massage techniques

Understanding Medical Massage

By Lydia M. Dotson, LMT, BW, Caring Touch Spa

hile it may still be the common sentiment that massage is a luxury, for many, this couldnt be farther from the truth. Use of therapeutic massage may range from stress relief to a dynamic addition to athletic training regimens and much more. The most rapidly growing need for therapeutic massage is in the medical field. According to research from the American Massage Therapy Association, 44 percent of adult Americans who had a massage between July 2010 and July 2011 received it for medical or health reasons compared to 35 percent the previous year. While it is growing in popularity and necessity, not everyone may understand the difference between medical massage versus other massage. Hippocrates said, If a patient has a health problem, first check his spine. This is a powerful statement since when muscles do not function properly, they affect spinal alignment and may cause other abnormalities such as pain, discomfort, limited range of motion, and a variety of other symptoms. Although not always referred to as medical massage, therapeutic massage techniques have been used for centuries to mobilize soft tissues such as skin, muscle, fascia, and other connective tissues to create significant positive transformation in organ and system function. Medical massage today can be defined as a prescribed, resultoriented treatment performed by a licensed professional that is intended to resolve bodily conditions which have been diagnosed by a physician. Since it is beyond the scope of their practice to diagnose, massage therapists rely on physicians to diagnose and prescribe conditions and treatments. Rather than only using Swedish relaxation techniques or deep tissue techniques, the therapist may use a variety of modalities and therapeutic aids during treatment to achieve the desired result. The treatment is focused only on the area(s) of the body related to diagnosis and prescription.
Page 44 Healthy Cells Magazine Bloomington May 2013

More than ever before, doctors and patients are now realizing that medical massage therapists fill a gap in our health care system by providing high quality, hands-on soft tissue manipulation without scalpels and medications. Medical massage therapists have the unique ability to perform an essential role in preventative care, injury rehabilitation, and pain management that has often been previously overlooked. A variety of physicians such as neurologists, orthopedists, general practitioners, chiropractors, oncologists, etc. are now looking to medical massage therapists to fulfill patients treatment plans. A range of conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, edema, TMJ, fibromyalgia, scoliosis, migraines, plantar fasciitis, and many more may benefit from medical massage. Medical massage therapy can also alleviate pain associated with post-surgery, bulging spinal discs, pregnancies, sport, auto, and work injuries. It can relieve nerve compression/entrapment, decrease pain and inflammation, alleviate stress, improve circulation, aid digestion, increase flexibility and range of motion, calm the nervous system, improve posture and coordination. Medical massage may also help prevent future chronic pain conditions by effectively dealing with the cause of the problem and eliminating it. Medical massage therapy is safe, effective, and integral to medical and wellness care. As powerful as it can be, medical massage may not always be appropriate for certain conditions. Please consult with your physician to determine proper treatment for any condition you may be experiencing. For more information, you may contact Caring Touch Spa at 309661-1714 or visit their website, www.caringtouchspa.com.

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May 2013 Bloomington Healthy Cells Magazine Page 45