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AT Louis Jones Physiotherapy
15 Crabtree Arcade
Grand Avenue
Lancing
BN15 9PR
07896 654 275
My Blog
Blog
Elhers-Danlos Syndrome and Massage.
Posted on December 4, 2017 at 6:30 AM |
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Elhers-Danlos Syndrome and Massage. Elhers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) is a group of inherited
disorders that affect the connective tissue of an individual. It affects both
genders and crosses all racial and ethnic backgrounds. Symptoms range from: ·
Joint
hypermobility – joints stretch further than normal. Joints are prone to
subluxation and/or dislocation. ·
Musculoskeletal
pain. ·
Skin
hyper-extensibility – fragile skin that easily tears or easily bruises, slow or
poor wound healing. ·
Arterial/intestinal/uterine
fragilities (vascular EDS) to name a few. There are currently 13 subtypes of classification for EDS. Up until 3 years ago I didn’t really know anything about EDS,
but a client came to me with some considerable musculoskeletal pain due to her
hypermobility EDS. Massage will never cure this syndrome but aims to help in
the reduction and management of musculoskeletal pain and to aid in the quality
of life of a sufferer. Research has shown that Myofascial release can help reduce muscle spasms and
provide some short-term relief from pain. But also, treatments using heat, cold
and massage can help as long as they are tailored to the individual’s needs.
(Levy 2007) I have found the above
to be true as no two treatments are the same as I am completely guided by how
the client feels on the day of the treatment. A treatment may include some
trigger point work and stripping of the supporting joint muscles if the client
is having a good musculoskeletal pain day or Hot stone work and Myofascial release
if the pain on that day is more intense.
Below is an account of why an EDS sufferer includes regular
massage as part of her care routine: “I have been having regular treatments
with Carla for about 3 years now in a quest to get some relief from my EDS. No two appointments are ever the same.
Carla always spends time listening to what that week’s issues are from a full
body flare up to a sub laxed hip to name a few! Carla has tried a number of different
treatments on me from cupping and taping through to myofascial release and
massage with the added bonus of hot stones. I always feel comfortable with
whatever treatment Carla decides is best. Massage and myofascial release work
wonders on my body the treatment is very relaxing even though we have to work
through some sore points, but even with the sore bits Carla is very gentle and
talks me through what she is doing. Immediately after a treatment my body
reacts in one of 2 ways I either get up and carry on or I am in a very relaxed
and fatigued zone meaning I need to go home and rest. I have found that my pain
levels are always significantly reduced after a treatment it may not always be
instant but within 24hours I feel like a new person. I find that I can walk
better and without the snapping and pinging of muscles. Massage has also helped me get a good
night's sleep which in itself has a very positive outcome. Massage and
myofascial release has proved to be a lifeline for me allowing me to maintain a
'normal' life and something that I could definitely not do without” – Jenny. References: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome 2 Edition - Ehlers-Danlos
Support Group Ehlers-Danlos
Syndrome, Hypermobility Type [EDS Type III, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Type III.
Includes: Benign Hypermobility Syndrome, Familial Hypermobility Syndrome,
Articular Hypermobility Syndrome]: Howard P Levy, MD, PhD: 2007 |
Reflexology and Stress
Posted on August 24, 2016 at 4:24 AM |
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The oxfords dictionary definition
is – Pronunciation:
/ˌriːflɛkˈsɒlədʒi/ NOUN [MASS
NOUN] 1A system of massage used to relieve tension and treat illness, based on the
theory that there are reflex points on the feet, hands, and
head linked to every part of the body. This definition is in part true. The theory behind
reflexology is that the feet are a mirror image of our bodies (see diagram
below) and by performing a pressured massage on certain points of the feet it
can help restore the body’s natural balance. Reflexology has been practised for
thousands of years and has been found to have been cultivated as far back as
4000BC in both the Chinese and Egyptian cultures, with drawings depicted on the
walls in the tomb of Ankmahor. The Native American Indians were also noted to
have practised a form of foot therapy for their wellbeing. So, how can
Reflexology help you? A.J Mc Vicar et
als 2006 study suggested that with the connection between stress/anxiety
and well-being, reflexology may have some beneficial outcome for patients as it
reduced state anxiety and cardiovascular activity. I know myself that when I have had a
reflexology session I feel relaxed, destressed and calmer and patients that I
have treated have said themselves that they well relaxed and calmer also after
their treatments. Dr Carol Samuel, a trained reflexologist, under
took research at the University of Portsmouth into reflexology as a method of
pain relief for her PhD. She found that people felt 40% less pain and were able
to stand pain for about 45% longer if they introduced reflexology as a method
of pain relief. Thus suggesting that reflexology could be used to alongside
conventional drug therapy in the treatment of conditions associated with pain
such as osteoarthritis and backache. The above are just a couple of ways in which
reflexology maybe able to help. However, more research is still required in
this field. What can you expect
from a Reflexology treatment? As a therapist, I like to firstly soak my patients
feet in a warm foot bath with tea tree and lavender solution to help aid
relaxation and to clean the feet. After the feet are dried, the patient is asked to
lie down on the couch where I check their feet for any verruca or any other
issues. The treatment begins with warming the feet up before I actually begin
the reflexology. I use a foot lotion to make movement more fluid and begin the
firm but relaxing massage of both feet. Some areas may appear tender to the
patient and this often indicated an imbalance in the area of the body. The
session is finished off with a relaxing foot and lower leg massage. The session can take 45 – 60 minutes
depending on the session booked. To gain the most out of a reflexology it is
advisable to book 1 weekly treatment for 6weeks before going on to maintenance
treatments every 4-8 weeks. Therefore for the month of September I will be
offering the following special promotion at Ocean Fitness: Book and pay for 3
x 45min treatments in the month of September and get your 4 one FREE. Not to be used in
conjunction with any other offer. A.J Mc Vicar,
C.R Greenwood, F.Fewell, V.D’Arcy, S. Chandrasekharan, L.C. Alldridge. : Evaluation
of anxiety, salivary cortisol and melatonin secretion following reflexology
treatment: A pilot study in healthy individuals: Complementary Therapies in
Clinical Practice. Vol13, iss3, Aug 2007, Pg 137-145 Carol
A.Samuel, Ivor S Ebenezer: Exploratory study on the efficacy of reflexology for
pain threshold and tolerance using ice-pain experiment and sham TENS control:
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. Vol 19, iss 2, May 2013, Pg
57-62. |
Fibromyalgia and Massage
Posted on January 29, 2016 at 1:29 PM |
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Fibromyalgia and Massage by Carla Ward Fibromyalgia is a chronic musculoskeletal pain
disorder that is estimated to affect between 3% and 6% of the global population
according to the National Fibromyalgia Association in April 2010.
It generally affects more women than men in the 20 – 60 year old age bracket. It has a variety of symptoms that can range from: ·
Pain,
with the inclusion of 18 tender points ·
Numbness,
and tingling in hands, arms, feet, and legs ·
Morning
stiffness ·
Sleep problems ·
Concentration
and memory problems -- known as "fibro fog" Research has shown that the
role of regular massage in the treatment of Fibromyalgia can play a positive role, with improving pain, anxiety,
depression and quality of life in patients (Li et al, 2014) This may be due to the fact that massage
provides some form of psychological relaxation and reduction in anxiety due to
the slow, rhythmical and repetitive manner of the
treatment. (Çinar & Eşer 2010)
Having treated patients with FMS, I also use heat therapy within
the treatment, this has shown to have an
effect the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in relation to stress. Heat relaxes the
ANS so helping to reducing stress. (Lee et al, 2011) Every FMS patient is different and I
have found that the massage treatments will vary from patient to patient. So I treat according to the individual and
what their body requires at the time of treatment. Yan-hui Li, Feng-yun Wang*, Chun-qing Feng,
Xia-feng Yang, Yi-hua Sun: Massage Therapy for Fibromyalgia:
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials 2014 Çinar S, & Eşer I: Effect of Sleep Quality of Back Massage in Older Adults in Rest
Home. Deuhyo Ed 2012, 5 (1), 2-7 Lee Y-H, Park BNR & Kim SH:The Effects of Heat and Massage Application on the
Autonomic Nervous System. Yonsei Med J. 2011 52(6):982-989 |
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