A considerable part of our clientele at Hills Massage are our seniors, we have a large population of seniors in the hills that enjoy Remedial Massage. So I thought I’d share some interesting information about the benefits of massage for those seniors who may be curious but have never actually had a massage.
We offer senior discounts and remember if you have health insurance, and are covered for Remedial Massage (check out your policy) you pay the gap on the day, as we have a Hicaps machine that swipes your Insurance Card. All therapists are recognised providers with most major Health Insurers.
As we age certain changes occur systematically in the body. Particularly of note are changes to:
• Circulatory System
• Physical activity
• Bone density
• Muscles
• Skin
• Overall well-being – anxiety/depression
Massage impacts on the body as a whole not only does it affect the muscle, fascia etc., but it helps to alleviate stress. Remedial massage therapists are trained to recognise and understand client’s needs. So we may have a 70 year old marathon runner, that requires a heavier sports massage or we eachmay have a frailer client of the same age with arthritis.
John – our world class Marathon Runner J
So what are the Benefits?
Senior massage may offer the following benefits:
Improvement of the patient's quality of life and self-esteem.Improvement in length and quality of sleep.Relief of stress, anxiety, depression and loneliness.Alleviation of headaches and pain.Speeding up of healing from injury and illness.Partial restoration of mobility lost due to Parkinson's disease, arthritis, etc.Mental and physical relaxation.Improvement in lymphatic flow which increases the excretion of toxic substances from the body.Decreasing body stiffness and reducing inflammationRegular massage may improve the quality of sleep which allows the body time to regenerate and repair itself, resulting in an overall state of greater well-being.
So how do we modify the massage for seniors?
Sessions can be shorter – we can offer session of 30 minutes in durationMore use of Swedish style massage which encompasses lots of effleurage and gentle petrissageHands and feet are often includedOccasional use of more rigors styles of massage, such as tapotment, MFR and stripping (Deep Tissue)Active and passive stretching and joint mobilisation VERY important for sustaining ROM (Range of Motion)Can accommodate issue with lying flat, by positioning in a semi-inclined position and the use of pillows and bolsters
Evidence
The New England Journal of Medicine
Clients of geriatric massage report sleeping better, a reduction in stress, relief from arthritis and chronic pain, increased recovery time from surgeries, better circulation, lower blood pressure and relief from some symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
In a 2004 article, researchers found changes in blood pressure, heart rate, hemoglobin values and respiratory rate in patients simply as a result of being touched by a nurse.4 Another benefit touch offers to senior clientele is its effect on memory. Repetitive touch can help the elderly, especially those with Alzheimer’s, retain some body memory, which in turn might trigger the recall of other memories
Hope you have found this informative and feel free to contact us if you have any questions J