Medical massage

Proven content

Therapeutic massage – as the name suggests, it is primarily intended to heal. The possibility of relaxing during such a treatment is a guaranteed, positive side effect. Worth a try!

What is the secret of the healing power of massage? I found out about it quite recently. For some, even quite a long time, I had been complaining about back pain, and although I was aware of its causes, I ignored the ailments. Until the pain began to appear immediately after getting up, and became almost unbearable during the day. I went to the doctor. After a short interview, he immediately wrote me a referral for an X-ray of the spine and recommended an appointment with an orthopedist. After performing the necessary tests and talking to another doctor, I was referred for a series of spine massages. Diagnosis? Scoliosis of the lumbar-thoracic section, the beginning of changes in the cervical section, very strong muscle tension caused by chronic stress. Well, so far I associated massage with pleasure, a form of rest. However, I meant a relaxing massage, not a therapeutic one.

Therapeutic massage is recommended primarily in spine pains caused by posture defects, a sedentary lifestyle, degenerative changes, as well as its overload. It is necessary in the rehabilitation of the patient also in emergency cases, such as in sciatica. It is recommended for all kinds of muscle tension and stiffness caused, among others, by chronic stress. It is also considered as an indispensable element of therapy after fractures, sprains, sprains (then it reduces pain, swelling, accelerates the absorption of strokes, improves blood supply and nourishment of soft tissues and around the joint, and eliminates contractures), in the case of muscle and tendon damage (eliminates inflammatory exudate, prevents adhesions) within the muscles, prevents the restriction of mobility in the joint) or after damage to the peripheral nerve (in this case it removes edema, prevents contractures, improves the muscles when the nerve returns to fitness). It is also recommended for people who are chronically bedridden in order to prevent contractures and improve blood circulation, which will also reduce the risk of developing pressure ulcers that are difficult to treat.

Basic rules

Therapeutic massage requires thorough knowledge of human anatomy and physiology. For this reason, it should be performed by a qualified physiotherapist. I also found this one. Mr. Marek first interviewed me, asking if I had used this type of treatment before and how I reacted to it. As I had never used therapeutic massages before, I couldn’t tell if they hurt or bruised me. I was about to find out about it all now. Next, Mr. Marek looked for the places on my back where the pain is felt the most, where the tension is greatest. He also checked whether I had a problem lying on my stomach – if it were so, he would offer me a massage in a sitting position, on a specially designed chair.

I didn’t quite know how to prepare for this visit, so for the sake of safety, I took a towel with me. It turned out to be unnecessary, because the massage table was covered with a disposable underpad, and there was also a towel to cover the body. After preparing for the massage and lying on a special bed, the therapist applied a suitable lubricant to the hands, and then began to massage the back.

Each masseur has a prepared set of preparations that he uses during the treatment. These are lubricants (olive, talcum powder, petroleum jelly, lanolin) to reduce friction and prevent possible abrasions. Preparations supporting treatment are also used – gels, ointments, creams with anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties and those that seal blood vessels (eg Ben-Gay, Voltaren, Algesal, Dermosan). We recommend, among others Beauty Balsamique® Professional massage oil, HOTR Sport Balsamique® Professional massage warming oil or ICER Sport Balsamique® Professional cooling massage oil.

As the massage cannot be performed while wearing it, it is necessary to undress or uncover the part of the body that will be massaged. During the first visit, a good physiotherapist should thoroughly familiarize the patient with the course of the massage so as to avoid any embarrassing situations in the future. In addition, it is extremely important to follow the rules of hygiene – before the massage, he must wash his hands, he should not wear any jewelry or a watch, have long nails, and even more so any skin changes on his hands. At the same time, he should be particularly sensitive to the reactions of the massaged person and focused on the activity performed.

There are also some rules for patients. People with purulent skin lesions, dermatoses, wounds, unhealed scars, active fistulas and hemorrhages cannot be subjected to massage. In the case of women, menstruation also excludes massage. Let’s not underestimate the absolute contraindications, such as: fever, thrombotic changes, inflammatory changes in veins, varicose veins, neoplasms, nephrolithiasis, gallbladder stones, hypertension, advanced coronary atherosclerosis, post-infarction condition, bacterial, viral and parasitic diseases.

This is not torture

The time of the massage depends on the type of disease, the massaged surface and the general health of the patient. It should last approx. 45-60 minutes, although initial sessions may be shorter. My first massage lasted 25 minutes and covered my back, shoulders and buttocks. It was painful at first, but not so bad that I couldn’t bear it.

The masseur probably used all of the classic massage techniques. There were, among others stroking – this is the beginning and end of each procedure, the only technique that can be intertwined with others. It is a slight movement of your hand across your back. This is a good way to get to know the patient’s skin – its temperature, roughness, lumps, muscle tension. There was also rubbing – alternating the thumbs, the heels of the hands, along or across the back, in circular and spiral movements. To increase the depth of impact, the masseur pressed the massage hand with the other. In this way, post-inflammatory exudates, hematomas, deposits are crushed and moved to the bloodstream, swelling is eliminated and muscle tension is reduced.

I also learned what other techniques are – kneading, patting, rolling, squeezing. Kneading consists of the movements of lifting, pressing and squeezing the muscle tissue. The vessels contract temporarily and rapidly expand when the hand is released, drawing blood from the peripheral vessels and stimulating circulation. Depending on the method of kneading, you can stimulate the muscles – increase their endurance, contractility and speed up regeneration after exercise or reduce tension. The most invasive type of kneading is thumb pressing. This is how tense muscles are broken down. Patting, on the other hand, is a quick and quite strong punch to the muscles. It is strongest with the edge of the hand, the softest – with a hand folded in the shape of a spoon. Patting causes the muscles to contract, which, while improving blood circulation, nourishes them. After the entire procedure, I felt like a newborn.

The massage is performed like venous blood flows, i.e. towards the heart. Its strength depends on the disease and pain sensitivity. Certainly more strength requires massage of an obese person than a slim person, a man than a woman. The treatment should oscillate on the verge of pleasant pain, i.e. despite its occurrence, the patient must be able to relax. If the pain is excruciating, the muscles will become tense. And then not only the massage will not bring any beneficial effects, it can also be harmful. Importantly, each technique should be repeated at least twice. Apart from that, the started treatment should not be interrupted, but if this happens, the massage should be started from the beginning. It is also important to know that not all techniques can be used in every condition. It is the physiotherapist who decides about their selection.

And a final point. You may feel unwell between the third and fifth treatments. There may be irritability, drowsiness, burning, chills or general weakness. However, the therapy should not be stopped. The ailments will go away by themselves, and after a series of massages (minimum 10), you should feel better.

Also read: Daily back pain