According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or illness.
Integrative medicine is the practice that reaffirms the importance of the relationship between practitioner and patient, focuses on the whole person, is informed by evidence, and makes use of all appropriate therapeutic and lifestyle approaches, health care professionals and disciplines to achieve optimal health and healing.
There is a growing body of evidence to support the value of massage therapy in the integration of Allied Healthcare practices for a wide range of patients with health conditions. Massage therapy has been shown to be effective in relieving chronic pain symptoms, assisting rehabilitation practices and positively affecting behavioural health conditions.
As the oldest physical form of medicine in existence, massage therapy forms the foundations for other manual therapies like physiotherapy to evolve from. The word “massage” is likely to have emerged from the Greek word “Massein”, meaning to “knead,” or the Arabic word “mash”, meaning “to press softly”. Massage therapists will use a range of manual techniques of kneading, pressing, stretching and squeezing in a rhythmic flow to relieve muscle tissue tension, reduce psychological stress and manage pain symptoms.
Worldwide studies have indicated that pain is a leading cause of disability and a significant problem for any government to offset in terms of health care expenses and disability compensation payouts. Effective pain management requires an integration of therapies and medicine to treat pain and other health-related issues by addressing the whole patient through a holistic biopsychosocial model.
Key aspects of integrated patient-centred care is assisting patients in participating in managing both their physical and mental health care needs. Incorporating massage therapy as part of a treatment plan enables treatment of not only the physical and behavioural aspects of a wide variety of health conditions but also the myriad of symptoms that accompany these conditions.
As part of an integrative treatment plan, the massage therapist will conduct a thorough medical history and explain the kind of massage therapy techniques they will use to aid in healing and rehabilitation following bodily injury. As the patient, you can wear loose-fitting clothing or undress only to the point that you’re comfortable. You will generally lie on a table and cover yourself with a sheet. Your massage therapist will leave the room when you undress before the massage and when you dress after it. Your massage therapist will evaluate by touch to locate painful or tense areas and determine how much pressure to apply.
The potential benefits are reducing pain and muscle tension, increasing flexibility and range of motion, and improving blood circulation. Massage therapy is beneficial in working with athletic training/injury treatment, office ergonomics and job-related injuries, cardiac rehabilitation, joint replacement rehabilitation and scar management.
So, brush aside any thoughts that massage is only a feel-good way to indulge or pamper yourself. On the contrary, massage is a powerful tool to help you take charge of your health and well-being, whether you have a specific health condition or are just looking for another stress reliever. Book your appointment today.
