Warm Hydrotherapy for Chronic Injury Pain

The use of warm hydrotherapy, also known in therapeutic massage as deep moist heat, is an excellent way to control and alleviate the pain and achiness associated with chronic injuries.

Most of us have experienced at one point or another the nagging achiness that comes with a chronic injury. Deep, moist heat is an excellent way to help control this pain as a part of homecare, and is also used pre-massage treatment to prepare and warm up the tissues.

Often when an injury has been long-standing, previously damaged muscle fibres have been replaced with tough collagen fibres, aka scar tissue, which reinforce and strengthen a muscle that has been damaged. Collagen fibres do not have the blood vessels that muscle has, and this avascular quality means that decreased blood flow in this tissue interrupts or decrease cell metabolism, oxygen delivery and metabolic waste removal. While scar tissue development is a normal part of the healing process, when collagen fibres are laid down, the muscle becomes more inelastic – unable to elongate and then return to its original length. This affects not only the comfort of the client, but also the power and strength of the affected muscle.

The goals, therefore of deep moist heat in the form of a hydrocollator or thermaphore are:

-         to warm up an area by increasing blood flow
-         increase the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to muscle cells, and speeding up metabolic processes. This decreases pain and achiness.
-         the heat itself will decrease the viscosity of the “ground substance” in muscle tissue, allowing the massage therapist to break down any scar tissue and realign the affected muscle fibres with those of the surrounding tissue

Contraindications for using heat:

-         uncontrolled high blood pressure
-         diabetes or any conditions with neuropathies or altered sensation – the client won’t be able to tell if the application is too hot, and tissue could be damaged
-         any condition where tissue is fragile or circulation has been compromised (i.e. immediately after a cast is removed) – the circulation may be too impaired for extreme heat, so mild applications can be used until the condition of the tissue improves
-         tissue is broken (i.e. a cut, or skin condition such as psoriasis – the tissue is likely already inflamed – heat will make it worse,  and infection can be introduced)
-         metal implants – pins, plates, rods, wire – these will heat up quickly and can really injure a client
-         heat sources should NEVER be placed over major arteries or over the heart

How to use heat properly

You may have never heard of a thermaphore or a hydrocollator, but if you have used a gel pack or grain-filled bag you can heat in the microwave, these same principles apply:

-        heat should only be left on for 20 minutes maximum – any longer and the tissue can get very congested and be even more painful.  You can take it off and use it on another area, or reapply after an hour or so.
-         For hygiene and to prevent burns, the heat source should always be wrapped in a clean towel. For a gel pack (I boil mine on the stove in a cooking pot), I wrap a clean, damp dishcloth around it when it is hot, then a thicker cloth over top. I get the benefit of the moisture that way.
-         it is a good idea to do any stretching that needs to be done after a heat application – you muscles will be much more pliable and stretch more easily.
- use caution if you have taken any analgesics (pain killers), your perception of heat and pain may be off and you could get burned.
-         NEVER lie on a heat source – in the case of a gel pack, hydrocollator or grain-filled bag, it could burst from your weight and you could get seriously burned.

The use of heat in this manner is a great way to control pain from a chronic injury, as well as prepare the muscles in the area for stretching.

© Copyright 2009
www.whymassagetherapy.com
All Rights Reserved.

A Massage Therapy Career – What to Know or Do Before You Take the Plunge

Some points to consider before you embark on a Massage Therapy career.

Massage therapy is an interesting, rewarding and fun career. It is also growing considerably in North America – according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the profession is forecast to grow faster than average (20%!) between 2006 and 2016.

If you are interested in a massage therapy career, this is great news. I would suggest, however, that before you embark on a new career path and undertake the commitment necessary to become a massage therapist, you consider what the profession is really all about.

1. My first piece of advice is to get a massage!

It never ceases to amaze me how many people love the idea of becoming a massage therapist, yet have never had a massage treatment from a professional. Getting a either a relaxation or therapeutic massage is a great opportunity to know what it’s like to be a client, as well as to establish a rapport with a professional in the industry. I would advise that you go for a massage therapy treatment in the type of setting where you think you’d like to work …

2. Speak with several massage therapists currently in the industry.

You will find massage therapists in spas, sports facilities and medical clinics. You may also find them working out of their own home, or perhaps the massage therapist you know will have a mobile service, and go house to house visiting clients. Tell them that you are considering a career in Massage Therapy, and as them for the input. Also ask them to be honest, and discuss a “typical day”, as well as the pros and cons of the profession, everything from work environment to pay rates, and how they fit into the organizations in which they work. Once again, because everyone has a different experience of the profession, speak with several people to get a general idea of what life is like as a massage therapist.

3. Experience different types of massage

From relaxation and therapeutic massage to different modalities under the “massage therapy umbrella”, you have several excellent options, try as many as you can before you make your final decision on whether or not to pursue a massage therapy career. After your basic education is done, it is good to know that you have options where you can specialize as your experience grows.

4. Ask your new massage therapist friends where they went to school, and what their experience was like.

As professional therapists, they will be able to guide you where to go for the education you will require, as well as discuss the licensing requirements for the state or province where you want to practice and live. The massage therapy school you attend is your foundation and will set the stage for years to come, so choose wisely.

5. Don’t let the romance of massage therapy as a healing art mislead you!

To be successful in Massage Therapy, it must be treated like a business, albeit a caring one. You will have bills to pay, so don’t be misled by thinking that the money you charge per treatment is money that goes directly into your pocket. Once again, talk to massage therapists to get a reality check on the business aspect of the profession, it could save you a lot of heartache.

For more information on the realities of the profession, check out the main site, under Massage Therapy Careers. Taking the time to learn about the massage therapy profession before you commit your time, money and energy is effort well spent.

© Copyright 2008-2009
Jodi Forsythe
www.whymassagetherapy.com
All Rights Reserved.

My first massage therapy treatment – is it normal to be sore?

A frequent question that I hear from new clients is “My (Aunt Betty) had a massage, and she was so sore she could hardly move the next day. Will I be sore, too?”

We have all heard horror stories about the therapist who had bone-crushing pressure and didn’t listen when asked to back off. I’ve heard another client of mine tell me that when she asked her (previous) therapist to lighten up, the response was “I’m not using a lot of pressure, and it has to hurt to work.”

I’m hear to tell you that this is NOT the case – and that massage can be very effective when applied with moderate pressure. It takes intuition, experience and time to learn just how much pressure the tissue (and a client) can take, and this amount of time varies from therapist to therapist. I’d also like to add that your massage therapist should never brush off indications of pain – as a massage therapist myself I wouldn’t go to someone else who seemed to have no regard for my pain tolerance.

Does Massage Therapy “have” to hurt?

Let me put it this way – it is normal, especially if you’ve never had a therapeutic massage before, for muscles to feel a little stiff or sore after a treatment. I think of it much the same as working out, after all, muscle tissue is being manipulated and worked, so a little discomfort is not unusual. If a person has never been to the gym before, it is not a good idea to ask him or her to leg press 100lbs, any more than it is wise for a massage therapist to put all of his or her weight behind their elbow as they perform muscle stripping on the back of a new client. Either way you look at it, if you’ve never had a treatment before, you have NO idea how your body will react or how much pressure is “enough”, and the therapist really has NO idea what “deep” means to a client. Depth of pressure is very subjective, and pain is a subjective response – what hurts to client A might feel great to client B – there is just no way to tell.

It didn’t take me long to learn that the size of the client has absolutely no bearing on how much pressure he or she can take. I have been able to use deep pressure effectively and painlessly with some very small women, and much less pressure with some very muscular and burly men. My approach is now this – when I first start treating a new client, I use broad, firm pressure, and resist the urge to “go deeper” even at their request. What I tell them before they get on the table is that the first treatment I will be very moderate because I’m not sure of how they will react – they may feel great in the days following the treatment, in which case next time I will go deeper. (here’s a question to consider – does the saying “the customer is always right” apply in this scenario?) If my client feels not so great in the days following a treatment, then I know I need to do something different and will adapt subsequent treatments to suit my client.

In a nutshell, what I would tell a client is that while some discomfort is normal, your request to a therapist to lessen the pressure should never be ignored or brushed off. You are paying for a treatment, and you always have the right to stop or modify what is happening (an FYI in case your therapist doesn’t tell you this.) If you are a therapist, especially a new one, take the time to listen to your client and his or her muscle tissue – not everyone is created the same, and it does take time to learn how much is “enough”. Also, be sure to advise your client of any possible side effects or risks associated with the treatment (informed verbal consent), and let him or her decide what is right for their body.

Massage Therapy Launched into CyberSpace – PRWeb Press Release

WhyMassageTherapy(.com) provides resources and in depth information concerning the massage therapy profession.

Nova Scotia, Canada (PRWEB) April 26, 2009 — Where do industry knowledge and experience meet to create the most unique and relevant massage therapy website in cyberspace?

Why Massage Therapy? (.com) is an information portal for all things concerning massage therapy, and was developed by Jodi Forsythe (RMT) in response to her desire to find information online that was professional, relevant and accurate.

“In the 9 years I have been a practicing massage therapist and a massage therapy educator, I have seen a huge need for public education about the profession.” stated Jodi Forsythe, creator of WhyMassageTherapy. “There are so many misconceptions about the profession that I want to provide information to the public not only about the benefits of therapeutic massage, but also about the practice and the business of massage. In this climate of economic uncertainty, the site also provides a perfect reality check for those going through a professional transition who might be considering a massage therapy career.

De-mystifying the practice and profession of massage therapy is meant to empower potential students, schools and massage therapy businesses by ensuring that people know what they are really getting into. “As a former educator in the profession, I definitely noticed that the more realistic vision a student had upon entering massage therapy school, and the more information they had before enrolling, the more likely he or she was to succeed, not only academically, but in business as well. With increased preparation comes increased student retention, it just makes sense. For me, it’s about attracting the best candidates to the profession, and then supporting them with resources to help them succeed throughout school and into their chosen career.”

The website is not just for benefit of newcomers to the profession, and members of the public, it is also meant provide moral support for therapists as well. “There is such an advantage to being able to bounce ideas off of other therapists and professionals. Everything from business and practice management to anatomy review, treatment techniques, products – you name it, it will be discussed on the blog.”

To learn more about what the massage therapy profession is all about, visit Why Massage Therapy?(.com), where knowledge and experience meet to provide the most industry relevant information on massage therapy.