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Archive for the ‘Massage Research’ Category

Is Massage is the New Metramucil?

Posted in Massage Research, Massage Therapy, tagged , , , , , on August 17, 2010| Leave a Comment »

List of images in Gray's Anatomy: XII. Surface...
Colon in blue. Image via Wikipedia

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

One of the things massage therapists learn in massage school is how to give a proper abdominal massage. Along with gliding and kneading techniques, we learn to massage the abdomen in the same direction as waste products move through the colon (large intestine). This movement helps move waste material away from the small intestine and towards the exit of the colon. Since our colons work by peristalsis (actually contracting and releasing to move waste through the tubelike structure of the column), massaging the abdomen, especially tracing the colon with gliding strokes, can be useful in relieving constipation. Logically, the mechanism of physically moving waste material out of the colon by pressing or kneading material through the colon is pretty simple and makes sense. However, don’t take my word for it. The Journal of Advanced Nursing recently published an article about research that showed that abdominal massage helped relieve constipation and could be a considered a cost-effective way to improve patients quality of life in this area.

The study, conducted by Umeå University in Sweden, evaluated changes in health-related quality of life for people with constipation receiving abdominal massage and estimated the cost-effectiveness of two alternative scenarios developed from the original trial.  In the study, a randomized controlled trial, 60 participants in Sweden between 2005 and 2007 were given either laxatives or massage. The control group continued using laxatives (control group) and the intervention group received additional abdominal massage.  In the self-massage scenario patients learned to give self-massage, and in the professional massage scenario patients in hospital received abdominal massage from an Enrolled Nurse.  The researchers determined health-related quality of life was statistically significantly increased after eight weeks of either self-massage and professionally provided abdominal massage.

“Abdominal massage may be cost-effective in the long-term and it is relevant to consider it when managing constipation,” the report noted.

What does this mean for you? If you have problems with constipation, you may want to try a little self massage of your own abdomen. However, consult your physican before attempting any abdominal massage. If you have a bowel obstruction massage or if your constipation has lasted longer than a day or so, seek medical attention.

Here is a link to  directions for self massage of your own abdomen.

The research, “Abdominal massage for people with constipation: a cost utility analysis,” ran in the June 16 edition of the Journal of Advanced Nursing.

Source: lämås k., lindholm l., engström b. & jacobsson c. (2010) Abdominal massage for people with constipation: a cost utility analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing 66(8), 1719–1729.

Related articles:
• Abdominal Massage Alleviates Constipation

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Cash In on Great Hiking, Golfing, Water Recreation in Cashiers, NC

Posted in Fitness, Health and Wellness, Massage Research, Nature and Stress, Stress Management, tagged , , , , , , on June 24, 2010| Leave a Comment »

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

This May we traveled to Cashiers, North Carolina to scout for locations for future seminars and group trips. One of my clients had told me to travel to Cashiers versus Asheville, NC for great hiking and a more outdoorsy experience. He was absolutely right! I found a great Inn on Trip Advisor. (My favorite travel site. If you don’t know about it, check it out! Similar to Yelp, but for travel, Trip Advisor provides user-generated reviews of hotels, cities, attractions, national parks, etc.)

View from top of Glen Falls, one of 17 area waterfalls near Cashiers, NC. Image by Sue Shekut

We stayed at the Laurelwood Mountain Inn, which is a sweet hotel sitting in the middle of beautiful downtown Cashiers!  “Downtown” Cashiers consists of the Inn, a gas station, a number of restaurants (from the BBQ at the farmers market store to the high-end Italian Restaurant, Horacio’s, to Bucks Coffee House with free WI-FI). There are also some antique shops and other small businesses but it’s mainly a two street town (at the junction of highways 64 and 107).

Farmer's Market in Beautiful Downtown Cashiers, NC, Image by Sue Shekut

The biggest find and a great surprise to us, was that there is a hiking store, Highland Hiker, just 1 block away from Laurelwood Mountain Inn. For a small “town” in the middle of the mountains, it was a shock to find such a large well equipped hiking store. The shop keepers we met were all avid hikers and gave us great service in helping us find new camel backs and hiking gear for our day hikes in the area.

Laurelwood Mountain Inn was a fantastic find. We stayed in one of their “suites” which is really a duplex condo, 2 bedroom, 2 bath with a two-person hot tub in the master bath. (A well deserved treat after hiking all day.) The condo had all the amenities of home with cable TV, a small kitchen (with mini-fridge versus a full size fridge) and was built by the current owner.

Laurelwood Mountain Inn Condo Staircase. Quality craftsmanship throughout. Image by Sue Shekut

The owner of the Inn built a waterfall right outside the door of our cabin (long before we came to stay, of course) along with a  gazebo. Eric, the Innkeeper, told us that the owner’s waterfalls were so popular he got busy building waterfalls for area residents. Now the owner is too busy to run the Inn so he hired the Innkeeper and his wife. After spending time in Cashiers, I could see why people would want to leave the big city and live up in the mountains!

Waterfall outside our suite at Laurelwood Mountain Inn. Image by Sue Shekut

Note: There are a number of vacation rentals in the area for large families and groups. Check out VBRO (Vacation rental by Owner), Trip Advisor or the GoCashiers site here for pics of great homes to rent on nearby Lake Glenville. Cashiers Chamber of Commerce also has a listing for accommodations here. There is also a higher end hotel with a golf course and tennis courts, High Hampton Inn & Country Club.

And, yes, the waterfalls at the Laurelwood Mountain Inn are a lovely but a small replica of the actual waterfalls to be found all around the Cashiers area. There are about 17 waterfalls near Cashiers. We did a day hike to Glen Falls and were not disappointed! It was a very active hike with a fair amount of climbing and many many photo opportunities like this one below!

Glen Falls, Cashiers, NC area. Image by Sue Shekut

Descending to the next level of the Falls we were glad to have brought our hiking poles!

Hiking Glen Falls, NC. Image by Sue Shekut

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is only an hour away from Cashiers so we were able to take another day hike to see the actual “Smoke” from along the Great Smoky Mountains. (The “smoke” in the Great Smoky Mountains comes from the mystical blue mist (from water vapors) shrouding its peaks.)

View from Newfoundland Gap Trail in Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Image by Sue Shekut

Our last view of the Great Smoky Mountains from Jump Off Point.

Great Smoky Mountains Jump off Point. image by Sue Shekut

Would we go back? As often as we can!

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Something Special for Expectant Mothers–Prenatal Massage Tips

Posted in Massage Research, Massage Therapy, tagged , , , , , on April 20, 2010| 7 Comments »

Image courtesy of Birth Balance Blog

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Prenatal Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

Prenatal massage therapy is an area that is generating more and more research. Right now a few of my massage clients are pregnant. I thought I’d share some of the tips on prenatal massage with you that I share with them!

Benefits of Prenatal Massage

Pregnancy Today’s Kelly Lott, RMT, suggests that, in addition to feeling good, prenatal massage therapy can have other benefits for the mom-to-be and her baby, too.  “A study conducted by Dr. Tiffany Field at the University of Miami School of Medicine showed that massage actually reduces stress hormones in the body. Touch is vital to the mother’s physical and emotional well-being as she adapts to her new body image. Regardless of individual circumstances, a pregnant woman’s body is challenged, changed and stressed in many ways. Massage gives special attention to the mother-to-be, which in turn nurtures the new life that grows within her.”

In addition, other benefits include:

  • Relieves swelling/edema in legs
  • Reduces low back pain
  • Relieves muscle soreness and pain in neck and shoulder area
  • Gives mothers-to-be a place to be pampered, to relax and feel nurtured!
  • And according to Shirley Vanderbilt at MassageTherapy.com, “Recent studies from the Touch Research Institute (TRI) in Miami, Fla., indicates that pregnancy massage provides more than just symptom relief for the mother. A group of 26 pregnant women were given either massage or relaxation therapy during a five-week study. In addition to experiencing a reduction in symptoms of anxiety, stress, sleep problems and back pain, the massage group had fewer complications in their delivery. Their newborns also had fewer postnatal complications. Another TRI study reported massage during labor resulted in shorter labor times for the mothers, shorter hospital stays and less postpartum depression.” (Read more from Shirley Vanderbilt on Pregnancy Massage at massagetherapy.com here.)

Cautions for Prenatal Massage

There are, however, times when expectant mothers should avoid seeking massage therapy. Because of the increased risk for miscarriage in the first trimester, it is commonly recommended to wait until second or third trimesters to explore prenatal massage. If an expectant mother is experiencing any of the following complications or conditions, she should abstain from prenatal massage as well:

  • heavy discharge (watery or bloody);
  • diabetes;
  • contagious illness;
  • fever;
  • vomiting;
  • unusual pain;
  • preeclampsia;
  • high blood pressure;
  • morning sickness;
  • abdominal pain;
  • diarrhea;
  • any malignant condition.

Additionally, areas of the body that should not be massaged include:

  • skin rashes, open sores, bruises
  • raised or distended varicose veins
  • Points on the hand between the thumb and index finger*
  • Points on the inside of the lower leg about 4 inches above the inner ankle bone*

*These are accupressure points thought to stimulate contractions and labor

Prenatal Massage Positioning

For table massage, pregnant women should not lie on their stomachs. Prenatal massage should be done with the mother to be in a side lying position, usually hugging  a body pillow. Some massage therapists will also use a body cushion system that allows the mother-to-be to lay face down with her belly supported by the pillows. Pregnant women love this pillow because ti allows them to lay face down without any pressure on their bellies. However, there is some concern that this body cushion position may over stretch ligaments in the woman’s abdomen and some massage therapists (myself included) prefer to avoid the risk and use the side lying position exclusively.

For chair massage, most massage chairs have a “pregnancy bolster” which allows the expectant mother to sit in the chair without putting any pressure on her belly. The massage chairs at Working Well massage stations are designed to move the breast plate high enough to that the expectant mother’s belly is under the breastplate.

Finding a Good Prenatal Massage Therapist

Massage therapists must be certified in prenatal massage to perform prenatal massage. If you already see a massage therapist, ask him or her if they have this certification or if they can refer you to a massage therapist that does. If you are in Chicago, I, myself, am certified in prenatal massage and I also know of several massage therapists with prenatal certification I can recommend.

To find a reputable prenatal massage therapist in the US, visit the Association of Bodywork and Massage Professional’s massage locator service here. Or visit the National Massage Therapy Certification Board and search for ‘pregnancy massage.’

Read more at Suite101: Benefits of Prenatal Massage: When and Why to Get a Massage During Pregnancy

Read “12 Reasons to Administer Prenatal Massage Therapy” here.

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