May 2004 [Volume 3, Issue 5]

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In this issue of To Your Health:

• Senior Use of CAM on the Rise
• Want to Save a Life? Exercise Some Restraint
• This Month's Massage Q & A

As more information about the benefits of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) becomes known, an increasing number of people, especially among the elderly population, are turning to CAM therapies as safe, natural forms of healing.

A recent study examined CAM use among 42 elderly participants (average age: 77.9 years); the study revealed that chiropractic was the most commonly used therapy (61.9 percent), followed by herbal medicine (54.8 percent), massage therapy (35.7 percent) and acupuncture (33.3 percent). Among the reasons for using CAM, 54.8 percent stated it was for pain relief, while 45.2 percent used CAM to improve quality of life, and 40.5 percent used CAM to maintain health and fitness.

Think you can't benefit from CAM? Take a cue from your elders! CAM therapies, including massage, have many benefits. In addition to pain reduction, massage promotes relaxation, reduces stress, decreases anxiety and depression, and improves sleep. Schedule a massage appointment today!

For more information on the benefits of massage, visit www.massagetoday.com/.

Reference: Williamson AT, Fletcher PC, Dawson KA. Complementary and alternative medicine. Use in an older population. Journal of Gerontological Nursing May 2003: Volume 29, Number 5, pp.20-28.

Although many automobile accidents are unavoidable, most of them are survivable, provided a person has taken the necessary precaution of "buckling up" first. In rare instances, however, a properly restrained person can be injured or even killed when an unrestrained passenger in the same car careens forward, backward or sideways into the restrained person during a crash.

A recent study examined the effect an unrestrained person can have on the outcome of an otherwise "routine" automobile accident. Occupants who were restrained in the front seat of a car were 20 percent more likely to die with an unrestrained passenger behind them. Similarly, a restrained passenger in the rear of the car was 22 percent more likely to be killed with an unrestrained occupant in front of them. Similar results were seen in side-impact and angle crashes.

If the above information sounds confusing, the message isn't: To increase your odds of surviving an automobile accident, make sure you and your passengers wear a restraining device.

To link to more information on general health and wellness, visit www.massagetoday.com/topics

Reference: Cummings P, Rivara FP. Car occupant death according to the restraint use of other occupants. A matched cohort study. Journal of the American Medical Association, Jan. 21, 2004;291(3), pp. 343-349.

Question: I have cervical and lumbar spinal stenosis with nerve root involvement. I have a lot of pain and numbness in my left arm, and weakness in both of my legs and feet that comes and goes. Would massage therapy help?

Answer: Although massage will not fix your condition, it can certainly help with pain relief, as well as improve sleep and function of the nervous system. Other benefits include a reduction in anxiety and depression. For your first visit I suggest a gentle massage to see how your body responds. You want to begin slowly, since too much too soon might irritate your condition.

Question: I'm thinking of going to massage therapy school. I live in a resort town and think I could start a successful practice. Could you give me some advice on what obstacles I might come across and a rough estimate on how much a small practice would cost to start? How many massages can you do in a day before your hands hurt?

Answer: Massage therapists max out on about five to six massages per day. Some do more, some less, but this number is about average. I would suggest you start working in an established business for a short period of time to gain experience and knowledge before jumping into being a business owner. As far as costs, write down your estimated expenses such as rent, utilities, telephone, office furniture, advertising, equipment, supplies, and so forth, then double the number for an estimate of what your actual costs will be. Consult a small business association in your area for advice on formulating a business plan, which will help you create a realistic picture of your expenses.

Note: Information provided in the Massage Q & A section is drawn from the "Ask a Massage Therapist" forum, in which massage therapists field questions relative to the massage profession. The forum is located online at www.massagetoday.com/ask/.

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