Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1509769
A B M P m e m b e r s ea r n F R E E C E h o u r s by rea d i n g t h i s i s s u e ! 11 My initial education in massage taught me that cancer was a contraindication. A human with cancer was a human not to be touched. Since beginning my work in oncology massage in hospitals in 2011, I have had the honor of sharing massage with thousands of cancer patients. I am the senior massage therapist at the Knight Cancer Institute in Portland, Oregon. I live in a world of masks, gloves, and gowns, where most human touch is in order to take a blood draw, give a shot, or access a port to administer chemotherapy or infuse stem cells. It's a world that rarely feels gentle and even more rarely feels good, a world where the nursing staff is so spread thin, the one thing they are guaranteed to never have is time to spend with a patient. As massage therapists, we know our touch brings a myriad of amazing qualities, and I feel the most important thing our touch carries is our humanity. When we reach out and touch someone, they know they are not alone. We can share in the fear and the joy, the hope and the mourning. When there is no right thing to say, we go beyond words. If there was ever any doubt in the power of touch, a day in my world reveals all the proof you'd ever need. We cannot deny touch to the most sick and vulnerable of our neighbors, and it's the sick and vulnerable who need our touch the most. AFTER DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: MASSAGE AS A RECOVERY COMPANION By Margaret Finger According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 20 people experience domestic violence from a partner every minute. This equates to 10 million people every year. In many cases, these victims are an underserved population, and for many reasons—fear of further injury by being in public, unable to work because of injuries—victims may reside in shelters during their recovery. As a result of the violence against them, they experience physical, mental, and emotional pain. Because of my background and heavy involvement in this community, I have had several domestic violence victims referred to me for intervention. Massage therapy can promote health and wellness in this population. It is our role to help the person feel safe and in control, which empowers them, and to provide healing massage. During the interview and assessment portion of the massage, I disclose that I am a thriver of domestic violence. This has built a rapport in all cases thus far. Sometimes these clients do not feel comfortable undressing for the massage, so I tell them to wear a tank top and gym shorts until they are comfortable with me. I give them a gentle massage, all the while watching for responses to my touch. I usually include craniosacral techniques to relax and reset the nervous system. I tell them that whenever they want the session to end, they can let me know, and it is done. I have found here in Kansas there are a few state and county agencies that agreed to pay for my services. I had one success story of a client who safely left her abusive husband and is doing well on her own. I gave her a list of community resources to help her on her way, and luckily, she has supportive adult children. It was a very rewarding experience to watch her transform and thrive. SHOULDER RUB? MASSAGE FOR DOWN SYNDROME By Aly George I grew up with my brother, Mack. He was 15 years older than me. However, most of the time I was helping take care of him. Born with Down syndrome, he'd received open- heart surgery when he was only 2 years old. In the world of disabilities, there is a set of terms used: low functioning and high functioning. Mack was considered low functioning because his speech and learning abilities were severely limited. He never initiated physical contact. But I saw brilliance in him, as he sat for hours creating elaborate stories, intricate artwork, and assembling puzzles. It was a daily routine. Then, one evening, I noticed him gently stretching his neck from side to side, something I'd never seen him do before. So, I decided to try something new. I asked my brother as he sat in his chair, hunched over his creations, "Mack, do you ever hurt after sitting all day?" He nodded. "Can I rub your shoulders?" Another "Yes." Shoulder rubs became the way my brother and I bonded. Every day I'd ask, "Shoulder rub?" He never said no. Just because he wasn't a hugger didn't mean he did not need touch. It's just that no one ever noticed, because he never complained.