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Therapeutic massage is an ancient practice, having evolved over thousands of years to comprise a range of techniques and modalities. “Medical massage therapy,” the application of massage therapy to treat medical conditions, is a more recent concept. The practice first gained ground in the mid 20th century. Since then, its application has broadened to include treatment of many medical conditions.
What many people may not be aware of is that medical massage therapy can support rehabilitation and recovery from mental health and substance use disorders. For more information about the therapeutic benefits and what techniques are most helpful to our patients, we reached out to FHE Health’s full-time medical massage therapist. Ophelia Papworth-Rivera, LMT, is a licensed medical massage therapist with many years of training and experience in the field. She shared some of her expertise in the below Q&A….
What Medical Massage Is and Does
Q: As a licensed medical massage therapist, can you describe what medical massage is and what it does?
A: Medical massage treats medical conditions that have been diagnosed by a licensed physician. Some examples of diagnoses that massage therapists can treat include:
- Chronic pain
- Sports injuries
- Edema
- High blood pressure
- Fibromyalgia
- Cancer
- Frozen shoulder
- Neuropathy
- Post-Op (lymphatic drainage)
Medical Massage vs. General Massage
Q: What are the differences between “medical massage” and more general therapeutic massage?
A: All massages are beneficial and therapeutic. The usual modalities of massage, those generally found in spas, are designed to promote relaxation and relieve stress. Medical massage therapy can do these same things but also produces tangible results which are customized and catered to a client’s medical needs. These include but are not limited to the following:
- Reducing pain and stress
- Relieving nerve pain
- Increasing blood circulation
- Reducing inflammation
- Releasing toxins
- Improving posture and range of motion
The Benefits of Medical Massage in Substance Use/Mental Health Rehab
Q: What are the benefits of medical massage therapy for people in rehab for substance use/mental health disorders?
A: The biggest benefits are:
- Anxiety and stress relief – Medical massage reduces cortisol, increases serotonin, and stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system.
- Relief of chronic pain – Medical massage increases blood flow, releases endorphins (the body’s natural painkiller), reduces stress and anxiety, and closes “the pain gate” by stimulating the nerves to stop the brain from sending pain signals.
- Improvement in sleep – Medical massage stimulates the vagus nerve, the main parasympathetic nerve responsible for rest and relaxation; it also increases the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin, which stabilize emotions and stress.
- Education in self-care – When I’m with a client, I’m also providing education on self-care. I teach them how to do stretches that are applicable to their aches and pains, such as for low back pain or neck and shoulder pain. I also will hand out do-it-yourself reflexology flyers.
Common Issues in Rehab and Recovery
Q: What are some common issues that patients complain about when they see you for the first time, and how do you address them?
A: The most common issues that I see in patients are in the neck and shoulders, from looking down at their phone or leaning forward at their desk and/or chronic low back pain.
Medical Massage Services That Patients May Receive
Q: Can you describe some of the massage services that we provide?
A: Here at FHE, we customize each treatment for each client. We do a brief assessment of their aches and pains and follow up questions to determine the best course of treatment. We offer services on a professional massage table and a professional massage chair.
We have different modality options available to help; including but not limited to:
- “Cupping Therapy” is a modality that has been around thousands of years. Dry cupping is what we do here at FHE Health. It entails placing plastic/silicone cups on different areas of the body, usually on the back, to create suction. This pulling motion helps to break up knots, which are clumps of cells containing toxins that your body creates. If you’re sitting at a desk for extended periods of time, your body will create knots to maintain this position. The darker the cupping mark is, the more toxins that are concentrated in that area, and that’s usually where the aches and pains are. Cupping breaks up the knot, but you also need to drink extra water, so that it flushes out through the lymphatic system.
- TENS unit therapy is a physical therapy technique that uses a small, battery-operated device to deliver low-voltage, electrical currents to the body to relieve various types of pain, such as back and neck pain, fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain, diabetes nerve damage, and tendinitis. These small pulses to the area help pull between nerves and muscles and pull apart any impingement, thus giving pain relief. They also draw oxygen to the area to help expedite healing and stimulate the production of endorphins, which are the body’s natural painkillers.
- Trigger point therapy involves putting pressure on your “trigger point.” Many people have these trigger points. A trigger point is a referral pain where your pain moves to, so that even though you may be using a different part of the body, the pain refers/moves into that trigger point. It’s a non-stop knot, and when you put pressure into it, that releases it, and it goes away and gives you the release you’re looking for. Putting pressure in those areas will allow those muscles to calm down, giving you pain relief.
- Reflexology is another ancient technique that proves everything in your body is connected. Putting light pressure on certain areas of your head, neck, hands and feet can actually give pain relief to other areas of your body. For example, a pressure point between your thumb and forefinger can relieve headaches and migraines.
- Assisted stretching helps people stretch a little further and increase their range of motion. Initially, many people may only be able to lift their arm to their chest, but after a few sessions of therapy with assisted stretching, clients can lift their arm above their head without pain.
Other services that we provide include heat therapy, myofascial release, Swedish relaxing massage, and manual massage therapy from light to firm pressure.
How Many People Report Progress from Massage
Q: Of the patients you treat, about how many report progress from their massage therapy sessions?
A: I’d say 99 percent of people report progress after our sessions, whether it’s pain relief or just stress relief. I end all my massage therapy sessions with stretching. Then I educate each client about self-care and a variety of things that can help them, including breathing techniques and stretches that address their aches and pains.
The Link Between Massage and Better Treatment Outcomes
Q: How does medical massage therapy improve treatment outcomes?
A: If you are able to help with an individual’s pain issue, then they’re going to be receptive and responsive to mental health treatment. Each goes hand in hand with each other: the same way when I used to work with Chiropractors; I’d line up the muscles, and they would line up the bones. We work together as a team, and it’s the same thing at this facility. I’m able to help individuals with their physical pain, so they can be more ready to receive the mental health and/or substance abuse care needed.
Is pain affecting your mental health? We may be able to help. Call us anytime.
