THE PLACE OF MASSAGE THERAPY IN HEALTH CARe
The week of October 26th is the National Massage Therapy Awareness Week. This gives me an opportunity to talk and explain in our Health Column the importance of massage.
The complexity of the human organism has led to the evolution of a variety of approaches to the manual treatment of the soft tissues. Health disciplines take the following approaches to pain and dysfunction:
TRADITIONAL WESTERN MEDICINE has three principal means of treatment: pharmacology, surgery, and referral to an allied therapeutic specialties practitioner. One of the problems with the traditional medical approach to muscular problems is that no medical specialty focuses primarily on muscles. Aside from the primary care physician, a patient with soft-tissue pain or dysfunction is likely to see a neurologist or neurosurgeon (specializing in the nervous system), an orthopedist (specializing in bones), or a rheumatologist (specializing in joints). Depending on the particulars of the case, a patient is most likely to receive surgery, drugs, or referral to a physical therapist.
OSTEOPATHY began as an approach to health that focused on the manipulation of joints, but has since moved in the direction of classical western medicine. Certain representatives of this profession have showed great understanding on recent developments in clinical massage therapy.
CHIROPRACTIC focuses on treatment of the joints, particularly those of the vertebrae. These practitioners attribute pain and other health problems to misalignments of the vertebral joints that impinge on nerve roots.
PHYSICAL THERAPY uses physical exercise and movement as a means of restoring healthy function to muscles and joints. Physical therapists tend to focus on more severe conditions, such injury, or congenital deformities.
The remaining approach is DIRECT MANIPULATION of the SOFT TISSUES. This approach is the special territory of the MASSAGE THERAPIST. MASSAGE works through the nervous system to increase body awareness, relax muscles, and reduce pain. Massage promotes good joint mobility and flexibility, and proper alignment. Massage can reduce muscle stiffness and soreness after strenuous activity and relax hypertonic or tense muscles which can lead to tendonitis. Myofascial massage addresses the body’s fascial anatomy with the intent of releasing restrictions. Myofascial techniques release restrictions that limit mobility, cause postural distortion, poor cellular nutrition, pain, and a variety of other dysfunction; massage alleviates some of the negative effects of under activity and over activity of the muscular system. Massage also improves the function of the circulatory and lymphatic systems by helping to move fluids through the systems. Manual body work produces hyperemia locally, and increases blood volume in an area. Deep effleurage enhances venous flow. Massage can play a part in decreasing blood pressure and increasing the number of circulating red blood cells. Manipulation of soft tissue can assist in movement of lymph fluid through the lymphatic system and enhances immunity.
Be Well.
Maryla Radziszewski
Health Coach, LMT, PT
Morefit, LLC
Book your massage from October 26, 2015 till November 1, 2015 with us, online, by phone or come stop by and receive $10.00 off the massage! Take care of your body it’s the only place you have to live. Don’t miss this great opportunity to energize and heal your body!
(If booking online [state in comment box] or by phone please mention to the staff that you are booking your appointment with the massage awareness special offer, thank you!)