Profile Massage - Jackson Hole

Concurrent Physical and Psychological Healing; Massage Therapy Addresses the Whole Person

Lisa Chong — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 09:48:06 +0000

“Touch is often the most neglected or assaulted sense of the hospitalized patient”.

Integrating massage therapy into a hospital setting shows how effective it is for not only treating physical pain, but how– on deeper physical, mental, and emotional levels–it not only treats injury, but treats and respects the patient as a whole, complex human being.

From a marked improvement in the ability to rest (improved sleep), thus promoting speedy recovery, to much needed relief from acute physical pain, soreness–even to the extent that it is an effective replacement for pharmaceuticals– the impact of massage therapy is wide-ranging and profound. Even more significantly, it treats the patient as a whole, relieving the discomforts of the environment (such as an unfamiliar, perhaps coldly clinical setting) as well as treating human conditions that are equally distressing as physical pain, such as anxiety, loneliness, depression–often overlooked in a clinical environment.

The findings of this study are fascinating, even surprising; the capacity of massage therapy to heal is much more comprehensive and profound than even previously thought.

For the full details of this study and the fascinating scope of the findings, read the study itself (originally linked from the Mayo Clinic):

The Effects of Massage Therapy on Pain Management in the Acute Setting

Rose Adams, MHA, BSW, LMT,1,2 Barb White, MS, LMT,1,3,5 and Cynthia Beckett, PhD, RNC-OB, LCCE4,6

1 Therapy Services, Massage Therapy;

2 Member, Evidence-Based Practice Research Committee;

3 Member, Ethics Committee and

4 Director, Pediatrics/Perinatal Services and Evidence-Based Practice, Flagstaff Medical Center, Flagstaff;

5 Adjunct Faculty, Women’s and Gender Studies, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff and

6 Faculty Associate, College of Nursing and Healthcare Innovation, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA

Corresponding author: Rose Adams, Flagstaff Medical Center, Therapy Services, Massage Therapy, 1215 N. Beaver Street, Flagstaff, Arizona 86001 U.S.A. Email: rose.adams@nahealth.com

Published under the CreativeCommons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 License.

“Sciatica” you say?

Landon Wiedenman — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 09:05:37 +0000

It can be an electric tingling sensation when we first experience a pain that shoots from the buttock down the leg. This sensation is the likely result of the sciatic nerve being irritated by something. We often hear about herniated discs in the lower back causing ’sciatica’, the term given to this pain. But, more often it’s caused by something less serious, and easily treatable with massage therapy.

SCIATICA AND THE PIRIFORMIS

Several things can cause sciatica symptoms, including diseases of the lumbar spine, like herniated discs, chronic hamstring tendonitis or adhesions of the sciatic nerve to the surrounding tissues can cause sciatica. Another common cause, particularly in athletes, is when the piriformis muscle goes into spasm or develops trigger points that press on the sciatic nerve, causing pain in the buttocks and referring pain along the course of the sciatic nerve. This referred pain, called “sciatica”, often goes down the back of the thigh and/or into the lower back. Patients generally complain of pain deep in the buttocks, which is made worse by sitting, climbing stairs, or performing squats.

The piriformis muscle assists in abducting and laterally rotating the thigh. In other words, while balancing on the left foot, move the right leg directly sideways away from the body and rotate the right leg so that the toes point towards the ceiling. This is the action of the right piriformis muscle.

A SIMPLE TEST

To see if the piriformis is causing the pain, try stretching it, stretching the muscle often duplicates the pain. To do the piriformis stretch, lie on your back, and flex the right hip and knee. Now, while grasping the right knee with your left hand, pull the knee towards your left shoulder. This adducts and flexes the hip. In this position, grasp just above the right ankle with the right hand, and rotate the ankle outwards. This applies internal rotation to the hip and completes the stretch. Another way to do this stretch is to stand on your left foot and place the right foot on a chair, such that the right knee and hip are flexed at about 90 degrees. Now, using the right hand, press the right knee across towards the left side of the body while keeping the ball of the right foot on the same spot on the chair.

Anatomically, the piriformis muscle lies below to the gluteal muscles. It originates from the sacral spine and attaches to the greater trochanter of the femur, which is the big, bony “bump” on the outside top of the thigh. The sciatic nerve usually passes underneath the piriformis muscle, but in approximately 15% of the population, it travels through the muscle. Often, acute or chronic injury or overuse causes swelling of the muscle and irritates the sciatic nerve, resulting in referred pain. Patients whose nerve passes through the muscle are particularly prone to this condition.

Piriformis syndrome is diagnosed primarily on the basis of symptoms and on the physical exam. There are no tests that accurately confirm the diagnosis, but X-rays, MRI, and nerve conduction tests may be necessary to exclude other diseases. Some of the other causes of sciatica include disease in the lumbar spine (e.g. disc herniation), chronic hamstring tendonitis, and fibrous adhesions of other muscles around the sciatic nerve. However, the risks of seeking treatment with massage therapy are essentially nonexistent. Even in the event that your sciatica is caused by something other than the piriformis, it is most likely contributing to it.

TREATMENT

Once properly understood, treatment is undertaken in a stepwise approach. Massage therapy, specifically deep tissue and NMT, is particularly effective at treating piriformis syndrome. A series of sessions consisting of Trigger Point Therapy, stretching the affected muscles and restoring normal range of motion are the first steps towards treatment.

Additionally, we will explore your daily habits that may be causing the issue and teach you some stretches and massage techniques that you can do on your own in between treatments. Initially, progressive piriformis stretching is employed, starting with 5 seconds of sustained stretch and gradually working up to 60 seconds. This is repeated several times throughout the day. It is important that any abnormal biomechanical problems, such as overpronation of the foot or other coexisting conditions, are treated. We may want to coordinate your treatment at Profile Massage with a PT and a physician. During your treatment we will take detailed notes that we can then share with your physicians (at your option), so that they can use that information while pursuing other treatments.

A good sports massage therapist with experience in caring for athletes with piriformis syndrome can help direct appropriate management. With proper diagnosis and treatment, there is no reason to live with sciatic pain.

Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives

Massage Decreases Migraine Symptoms

Landon Wiedenman — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 08:58:07 +0000

Hernandez-Reif, M., Dieter J., Field, T., Swerdlow, B., & Diego, M. (1998). Migraine headaches are reduced by massage therapy. International Journal of Neuroscience, 96, 1-11.

Twenty-six adults with migraine headaches were randomly assigned to a wait-list control group or to a massage therapy group, who received two 30-minute massages per week for five consecutive weeks. The massage therapy subjects reported fewer distress symptoms, less pain, more headache free days, fewer sleep disturbances, and they showed an increase in serotonin levels.

Natural Headache Relief with Massage Therapy

Landon Wiedenman — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 08:55:24 +0000

A recent study has revealed that a 30-minute massage could actually help diminish the pain caused by tension headaches—the most common type of headache which is often described as a constant pressure, as if the head were being squeezed by a tight band.

According to this new research published by the American Journal of Manipulative Physiological and Therapeutics,a 30-minute massage on trigger points resulted in an enhanced autonomic nervous system regulation in patients suffering from tension headaches.

Researchers have observed a significant improvement in the psychological state of patients who had a massage. Likewise, patients reported relief from pain within just 24 hours after the massage. This suggests that applying pressure on the pain-causing trigger points may be an effective method of treatment.

The massage helped relieve stress and anxiety, both known to trigger tension headaches. Other known triggers, according to the Mayo Clinic, including depression, poor posture, and jaw clenching.

A 30-minute massage is yet another natural replacement for aspirin and other traditional, pain relieving medications. Other natural alternatives known to reduce pain caused by tension headache are breathing and relaxation techniques, acupuncture, acupressure, and chiropractic manipulation.

Taking herbs and supplements such as feverfew, peppermint, passionflower, gingko, cayenne, valerian and chamomile may also be beneficial.

Article provided by the Natural Health Report

“Massage increases circulation.” False?

Landon Wiedenman — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 20:49:12 +0000

One of the oldest and most commonly touted benefits of massage therapy, that massage increases circulation, may not stand up to clinical studies. While this study debunks that idea as a myth in a specific scenario–blood supply to gross musculature and removal of lactic acid–it doesn’t show what’s happening in a local capillary bed around a trigger point. Nevertheless, it’s worth the read and worth considering; we might be making more assumptions than we realize.

From the New York Times:

June 2, 2010, 12:01 am

Phys Ed: Does Massage Help After Exercise?

By GRETCHEN REYNOLDS

Michael Tschakovsky, an associate professor in the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, enjoys apost-exercise massage as much as anyone. But unlike those of us who happily drowse through the massage therapist’s assurance that the pummeling and kneading is speeding blood flow to our muscles and draining them of built-up lactic acid, Mr. Tschakovsky took notes. His academic specialty is the study of blood flow to muscles, particularly in diseases like diabetes, and he decided to put the therapists’ words to the test.

Recruiting 12 healthy young men, he and his colleagues had them exercise their forearm muscle to exhaustion. The men accomplished this by squeezing a specialized handgrip at 40 percent of maximum force for two minutes, nonstop. “If that doesn’t sound hard, try it,” Mr. Tschakovsky says. By the end of the two minutes, the men’s arms shook with fatigue. Their hearts beat faster, and lactic acid, measured by a catheter inserted directly into the deep vein that drains the muscle, enveloped the straining forearm muscle.

Lactic acid is widely believed by many of us outside academia to cause muscle fatigue and soreness after exercise. Physiologists are more skeptical. Recent studies have found few negative effects from lactic acid and, in fact, have shown that it provides fuel for tired muscles. But the studies are not definitive, so “it’s still theoretically possible” that lactic acid has some impact on fatigue, Mr. Tschakovsky says, especially in events that involve repeated short bouts of intense exercise. More to the point, “most people think that one of the main benefits of massage is that it removes lactic acid,” he says, whether such dispersal is important or not. “We wanted to see if massage fulfills” that promise. Read More…

Studies on Massage and Pregnancy

Landon Wiedenman — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 22:28:08 +0000

Field, T., Hernandez-Reif, M., Hart, S., Theakston, H., Schanberg, S., Kuhn, C. & Burman, I. (1999). Pregnant women benefit from massage therapy. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology, 20, 31-38.

Twenty-six pregnant women were assigned to a massage therapy or a relaxation therapy group for 5 weeks. Both groups reported feeling less anxious after the first session and less leg pain after the first and last session. Only the massage therapy group, however, reported reduced anxiety, improved mood, better sleep and less back pain by the last day of the study.

Latifses, V., Bendell Estroff, D., Field, T., & Bush, J. (2005). Father massaging and relaxing their pregnant wives lowered anxiety and facilitated marital adjustment. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 9, 277-82.

Fathers learned to massage their pregnant wives conducted progressive muscle relaxation. Massage therapy lowered the fathers’ anxiety and improved marital adjustment.

Field, T., Deed, O., Diego, M., Gualer, A., Sullivan, S., Wilson, D. & Nearing, G. (2009). Benefits of combining massage therapy with group interpersonal psychotherapy in prenatally depressed women. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therpies, 13, 297-303.

One hundred and twelve pregnant women who were diagnosed depressed were randomly assigned to a group who received group Interpersonal Psychotherapy or to a group who received both group Interpersonal Psychotherapy and massage therapy. The data suggested that the group who received psychotherapy plus massage attended more sessions on average, and a greater percentage of that group completed the 6-week program. The group who received both therapies also showed a greater decrease in depression, depressed affect and somatic-vegetative symptom scores on the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scal , a greater decrease in anxiety scale scores and a greater decrease in cortisol levels. The group therapy process appeared to be effective for both groups as suggested by the increased expression of both positive and negative affect and relatedness during the group therapy sessions.

Field, T., Diego, M., Hernandez-Reif, M., Deeds, O. & Figueiredo, B. (2009). Pregnancy massage reduces prematurity, low birthweight and postpartum depression. Infant Behavior & Development, 32, 454-460.

One hundred and twelve pregnant women who were diagnosed depressed were randomly assigned to a group who received group Interpersonal Psychotherapy or to a group who received both group Interpersonal Psychotherapy and massage therapy. The data suggested that the group who received psychotherapy plus massage attended more sessions on average, and a greater percentage of that group completed the 6-week program. The group who received both therapies also showed a greater decrease in depression, depressed affect and somatic-vegetative symptom scores on the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale, a greater decrease in anxiety scale scores and a greater decrease in cortisol levels. The group therapy process appeared to be effective for both groups as suggested by the increased expression of both positive and negative affect and relatedness during the group therapy sessions.

Field, T. (2010). Pregnancy and labor massage therapy. Expert Review of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 5, 177-181.

Women who received massage therapy reported decreased depression, anxiety, and leg and back pain. Cortisol levels decreased and, in turn, excessive fetal activity decreased, and the rate of prematurity was lower in the massage group. In a study of labor pain, women who received massage therapy experienced significantly less pain, and their labors were on average 3 h shorter with less need for medication. An underlying mechanism we have been exploring is that these effects are mediated by increased vagal activity.

Low Back Pain – Studies

Landon Wiedenman — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 09:22:05 +0000

Massage therapy was compared to relaxation for chronic low back pain. By the end of the study, the massage therapy group, as compared to the relaxation group, reported less pain, depression and anxiety and improved sleep. They also showed improved trunk and pain flexion performance, and their serotonin and dopamine levels were higher.

Hernandez-Reif, M., Field, T., Krasnegor, J., & Theakston, H. (2001). Lower back pain is reduced and range of motion increased after massage therapy. International Journal of Neuroscience, 106, 131-145.

Massage therapy versus relaxation therapy with chronic low back pain patients was evaluated for reducing pain, depression, anxiety and sleep disturbances, for improving trunk range of motion (ROM) and for reducing job absenteeism and increasing job productivity. Thirty adults with low back pain with a duration of at least 6 months pain participated in the study. On the first and last day of the 5-week study participants completed questionnaires and were assessed for ROM. By the end of the study, the massage therapy group, as compared to the relaxation group, reported less pain, depression, anxiety and sleep disturbance. They also showed improved trunk and pain flexion performance.

Field, T., Hernandez-Reif, M., Diego, M., & Fraser, M. (2007). Lower back pain and sleep disturbance are reduced following massage therapy. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapy, 11, 141-145.

Massage and Depression

Landon Wiedenman — Fri, 06 May 2011 09:15:18 +0000

(Reuters Health) – Massage therapy may help relieve symptoms of depression, a new review of medical literature hints.

New York | Tue March 30, 2010

The authors of the review, however, acknowledge difficulties with research on the effects of massage, including the fact that it’s impossible to “blind” study participants or care providers to whether a person is receiving massage or a comparison treatment.

Nevertheless, they say there is “good evidence to suggest that massage therapy is an effective treatment of depression.”

Depression is a huge public health problem, and treatment is often inadequate, Dr. Wen-Hsuan Hou of I-Shou University in Kaohsiung, Taiwan and colleagues note in their report.

While massage can ease stress and tension and may have emotional benefits, the use of massage therapy in depressed patients is “controversial,” the investigators note, and “there is no qualitative review of the treatment effect of massage therapy in depressed patients.”

To investigate further, they searched for randomized controlled trials of massage therapy in depressed patients. They identified 17 studies including 786 people in all. In 13 of the trials, massage therapy was compared to another active treatment such as Chinese herbs, relaxation exercises, or rest, while four compared massage to a “no treatment” control group. Investigators also used a range of methods for evaluating mood and depression in study participants.

Overall, the studies, which were of “moderate” quality, showed that massage therapy had “potentially significant effects” in alleviating symptoms of depression, the researchers report in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

It’s not clear from the analysis, they emphasize, whether a person would need to undergo regular massage therapy for benefits to persist.

There are a number of ways through which massage could help people with depression, the researchers note, for example, by reducing stress and inducing relaxation; building an “alliance” between the therapist and patient; and by causing the body to release the “trust hormone” oxytocin.

“Further well-designed and longer follow-up studies, including accurate outcome measures, are needed,” they conclude.

SOURCE: Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, online March 23, 2010.

Massage effects cortisol, serotonin and dopamine levels

Landon Wiedenman — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 09:08:13 +0000

Cortisol decreases, serotonin and dopamine increase following massage therapy.

Int J Neurosci. 2005 Oct;115(10):1397-413. Field T, Hernandez-Reif M, Diego M, Schanberg S, Kuhn C. Touch Research Institutes, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
In this article the positive effects of massage therapy on biochemistry are reviewed including decreased levels of cortisol and increased levels of serotonin and dopamine. In studies in which cortisol was assayed either in saliva or in urine, significant decreases were noted in cortisol levels after massage therapy. In studies in which the activating neurotransmitters (serotonin and dopamine) were assayed in urine, massage therapy led to an increase in serotonin and dopamine. These studies combined suggest the stress-alleviating effects (decreased cortisol) and the activating effects (increased serotonin and dopamine) of massage therapy on a variety of medical conditions and stressful experiences.