Massage Flashcards
What’s the rationale behind massage as a treatment?
Headaches & neck pain
Back pain
Upper & lower limb issues
Sports injury pain relief
Fatigue
Scar tissue mobilisation & softening
Helps with anxiety & depression
Group therapy
Relaxation
What physiological systems does massage effect?
Circulatory & lymphatic
Nervous system
MSK
Respiratory
Skin
How does massage effect the circulatory & lymphatic system?
Arteriole & capillary dilation
Recruitment of dormant blood vessel
Irritant & waste removal
Increasing perfusion & oxygenated blood flow to local area (important in immobilised limbs)
Drainage of lymph and venous blood (↓ swelling)
Increase local and general circulation (↓ waste & ↑nutrients)
Blood shunting - redistributing blood to area under treatment.
What effects does massage have on the nervous system?
Sedation may take longer to achieve - ANS stimulation reduced
Stimulation of ANS (faster strokes and lighter touch)
Pain Control – stimulates sensory Receptors
Aids sensory recovery through sensory stimulation (Stimulates short and long term synapse potentiation)
Positive effect on sensory perception, calming receptor excitability and interrupting pain pathways through use of other afferent stimuli
Induces endorphin release = ↓pain
↑ immune response
Stimulates skin sensory & nerve fibres
It acts as a sedative or a stimulant (depends on method)
Messages go via afferent fibres to the spinal cord
Effleurage/slow stroking have sedating effect: activation of the PNS & stimulates the Vagus nerve to slow down the heart rate & ↑ peristalsis.
“Therapeutic touch” = ↑ blood haemoglobin
Relieves pinched nerves pain
What effects does massage have on the MSK system
Stretching = ↑ muscle tone, firmness & flexibility (reg. massage)
Petrissage/kneading + compression movements = ↑ venous flow, so body replaces the fluids that are removed from the muscle tissue & ↑ O2 + nutrients
Help eliminate scar tissue & reduce formation on muscle fibres.
Reduces tension in tissues
enhancing lactate & metabolite removal - ↓fatigue & recovery time
Can reduce muscle spasms (muscle spindle sensitivity)
Aids muscular pump effect (>circulation of blood and lymph)
Reduce DOMS
Improves flexibility/elasticity ↑ROM + ↓ associated pain
Nourishes periosteum of bones
Relieves muscle & joint soreness and stiffness *
Breaks down or prevents the formation of adhesions (knots)
Reduces inflammation & swelling by removal of waste + irritants
What effects does massage have on the respiratory system?
Loosens and mobilises lung and bronchial secretions (tapotement)
How does massage effect the skin?
Nourishes skin: erythema + ↑blood flow)
Cleanses skin: sweat gland stimulation.
Aids skin healing & condition
↑Cell metabolism stims Stratum Basale cells & ↑mitosis,
↑skin circulations, ↑ cell nutrition & regeneration.
↑sweating = ↑urea & waste products excretion through skin
Capillaries vasodilation improves colour and tone
↓ skin tension = ↑elasticity
↑sebum production, ↑ suppleness & infection resistance
↓Superficial scar tissue
↑ sebaceous & sweat glands use, skin = lubricated, clean, and cool
Re-moisturise, and soften dry skin
What structures does massage effect?
Blood & Lymph vessels
Soft tissue - muscle & tendons
Skin
How do you apply massage?
1) Introduce
2) Explain procedure & benefits for informed consent
3) Check area visually and ask about contraindications
4) Assess area using effleurage: stoking
5) Use effleurage (v, pisiform & flat hand) to promote circulation and prepare for other techniques
6) Petrissage: kneading picking up & wringing
7) Tapotement: clapping hacking & brushing
8) finish treatment with more effleurage
9) visually check area and ensure patient is feeling okay, check for dizziness if been lying down for long periods
Name some regional contraindications of massage.
Overactive bone growth
Benign tumours and abnormal lumps
Acute inflammation and oedema
Collagenous weakening
Varicose veins. (Deep massage)
Foreign body implants, bony fragments or glass imbedded in the tissue
What are some skin problems, injuries or conditions that massage could effect?
Bruises & scars; Open wound surfaces(i.e. Cuts, abrasions, ulcers) and blisters; Reduced skin sensation
What are some contagious conditions that are contraindications of massage?
athlete’s foot, ringworm, verrucae, warts, herpes
Rashes of indeterminate cause
Severe localised psoriasis, eczema or dermatitis as massage could cause further spread due to increased circulation
What are some general contraindications of massage?
Any contagious disease e.g. scabies, impetigo, herpes
Acute infections and feverish conditions (e.g. pneumonia, preeclampsia, influenza).
Acute infection of bones (e.g. osteomyelitis), joints (e.g. septic arthritis), skin (e.g. dermatitis), muscle (e.g. myositis) or subcutaneous tissue (e.g. cellulitis).
Influence of mind altering drugs or alcohol
Undiagnosed cancer or cancer in early stages
Dermatomyositis
Diabetes mellitus, uncontrolled
Post natal – abdominal area
Post-operative.
Epilepsy, uncontrolled
Allergic reactions
Severe widespread psoriasis, eczema or dermatitis
Hypersensitive skin
What are some cardiovascular conditions that are contraindications for massage?
Extreme high/low blood pressure, Severe/acute heart conditions
Arteriosclerosis
Aneurisms
Deep vein thrombosis and emboli
Phlebitis
Name some precautions to consider before applying massage?
Radiotherapy
Oedema
Skin condition
Cancer
Recent injury/surgery
Infectious diseases
MS
Diabetes
Acute inflammation
Fractures
Pre-eclampsia
Umbilical hernias
Abdominal diastasis
Psychological issues
Hepatitis
Blood disorders
Medication
Endangerment sites
Pregnancy
Osteoporosis
Asthma
HIV