September 2004 [Volume 3, Issue 9]

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In this issue of To Your Health:

• May I Have Your Attention, Please?
• Protect Your Back This Back-to-School Season
• This Month's Massage Q & A

It's been a rough morning: You've been chasing after your active toddler for hours, and it's not even noon! You're tempted to pop in a video so you can rest; after all, what's the harm if your child watches a little television? More than you might think, according to two new studies.

Research recently published in Pediatrics shows that the more time young children spend watching television, the more likely they are to develop attention problems by age 7. And a study published in the July 2004 issue of the Lancet reveals that the more time children and adolescents spent watching television, the higher their risk for having high cholesterol, smoking, decreased fitness and obesity. "Our results suggest that excessive television viewing in young people is likely to have far-reaching consequences for adult health," the Lancet authors wrote.

Why take chances with your little one? Before reaching for that remote, try occupying your children through more productive means, such as books or puzzles. These activities help build critical-thinking skills, and may reduce the risk of developing additional health and behavioral problems down the line. For more information on the pediatric benefits of massage, visit www.massagetoday.com/selectarticles/pediatrics.html.

Source: Dimitri AC, Zimmerman FJ, DiGiuseppe DL, McCarty CA. Early television exposure and subsequent attentional problems in children. Pediatrics 2004;113(4):708-13.

Lancet. July 2004;364: 226-227, 257-262.

It's back-to-school time; whether it means kids returning after summer break or adults returning for the fall semester, back-to-school means back to the books, which usually means an overloaded backpack.

Although backpacks are better than over-the-shoulder satchels or briefcases because they distribute weight more evenly, a study by the American Physical Therapy Association has shown that over 50 percent of the children surveyed carried backpacks heavier than 15 percent of their body weight. When shopping for backpacks, experts suggest buying one with padded straps for shoulder comfort and multiple pockets so weight can be more evenly distributed. Other suggestions include carrying packs weighing less than 15 percent of one's body weight; watching for signs of neck, shoulder, back pain, or tingling; and bending at the knees and using both hands to pick up backpacks and put them on.

And remember, massage is a great way to soothe muscle aches and pains, as well as promote relaxation and stress relief. For more information on the benefits of massage, visit www.massagetoday.com.

Question: I have a good friend who wants to get a massage but has skin cancer on his arm. Are there any guidelines for massage therapists on this?

Answer: Sources state that basal cell carcinoma is locally contraindicated during massage and squamous cell carcinoma is systemically contraindicated until the patient has been cleared by a medical doctor. Whenever in doubt, ask a medical doctor before beginning treatment.

Question: I understand that therapeutic/site-specific massage can be "uncomfortable," but can or should it cause bruising? I am in massage therapy school, and our instructor demonstrated some site-specific work on the glutes/piriformis on me. Not only was the pain excruciating while he was working on me but 24 hours after class, I had deep, painful, purple bruising about the size of a fist in the area. This bruising started almost immediately and just got worse as the day/evening went on. Is bruising the normal result of therapeutic massage? I can't imagine that anyone using this kind of force would keep their clients for long.

Answer: Purple bruising is uncalled for. It is not neccessary and patients should never be put in "excruciating" pain. Concerning the first half your question, bruising is not normal nor is it typical in any massage or bodywork treatment. Sometimes a thin, soft, brown bruise may occur, but only rarely. As a guideline, always work within a patient's "comfort zone." A patient may experience tenderness and soreness, but should never feel pain.

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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