Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
Risks of massage for ALS: Many ALS patients struggle with painful cramping, and any massage must be designed to minimize that symptom. Patients with advanced ALS become very frail and vulnerable to secondary infection, so bodywork must be careful about those risks.
Benefits of Massage for ALS: ALS is treated with heat, excersie, and physical therapy. Any bodywork that fits within these perimeters is also appropiate, especially when delivered as art of co ordinated healthcare strategy. Massage has been used with some success to help with teh pain of muscle spasms, and the stress of living with a fatal disease. |
Other Options for Massage: ALS patients can find special value in massage that focuses on pain and strong breathing.
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Parkinson's Disease
RISKS
Due to majority of Parkinson’s patients being elderly, they may need assistance getting on and off the table. The role of the massage therapist is to do so, as the client is at risk of falling. When using deeper techniques be sure to check client comfort as they are older and may not be able to tolerate this pain.
Benefits
A Parkinson’s patient that receives massage therapy benefits in ways that improve the quality of sleep, muscle rigidity, decreases anxiety and depression. Due to there being little to no negative effects of massage therapy, this treatment is the most used by Parkinson’s patients.
OPTIONS
More improved results come from sessions that are shorter but more frequent. Therapists find this is the most beneficial to the client, rather than longer and less frequent sessions.
Contraindications for massage
There are no contraindications for the medications that can be prescribed to a Parkinson's patient. However, there are contraindications for the massage its self. Due to client weakness, assistance may be needed when getting on and off the table. Firing of the sympathetic nervous system should be avoid as it will increase the symptoms and severity of this disease. Areas that are sensitive should be avoided by the therapist as well as vigorous techniques that can cause pain to the client. hydrotherapy can be applied but need to be modified on areas that have little to no sensation. Lastly, you want to have the client in a position that is safe and comfortable for them and if positions do change, you may need to assist them with doing so.
Due to majority of Parkinson’s patients being elderly, they may need assistance getting on and off the table. The role of the massage therapist is to do so, as the client is at risk of falling. When using deeper techniques be sure to check client comfort as they are older and may not be able to tolerate this pain.
Benefits
A Parkinson’s patient that receives massage therapy benefits in ways that improve the quality of sleep, muscle rigidity, decreases anxiety and depression. Due to there being little to no negative effects of massage therapy, this treatment is the most used by Parkinson’s patients.
OPTIONS
More improved results come from sessions that are shorter but more frequent. Therapists find this is the most beneficial to the client, rather than longer and less frequent sessions.
Contraindications for massage
There are no contraindications for the medications that can be prescribed to a Parkinson's patient. However, there are contraindications for the massage its self. Due to client weakness, assistance may be needed when getting on and off the table. Firing of the sympathetic nervous system should be avoid as it will increase the symptoms and severity of this disease. Areas that are sensitive should be avoided by the therapist as well as vigorous techniques that can cause pain to the client. hydrotherapy can be applied but need to be modified on areas that have little to no sensation. Lastly, you want to have the client in a position that is safe and comfortable for them and if positions do change, you may need to assist them with doing so.