November 2005 [Volume 4, Issue 11]

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In this issue of To Your Health:

• Relieving Chronic Pain
• Massage Helps Breast Cancer Patients Cope With Treatment
• Answers to Your Massage Questions: Highlights From This Month's "Ask a Massage Therapist" Online Forum

More and more studies have shown that various types of massage therapy can help to relieve chronic pain. Adults have the ability to express their pain and symptoms so a course of therapy might be easier to determine. However, children aren't always able to express themselves well enough to describe what they might need.

Not only does massage relax the muscles, but it also can help a patient's body function on a much higher level as it can decrease the heart rate and help the gastrointestinal system improve. It also can help the patient to relax their body in general, which might be a source of some of the pain they are experiencing. The effects of massage could cause the body to release its natural endorphins, also a big help in naturally managing a patient's pain.

Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City has implemented massage therapy to help its patients manage their pain. It has proved to be so successful that there is hope that the practice can be expanded to meet the needs of other young patients.

In a pilot study conducted at Michigan State University, the College of Nursing tested three different complementary therapies (reflexology, guided imagery and reminiscence therapy) with reflexology proving to be the most effective.

Reflexology is a specialized foot therapy that applies firm pressure to certain parts of the sole of the foot. Women receiving chemotherapy for late-stage breast cancer said reflexology helped them adjust to their treatments. Not only can reflexology be used to help cancer patients with their chemotherapy treatment, it also can help enhance the lives of those who are cancer free.

The researchers at MSU now are looking into a more detailed investigation into the value of reflexology in the treatment of late-stage cancer patients thanks to a more than $3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. Women will be divided into three groups ( a control group, a placebo group receiving foot massage for four weeks and a reflexology group receiving treatment for four weeks). Patients will be interviewed before the study, immediately after the four weeks of therapy and two months later.

If you are undergoing cancer treatment or know someone who is, reflexology might be something you want to look into. For more information about this study, visit www.nursing.msu.edu.

Question: If a person is injured in a vehicle accident and they suffer from cerebral hemorrhage, a subdural hematoma, compression of the spinal cord at level C6 and a mild protrusion of the intervertebral disc C5...how or what type of massage if at all should you proceed with therapy. What is the prognosis for a person suffering these injuries?

Answer: A person seeking an adjunct therapy to compliment their existing treatment plan under their MD's supervision may want to try Craniosacral Therapy. For more information concerning this therapy, and to find practitioners in your area, link to www.upledger.com for the Upledger Institute.

You can also find CranioSacral Therapy on many other Web sites, such as the ABMP and AMAT Web sites (listed below).

Also, I would like to recommend Orthopedic Massage therapy, such as Hendrickson Orthopedic Massage. There are others, just do a search on Google for therapies and therapists in this field. The therapist tends to work with referrals from Chiropractors and/or doctors. So, there tends to be a safe combined effort between the two. I have heard nothing but good things about his modality.

Here is a description of the Hendrickson method:

"Hendrickson Method is an advanced system of orthopedic therapy that brings together a dynamic combination of techniques: massage, mobilization, and neuromuscular re-education, synthesized with Eastern energy practices. Clients receive a gentle session that provides pain-relief and functional rehabilitation. Precise and extremely effective, Hendrickson Method is suitable therapy for most orthopedic conditions including low back pain, whiplash, and rotator cuff injuries. With long-term benefits far beyond what is possible with massage, this exceptional system of functional rehabilitation uses techniques that stimulate the synthesis of new cells, rehydrate cartilage, and realign soft tissue. At its core, is a one-of-a-kind stroke called wave mobilization, so named because its gentle rocking motion mimics ocean waves."

For more information, visit www.hendricksonmethod.com; ABMP: (Find a therapist) www.abmp.com; and AMTA: (Find a therapist) www.amtamassage.org.

Note: Information provided in this Q&A section is drawn from the "Ask a Massage Therapist" online forum, in which massage therapists field questions relative to the massage profession. Readers are encouraged to post their questions at www.massagetoday.com/ask/. Answers should not be misconstrued as a diagnosis, prognosis or treatment recommendation and do not in any way constitute the practice of massage therapy or any other health care profession. Readers should consult their own health care providers for medical advice.

The staff of MassageToday.com offers its condolences to the victims and survivors of Hurricane Katrina. Anyone wishing to make a donation to the relief/recovery effort is encouraged to call 1-800-HELP-NOW (1-800-435-7669) or visit www.redcross.org.

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