Massage & Bodywork

March | April 2014

Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/259468

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 45 of 141

I t p a y s t o b e A B M P C e r t i f i e d : w w w. a b m p . c o m / g o / c e r t i f i e d c e n t r a l 43 CONDITIONS AND DISEASES RELATED TO STRESS Disease that results from stress is the consequence of very complex interactions of psychological, constitutional, genetic, and environmental factors. The pattern is unique to each person. The body is capable of adaptation and a return to homeostasis if the stressor is removed or lessened. If the stressor continues to be active, however, adaptation and resistance lead to a state of exhaustion and the body becomes highly vulnerable to disease. Some common conditions that are associated with stress include: • Alcoholism • Anxiety attacks • Asthma • Chronic fatigue syndrome • Colds and flu • Depression • Drug abuse • Dystonia • Eating disorders • Eczema • Heart disease • High blood pressure • Insomnia • Insulin resistance • Menstrual disorders • Migraine headaches • Panic disorder • Peptic ulcers • Posttraumatic stress disorder • Postpartum depression • Rosacea • Teeth grinding (bruxism) • Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) • Tension headaches • Urinary retention or incontinence is important for reducing all types of stress and allowing the body's chemistry to normalize. Massage also helps with this task: it lowers cortisol, has a balancing action on the adrenal glands, 3 has been shown to reduce epinephrine levels and quench the fight-or-flight response in patients about to undergo surgery, 4 and normalizes levels of epinephrine and other chemicals in depressed adolescent mothers. 5 Massage is a key stress-management tool that helps the body return to normal homeostasis and optimal function. As an MT, it's important to understand the effects of massage on stress, so that you can educate your clients as well. Notes 1. A. Vander, J. Sherman, and D. Luciano, Human Physiology: The Mechanisms of Body Function, 5th ed. (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1990). 2. P. Nuernberger, Freedom from Stress: A Holistic Approach (Honesdale, PA: The Himalayan Institute Press, 1981). 3. N. Bost and M. Wallis, "The Effectiveness of a 15-Minute Weekly Massage in Reducing Physical and Psychological Stress in Nurses," Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing 23, no. 4 (July–August 2006): 28–33; M. C. Fogaca et al., "Salivary Cortisol as an Indicator of Adrenocortical Function in Healthy Infants, Using Massage Therapy," Sao Paulo Medical Journal 123, no. 5 (September 2005): 215–8. 4. M. S. Kim et al., "Effects of Hand Massage on Anxiety in Cataract Surgery Using Local Anesthesia," Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery 27, no. 6 (June 2001): 884–90. 5. T. Field et al., "Targeting Adolescent Mothers with Depressive Symptoms for Early Intervention," Adolescence 35, no. 138 (Summer 2000): 381–414. Anne Williams is the director of education for Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals and author of Massage Mastery: from Student to Professional (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2012), from which this article was adapted, and Spa Bodywork: A Guide for Massage Therapists (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2006). She can be reached at anne@abmp.com.

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Massage & Bodywork - March | April 2014