring patients to and 'wearing a groove' to each other's doors -- or websites/home offices!) By covering some of the things we do, including case examples, it reinforces the concepts at Lumigrate.com as well as making YOU feel that you're part of a community. Which you ARE at Lumigrate!