How Massage and Bodywork Is Used to Treat MS Patients

MassagesĀ areĀ knownĀ toĀ relieveĀ pain, stressĀ andĀ helpĀ outĀ withĀ problemĀ areas. AccordingĀ toĀ theĀ National MS Society,Ā it’sĀ oneĀ ofĀ theĀ mostĀ well-knownĀ bodyworkĀ treatments.Ā ThereĀ areĀ severalĀ kindsĀ ofĀ massagesĀ thatĀ originatedĀ inĀ differentĀ countries ā belowĀ areĀ someĀ ofĀ theĀ mostĀ usedĀ today.
MORE:Ā MassageĀ helps with MSĀ pain and fatigue
TheĀ SwedishĀ massageĀ isĀ a bit more “traditional.” ItĀ usesĀ techniquesĀ suchĀ asĀ vibration,Ā kneading, and friction.
TheĀ GermanĀ massageĀ usesĀ mostĀ ofĀ theĀ sameĀ techniquesĀ asĀ theĀ Swedish massage,Ā butĀ combinesĀ themĀ withĀ healingĀ baths.Ā KeepĀ inĀ mindĀ thatĀ ifĀ you’re sensitive to heat, thisĀ mightĀ notĀ beĀ the best optionĀ forĀ you.
AcupressureĀ sounds likeĀ acupuncture, and that’s no mistake. This treatmentĀ isĀ aĀ ChineseĀ massageĀ thatĀ originatedĀ from acupunctureĀ andĀ usesĀ fingersĀ toĀ stimulateĀ theĀ sameĀ partsĀ ofĀ theĀ body as needles do.
ShiatsuĀ isĀ aĀ JapaneseĀ treatmentĀ that focuses on preventing conditions, not healing them. ItĀ usesĀ fingersĀ toĀ promote betterĀ bloodĀ flow, provide energy and restore balance in the body.
OtherĀ than massages, there are other types ofĀ bodyworkĀ therapy. There’sĀ theĀ RolfingĀ orĀ AstonĀ variations,Ā theĀ FeldenkraisĀ method,Ā theĀ AlexanderĀ techniqueĀ andĀ theĀ TragerĀ method.
The real question is:Ā how doĀ these massages and bodywork methodsĀ benefitĀ patientsĀ withĀ MS?Ā WhileĀ itĀ mightĀ varyĀ fromĀ case to case,Ā itĀ hasĀ beenĀ knownĀ to improveĀ a patient’sĀ rangeĀ ofĀ motionĀ andĀ helpedĀ relax muscles. ItĀ alsoĀ helpsĀ by bringingĀ downĀ swelling,Ā reducing pain,Ā improving circulationĀ andĀ reducing the chance of developingĀ pressure sores.
However, aĀ massageĀ is not alwaysĀ aĀ goodĀ orĀ evenĀ safeĀ option.Ā CertainĀ conditions mayĀ preventĀ patientsĀ from undergoing anyĀ bodyworkĀ therapy,Ā Ā includingĀ massage.Ā ForĀ example,Ā if a patient suffers fromĀ edema,Ā osteoporosis,Ā ulcers,Ā liverĀ orĀ spleenĀ enlargement, they may not be a candidate for bodywork therapy. The same goes forĀ peopleĀ whoĀ haveĀ suffered recent injuries,Ā haveĀ beenĀ diagnosedĀ withĀ cancer,Ā arthritis,Ā heartĀ diseaseĀ or areĀ pregnant.Ā These groups mustĀ alwaysĀ consultĀ aĀ doctorĀ beforeĀ goingĀ aheadĀ withĀ this type of treatment.
WhileĀ massageĀ won’tĀ makeĀ aĀ differenceĀ in certain MSĀ symptoms (like gripĀ strength),Ā it can helpĀ withĀ othersĀ suchĀ asĀ anxietyĀ andĀ depression. It might even make a minorĀ improvementĀ in ambulation.
MORE:Ā What is reflexology?
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