Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1276187
C h e c k o u t A B M P P o c k e t P a t h o l o g y a t w w w. a b m p . c o m / a b m p - p o c k e t - p a t h o l o g y - a p p . 71 Many hydrotherapy treatments can be readily incorporated into your massage practice without expensive equipment. SIMPLE HYDRO AND MASSAGE TREATMENTS Many hydrotherapy treatments can be readily incorporated into your massage practice without expensive equipment. Local heat treatments include hot compresses, towels, and packs; hot water bottles; heating pads; heat lamps; paraffin dips; and hot hand or foot baths. Friction treatments, such as salt glows, can also be given but usually require a place for the client to shower afterward. Body wraps and steam canopies are a simple, inexpensive way to give clients a whole- body heating treatment right on your table. Following are examples of how I used these simple treatments to improve client outcomes in my general massage practice: • Woman with head pain from head injury: massage- table scalp bath soothed discomfort and warmed tissue before massage. • Male athlete, in his 20s, with severe hamstring tear: Heating pad alternated with ice massage increased circulation and soothed discomfort before massage. • Elderly female with polymyalgia rheumatica (inflammatory disorder that causes pain and stiffness with vigorous massage): Gentle neck stretching using warm, moist towels increased circulation and eased tension without pressure. • Young autistic woman who craved swaddling: A warming body wrap led to profound relaxation, while massage was performed on head and neck during and after the wrap. • Six-year-old twins' first-ever massage: A warm foot bath with essential oils was a fun way to begin a session. • Men and women at homeless shelter: Hot, moist towels before, during, and after hands-on work brought increased relaxation and comfort. • Middle-aged woman recovering from surgery for a shattered knee on one extremity and a shattered ankle on the other: A contrast treatment in her home bathtub using alternating hot and cold water increased blood flow and eased discomfort before massage. • Elderly gentleman whose C1–C2 spinal cord injury led to spasticity on one side of his body: Hydrocollator packs to spastic areas helped soften tissues and make myofascial release more effective. • Obese, elderly woman with mobility problems: A steam canopy treatment on a massage table followed by massage helped her relax and feel rejuvenated. In each case, the hydrotherapy treatment combined with hands-on techniques made a significant contribution to the success of the session. SPAS THAT COMBINE HYDROTHERAPY AND MASSAGE Many spas and health retreats employ massage therapists who combine hydrotherapy and massage to help improve client conditions. Here are a few examples: Banya 5 Banya 5, in Seattle, bills itself as an "urban spa" that blends hydrotherapy, body treatments, and old-world wellness rituals. Unlike most spas, the atmosphere at Banya 5 is not oriented toward pampering but has a more therapeutic slant and features more extreme temperatures and deeper bodywork. Fifteen massage therapists specialize in deep-tissue massage and swear by hydrotherapy (saunas, steam baths, and cold plunges) as a way of softening more superficial muscle tension so their hands-on work can better release deeper tensions while balancing body and mind. Uchee Pines Institute The Uchee Pines Institute in Seale, Alabama, is part of a network of health facilities operated by the American Seventh-Day Adventist Church. At this physician- supervised medical treatment center, patients are often very ill, so the program is oriented to bring about healing through natural means and learning to live a healthier lifestyle. Simple, natural therapies include herbs, exercise, nutrition, hydrotherapy, and massage. Patients are given a combination of hydrotherapy and massage five days a week during their stay, varying from hot baths, infrared saunas, and detoxifying baths to contrast treatments over specific areas. Water therapies are followed by relaxation-based massage. Patients are then taught how to practice self- care. Since patients are at the institute for musculoskeletal problems and may be medically fragile, therapists generally