Palliative massage: essential treatment when facing major events

Palliative massage can be an essential treatment to provide nourishing touch, relief of pain, and a special way to communicate.  Those facing major trauma often feel helpless and alone. A Registered Massage Therapist specialist trained in Palliative care can bring relief through gentle touches. This relief may lessen nausea, pain, frustration even anger. Kimberley Gautreau, RMT, NBMA-AMNB, describes responses from patients as overwhelming,  “Some feel untouchable. One lady told me that after a treatment she felt ‘love touching her’. Another said that selecting the aromas of oil for her massage gave her a voice.” 

During these significant times in your life or the life of a loved one, when most medical staff provide chemicals and machines the balance brought by a trained Palliative RMT can promote comfort for both the patient and the loved ones standing at bedside. The Registered Massage Therapist specialist trained in Palliative care can also train the patient’s loved ones how to give appropriate, safe touch. 

An essential part of end of life care plan is to specify palliative massage by a qualified Registered Massage Therapist specialist trained in Palliative care massage. 

Massage Therapists now part of Mayo Clinic Team

Mayo Clinic hires Massage Therapists as part of their surgical care team. Why? The Mayo Clinic did a pilot study to find if massage therapy could reduce pain and anxiety in cardiac surgery patients. The results were an astounding YES. The results were so conclusive and the patients so happy that the Mayo Clinic began hiring Massage Therapists as part of the surgical care.

This study and many others have contributed to the fact that over 48 hospitals in the United States (according to Mayo) hire massage therapists in the treatment of their patients.

Note: In Canada those Massage Therapists who are members of Associations allied with the Canadian Massage Therapist Association (CMTA) or who are Registered with Professional Colleges regulated by your Province have met the highest professional standard.

Sore muscles from exercising -Massage Therapy Treatments can replace chemical pain killers

Research confirms that massage therapy works in two important ways and debunks the myth about massage moving lactic acid. Simply, inflammation is reduced by massage therapy treatments. And avoid any side effects from chemical pain killers. 

A research team based at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada with researchers from UCLA Berkeley and the Buck Institute of Research on Aging have shown that Massage Therapy Treatments reduce inflammation in exercised muscles. 

See the video and the CBC report.

The complete report is here.

Research proves the benefits of Massage Therapy in reducing swelling, inflammation and muscle soreness. 

To select a Massage Therapist be certain to confirm that the therapist is Registered with the legislated College of Massage Therapy in your province (Canada) or with the Association in your jurisdiction that is an active member of the Canadian Massage Therapist Association (CMTA).

Patients with cancer benefit from Massage Therapy Treatments

The anxiety, depression and pain suffered by many people diagnosed with cancer can be relieved by regular Massage Therapy Treatments. A review of research shows significant variety of positive effects on people suffering from various forms of cancer. The most notable results were reductions in pain, anxiety, and depression.¹ 

Those arranging for Massage Therapy treatments as support for someone with cancer ought to confirm that the Massage Therapist is trained in the specific techniques most effective with patients with cancer and is Registered with a reputable Association. In Canada Provinces which are legislated or Associations which are active members of the Canadian Massage Therapist Association (CMTA) provide the highest professional standard. 

1. Ernst E. Massage therapy for cancer palliation and supportive care: a systematic review of randomised clinical trials. Supportive Care in Cancer, 2009;17:333-7.

Optimal Dose of Massage Therapy to Reduce Pain and Increase Function

Massage Therapy usually feels good but how often is often enough to be effective: reduce pain, increase function. Duke University conducted a study to discover what is the 'optimal dose' of massage: a 1 hour Massage Therapy treatment weekly or two 1 hour treatments weekly or four 30 minute treatments weekly.

The study showed that a 1 hour Massage Therapy treatment weekly was just as effective as multiple sessions per week. That means that the patient receives an effective treatment to reduce pain and increase function that is also cost-effective. 

However, like dosage in chemical therapy, where some patients need 20 ml and others 45 ml, some take the dose daily, others every 4 hours, Massage Therapy treatments must be delivered at optimal times for optimal results. 

A reputable Massage Therapist will design an effective treatment plan to provide the best results. Patients are advised to confirm that the Massage Therapist selected is Registered with a reputable Association. In Canada some Provinces legislate and enforce standards while other jurisdictions rely on Associations. Those Massage Therapists who are members of Associations allied with the Canadian Massage Therapist Association (CMTA)  have met the highest professional standard.

Sore Knees – Weekly treatments of Massage Therapy can help osteoarthritis in the knee

Researchers from Duke, Yale and Boston Medical School were among the team that has provided firm data to support significant benefits for patients following a plan of weekly 60 minute Massage Therapy treatments using a specific form of Swedish Massage.

The benefits included significant reduction in pain, less swelling,  increased flexibility, less stiffness and faster time in walking fifty feet on a level surface. These benefits applied to patients with osteoarthritis in the knee and also to those recovering from knee replacement surgery.

The benefits were measured at the end of 8 weeks of Massage Therapy treatments and again at 2 months, ( approximately 9 weeks) and lastly at 4 months. The benefits continued but diminished. Researchers concluded that periodic maintenance treatments of Massage Therapy would seem to extend the benefits. 

For details go to http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0030248

When selecting a Massage Therapist you are advised to confirm that the Massage Therapist is Registered with the legislated College of Massage Therapy in your province (Canada) or with the Association in your jurisdiction that is an active member of the Canadian Massage Therapist Association (CMTA).

Beginning of massage therapy

One can say with certainty that massage was born with humanity! It's primitive application was purely instinctive gesture. Actually it was likely good instinct that pushed us to place our hands on a sore spot in order to release tightness. Since those times, diverse massage techniques have been continually refined until today when we have numerous therapeutic applications in what is now called 'massage therapy'.

The massage therapist learns the tensions written in the body and works to alleviate these tensions of conflict, stress, fatigue and poor posture. And so the art and science of massage therapy continues to grow and develop always focused on the well being of the patient; both the physical health and the psychological well-being for both are intimately intertwined.
 
Contributed by Nathalie Michaud, R.M.T., Owner of The Healthy Habit, Grand Falls, NB