Welcome to Swedish Massage with Carolyn

• Introduction

•Daily Routine

•Respect

•Missing a class

•Written Assessment

• Practical Assessment

*Massage is the systematic and scientific manipulation of the soft tissue of the body.

• Therapeutic function of touch

• Massage has the potential to relax the body and mind, invigorate and stimulate.

• It works on overall well-being, spirit, and healing.

*Per Henrik Ling from Sweden was the man who developed Swedish movements, he is considered the father of Swedish Massage.

Swedish Massage is the most widely recognized and commonly used category of massage.

It is known as gentle and superficial, techniques vary from light to vigorous (strong, full of energy), with series of strokes designed to provoke specific physiological effects in the body.

*Benefits of Swedish Massage:Reduction in muscle spasm, pain, tensionRelease endorphinsReduce anxietyImprove blood circulation, lymphatic drainage

3 Objectives: Soothing, Stimulating, Therapeutic

Soothing: Relax

Stimulate: Improve circulation

Therapeutic: Repair tissue damage

Clinical Practice

• *NAILS CUT SHORT!!!

• Deodorant

• Mints (breath)

• Wash your hands!

• Clean towels

• Professional Appearance

• Table height

• Music

• Lighting

• Aroma

• Oils-Check with allergies/ client preference

• Not lathering up

• More hair=more oil

• Use Clean Towels to keep client covered, warm, comfortable

Hygiene Environment Use of Oils/Towels

Massage terminology & movements•Anterior

•Posterior

•Superior

•Inferior

•Lateral

•Medial

•Proximal

•Distal

•Prone

•Supine

Major Methods of Treatment•Effleurage (Palmer, soothing, slow, first and last movements)

•Petrissage (Kneading, squeezing, rolling)

•Friction (Deep rubbing movements)

•Tapotement (Cupping, hacking, plucking)

*Good body mechanics are used to minimize fatigue and to prevent injury.

*Power and Stability

Hand Positions:

•Palmer

•Digital

•Radial

•Ulnar

•Dorsal

Contraindications:•Severe heart condition

•Varicose veins

•Open or infected wound

•Torn or inflamed tissue

•Broken bones

•Contagious conditions i.e. Rash, flu

•Convalescence (gradual return to health from illness, injury, or surgery.)

•Various forms of cancer (never on a tumor)

•Minor

•Any condition you are not sure of or in doubt….*REFER OR CONSULT TO A DOCTOR!!!

Use of towels = Draping•Draping movements- confident, professional, business like

•Client comfort and respect

•Drape so that you can work on the entire area

•Secure draping!! Ensure towel does not keep falling so that you do not have to stop massage and readjust

•Client kept warm, only area exposed is the area you are working on! Drape as a barrier.

•Ensure client modesty

•Keep oils off table and from client underwear

Scope of Practice:The Scope of Practice identifies the limits and boundaries for a practitioner and is determined by several factors, including the law, education and competency. The massage therapy scope of practice outlines:

•Which activities are allowed

•When specific methods are used

•Where specific methods are applied

•How specific methods are applied

•Why specific methods are applied

Standards of Practice

Ethics

Standards of practice are specific rules and procedures for professional conduct and quality of care that ALL members of a profession should follow.

A code of ethics is a set of principles or guidelines for decisions and professional conduct that ALL massage therapist should follow. It serves as a basis for establishing and maintaining the reputation of massage therapist as honest, respectable professionals.

Refer to the following associations to review full documents:

•AAMT

•ANTA

•AMT

•STAA

•IAAMA

•RAA

Providing Massage Treatment•Communication

•Pre-massage

•Assessment- a means of evaluating the client’s condition, complaint or injury to determine whether massage is appropriate for the complaint

•Informed Consent- client’s agreement to participate in an activity after the benefits and risk of the activity have been explained and the client understands that he/she has the right to withdraw at any time

COMMUNICATION DURING MASSAGEYou need to be in touch with your client during the massage, get feedback, ask questions, give them directions when/if necessary.

4 areas for which you will need client feedback

•Tenderness

•Improvement

•Referred pain

•Adjustment of pressure

Referral and working with other healthcare and complementary professionals

Physiotherapy GP

Osteopathy Psychologist

Chiropractic Councilor

Remedial Massage

Other modalities in Massage

Deep Tissue Structural/Postural

Neuromuscular Movement

Oriental/ Eastern Modalities Energy

Allopathic vs. Naturopathic approach to treatment

ALLOPATHIC Medical Practices– to diagnose and teat the symptoms of disease through suppression or removal

NATUROPATHIC Medicine- to diagnose and to treat a disease process through supporting and strengthening the body’s natural resources.

Common Musculo-skeletal disorders & Injuries•Back Pain- pain felt in the back that can originate from the muscles, nerves, bones, joints or other structures of the spine

•Causes of NON-Specific back pain: muscle strains, muscle spasm, muscle imbalances, and inflammation

•Sciatica

•Torticollis or “wryneck”

•Arthritis

Soft tissue injuriesA SPRAIN is an injury that involves the ligaments and other soft tissue around the joint. (ankle, wrist)

A STRAIN occurs away from the joint and involves a torn or over stretched muscle or tendon. (Calf, hamstring, lower back)

A BRUISE is a soft tissue injury involving blood vessels that are broken as a result of a blow to the skin and can also result in the event of a sprain or strain, when the force is great enough to rupture the blood vessels.

Treatment of an injury in first 24-72 hours-depending on the severity of the injury.

R- restI- iceC- compressE- elevateR- refer (for diagnosis)

If pain, swelling, loss of movement or instability persists after 24 hours, treatment may be required. *Refer to GP

Important DON’TS after an injury

Don’t apply HEAT for at least 24-72 hours.

Don’t drink alcohol

Don’t rub the injury

Other injuries to be aware of…

Dislocation

Cramp

Varicose veins

Benefits of Abdominal Massage•Promotes digestion by stimulating the digestive organs

•Helps with constipation

•Alleviates gastric upsets i.e: wind pain, bloating

•Soothes the nerves related to the region reducing the effects of stress

•Stimulates circulation and lymphatic flow

•Reduces adhesions in the fascia so the organs can lay unrestricted in their natural position the abdominal cavity

•It helps aligning pelvic bones

•Can strengthen weak abdominal muscles which contribute to lower back pain

•Releases deep tissue muscle spasms in the abdominal area

Cautions with Abdominal MassageShould not be done if a person has inflammation of the uterus, bladder, ovaries, and fallopian tubes

If a person has stones in kidneys, bladder or gall bladder, or ulcers of the stomach or intestines

After a heavy meal

Bladder should be empty

Since blood pressure increases during abdominal manipulation, clients with hypertension should avoid abdominal massage

1st trimester in pregnancy

**Consent MUST be gained before abdominal massage**