Foot Massages Are Very Relaxing And Soothing The Benefits Of Foot Massage Therapy Include:
- Relieving chronic pain
- Improving balance and relaxation
- Enhancing relaxation and well-being
To learn more about foot massage therapy, ask your therapist if they offer this type of therapy today. In addition to treating your feet, it is also a wonderful way to improve your overall health. You should be aware that the duration of foot massage therapy may vary from one person to another.
You should not expect to have one foot massaged for only 10 minutes. The length of time depends on how deep the massage goes, how many feet are involved, and the intensity of the treatment that you receive.
If you suffer from arthritis or have other foot problems, foot therapy is not recommended. However, it can be beneficial to reduce the symptoms of stress and increase flexibility and strength, particularly if you have been suffering from joint pain. or swelling.
If you do plan to receive a foot massage therapy, it is a good idea to find a good therapist who specializes in this form of therapy, as the results may be different than if you receive massages done by a therapist who does not specialize in this area of therapy.
Although you may be tempted to try to treat yourself, it is not a good idea. Many people mistakenly think that if they massage their feet, they will be able to heal themselves without any medical intervention.
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Discuss The Options With Your Client
When your client experiences arthritis, its imperative to ask about the severity and whereabouts of the pain. This will help you gain an understanding of how soft or hard you may apply pressure. Its best to continually discuss how the patient is feeling throughout the appointment, to ensure the client isnt feeling any discomfort. Its also worth trying to gauge whether the pressure is too much by judging the persons body language and movements. Its also recommended that you confirm with the client whether they have received approval from their medical professional before they receive a massage.
Looking to upskill so you can better help your clients who suffer from arthritis? Consider enrolling in a Discover Massage Australia course today.
Massage Helps Relieve Osteoarthritis Pain
Several published studies have indicated that massage helps relieve osteoarthritis pain. To mark World Arthritis Day on Oct. 12, MASSAGE Magazine presents this guide to the top five benefits derived from massage therapy for osteoarthritis sufferers:
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Let Your Therapist Know About Rashes Bruising Or Cuts
If your arthritis causes any type of skin issue, you should let your massage therapist know in advance, says Beth Rose, a licensed massage therapist in Coral Springs, Florida. Tell us what it is and how you would like us to handle it, she says. For instance, should we avoid using lotion in that area or would you like it to stay covered or just use a lighter touch there? This means the therapist wont have to interrupt your massage to ask you.
Massages Powerful Role In Relieving Pain From Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Massage therapy has been shown to significantly reduce pain, increase mobility and reduce stress and anxiety for clients with rheumatoid arthritis . Clients with RA live with pain as a constant companion and truly appreciate any intervention which offers relief from that pain.
Typically affecting the wrist and small joints in the hands, knuckles and finger joints, rheumatoid arthritis is the most common type of autoimmune arthritis. Affecting 1.5 million Americans, two thirds of which are women, RA causes pain and swelling in the joints, limiting movement and function.
In RA, the synovium, the tissue that lines the joint, mistakenly becomes a target for the immune system. The immune system cells release inflammation-causing chemicals which cause inflammation in the synovium. The synovium creates a fluid called synovial fluid, which lubricates the joint allowing for smooth movement. When the synovium becomes inflamed and damaged, it fails to produce this lubricant and the joint does not move as freely. If the inflammation of the synovium continues over time, the cartilage and eventually the bone become damaged. The joints can then become deformed and misshapen, and movement becomes limited.
RA affects more than just the hands and other smaller joints it can affect the entire body making it a systemic condition.
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Technique #3 Hand Massage Machine
A hand massager is a great choice if you dont have the strength to do the six-minute massage above.
There are machines out there that can perform similar massages on your hands, without the need of you having to do it to yourself.
The hand massager that we found to be best at giving hand massages for arthritis is the Lunix Cordless Electric Hand Massager .
Why We Like It
This massager is 100% adjustable, with different intensity settings based on your specific needs.
Its important to remember that you do not want to feel pain during your massage.
Before using, make sure that the massager is fully charged. Place your hand inside the opening and choose the specific massage technique that feels best for your hand.
Relaxing Heat Feature
Another nice feature of the Lunix Cordless Massager is that you can choose to use heat and vibration during the massage.
Most customers using this massager for arthritis symptoms found that the heat feature provides quick relief from their pain.
Dont Overdo It
Its important not to overdo it, but as long as you dont feel pain during the massage you should be able to use this hand massager as often as you want.
Getting a great arthritis hand massage with the Lunix Cordless Massager is as easy as pressing a button.
There Are Numerous Advantages To Receiving A Foot Massage Therapy
One of the advantages is that foot massages can improve circulation to your entire body, which improves your whole bodys efficiency. Massage therapy is also great for relieving pain, improving blood flow and circulation, relieving stress, and improving relaxation and wellness.
There are several different ways to perform foot massage therapy. The most common way to perform foot massages is by using your bare hands, with the use of a hand mirror, or using a foot spa or hot stone therapy device. In either case, the purpose of your foot massage therapy is to increase your overall wellness, relieve chronic pain, and improve overall health.
During your foot massage therapy session, a therapist will begin at the bottom of your feet. He/she will then gently knead the soft tissue beneath your toes and heel. As your feet are kneaded, he/she will rub and massage the heel and ball of your feet.
A foot spa or hot stone therapist also use a hand mirror during the foot massage therapy session, which allows him/her to see the underside of your feet. After the foot massage therapy session, your therapist will move on to the top of your feet. Then, your therapist will apply light pressure on the top of your heels. and then the top of your toes.
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How Massage Therapy In New York Can Relieve Osteoarthritis Symptoms
An experienced New York City licensed massage therapist can use deep tissue medical massage to treat osteoarthritis. Deep massage opens up stiff muscles and interrupts the nervous system to stop the splinting. This helps take pressure off the arthritic joint. Decreasing pain allows the client to use the joint without triggering the splinting. Repeated massage sessions break the feedback loop. In many cases the joint stabilizes and avoids further degeneration. In other cases, the massage work can prolong the life of a joint before requiring surgery.
Technique #4 Finger Cup
To begin, you will want to warm up your patients hand by giving them some compressions on their hand .
The compressions are, essentially, light squeezes on the inside and outside of their hand working from the wrist out to the base of the fingers.
Performing the Massage
Next, you want to
With your other hand, interlace your fingers with theirs, similar to how you did with your other hand. Its a little confusing at first, but heres a video showing how to do it and describing the massage technique.
Once your hands are in position, use your thumbs to
Once you have finished massaging the palm
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Using Massage Therapy To Help Psoriatic Arthritis
Before a client with psoriatic arthritis comes to you seeking relief, make sure you know about this condition and understand when massage might aggravate it.
Want to earn continuing education credit for this article? Learn more.
Of all the types of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis are among the most disabling. While many bodyworkers are familiar with rheumatoid arthritis, much fewer have an understanding of psoriatic arthritis. Because improperly applied massage therapy during a certain stage of psoriatic arthritis can exacerbate the pain, practitioners who know about this condition are best able to help affected clients.
Pain Relief Like That Of A Massage Therapist
A massage gun provides you with the pain relief that you would get with a massage therapist. Whether your pain is in the shoulders, neck, fingers, or even feet, you can use a massage gun to gain fast pain relief, ease soreness, and quick recovery in the process. For hard-to-reach regions like toes and fingers, some massage guns come with convenient attachments, which allow you to reach even those tricky parts of the body.
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When You Go For Your Massage Treatment
Explain your pain. Be specific about the joints that hurt and how much they hurt. For example, even though moderate-pressure massage is helpful, Millar warned that deep pressure or high heat applied to joints that are actively inflamed could actually make pain and swelling worse. Be sure to tell your masseuse if you feel pain at any time during the massage.
Drink lots of water to avoid dehydration. Dr. Davis explained that massage with any degree of pressure will affect the water flow in your body and will be more effective if you are well-hydrated. We recommend drinking half your weight in ounces of water, she said. So if you weigh 150 pounds, aim for 75 ounces of water daily to avoid dehydration.
Arthritis Of All Types Responds To Complementary Therapies
In general, most types of arthritis will respond to a combination of lifestyle changes including switching to an anti-inflammatory diet, exercise that keeps the joints moving but does not overdo their use, daily stretching, hydrotherapy , and of course, massage therapy. If you are in New York City, our team of advanced massage therapists have helped hundreds of clients find relief from all types of arthritis. We offer massage therapy in midtown and in the financial district. Come in and see how our customized massage therapy can set you on the road to less arthritis pain!
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Reduce Neck Pain From Arthritis With Massage
Neck pain is one of the most frequent pain conditions, second only to back pain with a reported 30-50% of adults experiencing it. And those living with arthritis know all too well the discomfort that can come from simply shaking their head Yes or No.
However, according to research done at the University of Miami School of Medicine, daily self-massage, coupled with regular massages from a therapist, can reduce neck pain caused by arthritis.
Participants in the study, who were already diagnosed with neck pain due to arthritis, received weekly moderate pressure massages, along with directions on how to complete those same massages on themselves daily.
The results of this study showed that participants experienced significant reductions in neck pain associated with arthritis, reduced pain brought on by neck movement and increased range of motion in their necks.
Risks Regarding Massage Therapy
Certain precautions must be taken before getting massage therapy. Though there are few serious risks, there are certain individuals who should not get massage therapy.
People with the following conditions are not suitable candidates for massage therapy:
- Damaged nerves
- Infection and inflammation in the area to be massaged
Additionally, anyone with recent surgery should not get a massage. If you have a skin condition that could be aggravated by touch or pressure, massage is not recommended for you.
If you are pregnant, have cancer, have fragile skin, heart problems, dermatomyositis , or a history of physical abuse, discuss massage therapy with your doctor before signing up.
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Massage And Arthritis: Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is by far the most commonly diagnosed form of arthritis, affecting 30 million American adults, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. As soon as we begin standing, we place wear and tear on joints, over time eroding joint cartilage.
Certain risk factors for developing osteoarthritis, such as excess body weight and sedentary lifestyle, joint injuries, weak postural muscles and repetitive joint strain, are somewhat controllable othersage, gender , and family historyare not.
Classic osteoarthritis symptoms are pain, stiffness and local inflammation, most often unilateral and in dominant-side joints in the hands or at weight-bearing joints in the spine, hip or knee.
The typical progression begins with erosion of cartilage and the ends of articulating bones at an affected joint, causing chronic inflammation and formation of bone spurs. Sometimes, tiny chunks of bone or cartilage break off and migrate, causing pain and inflammation elsewhere.
Chronic inflammation results in cytokine development and enzymatic action, which further damage the joint. As cartilage becomes totally eroded, bone ends eventually rub directly against each other, intensifying pain and inflammation.
Take An Epsom Salt Bath
What you do right after your massage can be just as important as the massage itself. Many therapists recommend that you take a warm bath with Epsom salts at home after the massage, Vickman says. The heat and magnesium may help keep your muscles loose and limber and will help you stay in a relaxed state.
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Why You Still Need A Massage Therapist
Although a massage gun is good for reducing arthritis symptoms, it might not be as effective as visiting a massage therapist. The first thing is that it can be hard to reach some areas. In addition, you might not have the technique to massage yourself using the gun. Also, a massage gun should not be used in some parts of the body like the neck, head, or injured areas, as it could lead to more harm than good. Another issue is that you might be more sensitive to deep tissue massage, an issue that you had no idea about.
While working with a massage expert, you can be sure that they have the needed experience and have dealt with arthritis patients before. They will therefore assess your condition and come up with a good massage program suitable just for you. This means that the massage you get will be more beneficial than what you do on your own using a massage gun.
What To Do Following The Massage
Discuss with your client what they should and shouldnt do following a massage. While regular maintenance is necessary, there are things people can do between appointments to help with arthritis pain, including self-massage, where clients massage their own joints at home every day to boost circulation, blood flow and mobility in the muscles and joints.
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Diy Tips And Pointers For Self
Self-massage also can help relieve pain and improve movement, whether done alone or in between massage therapy sessions, says Bob McAtee, CSCS, licensed massage therapist and owner of Pro-Active Massage Therapy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, who offers these suggestions:
- Moderate pressure is more effective than light. However, dont push too deep. Stop or lighten up if it feels painful, to avoid irritating inflamed joints.
- Use longer strokes rather than short pinpoint pressure. Your aim is to mobilize tissue and warm up the whole area, as opposed to specific pressure against certain joints.
- If needed, just a little direct moderate pressure at the end of the self-massage after tissue is warmed up can be helpful. Do only 15 to 30 seconds at a time on a hot spot, as long as it isnt painful. You should be comfortable at all times.
- Massage only for more than 5 to 10 minutes total at any given time on any given spot.
- If RA in hands and fingers make massage difficult, place one hand palm up on thigh and use your forearm to massage the palm. Flip your palm down and massage the back with your forearm. You can also use a handheld portable massager for other areas.
- Gently warm up the area with topical analgesics.
- In general, the best times to massage are in the morning, when you wake up feeling stiff, and in the evening, to encourage comfortable sleep.