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Touch is a basic human need and belongs to everyone.
  • Home
  • About Susan
    • Meet Susan
    • Massage is My Passion
  • Online Courses
    • For Caregivers
    • For Massage Therapists
  • Massage Services
    • Palliative and Hospice Massage
    • Oncology Massage
    • Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD)
    • Breast Cancer Rehab
  • Blog

Recognizing Reality – Massage Modifications for the Medically Frail

February 1, 2021

Modifications when providing massage for those who are medically fragile.

When thinking about massage in general, you likely think about a 60-min session and deep pressure. It’s the standard most people consider. And, if you’re a healthy, robust person, a 60-min, deep tissue massage is very appropriate.  Many don’t consider it a massage unless they feel pain while on the massage table.

However, if you know me, you know that I strongly believe “massage does not have to hurt to be effective”! As I’ve said many times, “I’d scream it from the rooftops if I could.”

It makes sense that those who are medically fragile, are not healthy and robust. And for that reason, we need to consider alternate ways to provide massage.

There are three specific things to consider when you provide massage for your loved-one or patient who is ill:

SHORTER - SLOWER - SOFTER

Why are these adjustments needed?  Our bodies fight hard to stay healthy and normal – known as homeostasis. Britannica defines homeostasis as,

“the tendency toward a relatively stable equilibrium between interdependent elements, especially as maintained by physiological processes”.

When our bodies are working hard to heal, they are fighting to reach homeostatis. A heavy-handed massage or one that puts more demand on the body in duration or speed can make us feel worse.

    • Shorter:

Research tells us that 20 minutes of gentle-touch massage is very effective for those who are ill. The goal is to provide comfort, rest and relaxation. A twenty-minute session is the starting point for someone who is ill.  Longer sessions can put too much demand on the body.

Once you provide a twenty-minute massage, evaluate the results. Is your loved-one or client relaxed? Do they feel comforted and satisfied? Evaluate again the next day. If they don’t feel any negative side-effects such as an overall feeling “being off” or nauseated, you might be able to increase the time. It’s important to evaluate so that you know how to adjust for the next session.

TIP:

Match the duration of the massage session to the energy level of your loved-one or client.

    • Slower:

We must…  S L O W   D O W N everything we do!

This includes massage strokes, moving through the room… even our speech can become slower.

Slowness creates calm. This one will take some practice. Massage strokes should be slow.

TIP:

Think about not moving a molecule in the space. Moving slow on and off the body is important.

    • Softer:

It’s important that your touch is gentle when massaging a person who is ill.  I was taught by my mentor and dear friend, Gayle MacDonald, to imagine massaging a piece of fruit – a peach or plumb depending on the condition of the person you are touching…  AND the inch-forward protocol.

Imagine that you are holding a ripe peach or a plumb…  The skin of this fruit is thin and likely has some bruises…  Holding it very softly, knowing that it might break open in your hand…  this is the pressure we want to use for someone who is ill.

Evaluation is needed. If there are no negative responses to the massage you can “inch forward” using slightly more pressure the next session.

TIP:

Purchase a ripe peach and plum and actually feel them in your hand.

Is providing gentle-touch massage for your loved-one or patient a priority?

Click here to learn more about:
    • A Guide for Caregivers: How to Provide Gentle-Touch Massage for Your Loved One
    • A Guide for Massage Therapists: How to Provide Gentle-Touch Massage in Home or Care Facility

— so that you understand and start taking important first steps for making your caregiving journey one that offers a good dose of peace and comfort for YOU and those in your care.

Power this with love and compassion and you have a holistic approach to non-medical comfort care.
A Guide for Caregivers:
How to Provide Gentle-Touch Massage for Your Loved One
A Guide for Massage Therapists:
How to Provide Gentle-Touch Massage in Home or Care Facility

Questions? Comments? Please get in touch, I’d love to hear from you! susan@progressivemassagetherapy.com

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