Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/68174
SOMATIC RESEARCH Providing massage therapy to older adults can be a challenging experience, given the wide range of conditions a massage therapist must be knowledgeable of and the ever-changing health status these clients experience throughout the aging process. That said, delivering attention, comfort, and relief to an often-isolated population with massage can be very rewarding. IDENTIFY YOUR GOALS FOR THE SESSION Consider the stage of inflammation when identifying session goals. There are clear delineations between treating acute verses chronic conditions. If the client is in an acute stage of inflammation, you probably want to take a gentle approach and reduce inflammation, reduce pain and muscle spasms, and maintain available range of motion (ROM). If the client has a chronic condition, there is more variety available with regard to the depth of pressure and types of technique to apply. This is influenced by the client's personal preference. In general, focus on increasing flexibility and improving function, while reducing pain and other symptoms with chronic conditions. In an end-of-life situation, providing comfort and care are primary goals of the massage. With each scenario, it is important to identify precautions and contraindication for the presenting conditions and medications. If the chronic condition is cancer, for example, consider the surgical sites, injection sites, port-a-caths, etc. This is where the research can be helpful. You may not know what to consider with a cancer patient. The research may provide a variety of symptoms associated with cancer and insights to various cancer treatments and the side effects that you have not had experience with. This information may lead you to ask more informed questions of your client, and identify goals you may not have considered before. SELECT TECHNIQUES TO ACCOMPLISH GOALS/OUTCOMES Draw from your personal experience— what you learned in school and in continuing education courses. Also, search for studies that identify what has been effective for a group of people. Weighing all options, you may select manual lymph drainage or ice to reduce inflammation and pain, and passive gymnastics to maintain ROM. In chronic care, you may opt for active-assisted movements or passive-resistive movements to increase ROM and function. If the research points to reflexology for improving insomnia—a common condition for older adults—you may wish to add that in to your plan. The key is to identify what you want to accomplish and then select how you want to achieve that outcome. Then, it is important to remain flexible during the session and integrate the client's personal preferences, modifying the session as techniques are found to be successful or not. has created a varied and interesting career out of massage: from specializing in pre- and postsurgical lymph drainage to teaching, writing, consulting, and volunteering. Her consulting includes assisting insurance carriers on integrating massage into insurance plans, and educating researchers on massage therapy theory and practice to ensure research projects and protocols are designed to match how we practice. Contact her at soapsage@comcast.net. An LMP since 1984, Diana Thompson NOTES 1. S. Greenberg, A Profile of Older Americans: 2008, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Aging, 2008. 2. K. Robinson et al., Older Americans: 2008 Key Indicators of Well-Being, Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics, 2008. 3. P.M. Barnes, B. Bloom, and R.L. Nahin, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among Adults and Children: United States, 2007, National Health Statistics Reports; no. 12. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2008. AARP, NCCAM, Complementary and Alternative Medicine: What People 50 and Older Are Using and Discussing with Their Physicians, Consumer Survey Report; January 18, 2007. 4. S. Greenberg, A Profile of Older Americans. K. Robinson et al., Older Americans: 2008 Key Indicators of Well-Being. 5. AARP, NCCAM, Complementary and Alternative Medicine: What People 50 and Older Are Using and Discussing with Their Physicians. connect with your colleagues on massageprofessionals.com 121