November 2002 [Volume 1, Issue 9]
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In this issue of To Your Health:
What Is Hydrotherapy?
As the name implies, hydrotherapy refers to the use of water for therapeutic purposes. Specifically, this form of therapy can include the use of water in all its forms (internally and externally) to assist in healing, including whirlpool therapy, application of ice packs, colonic irrigation, steambaths, etc.
It
is thought that several different mechanisms are responsible for water's
therapeutic effects. For one, immersion in hot water increases circulation
by raising body temperature and dilating blood vessels. Submersion in
water also takes a great deal of pressure off the body (body weight),
which not only creates a soothing sense of weightlessness, but relieves
pressure on tired, aching joints and muscles. Additionally, hydrotherapy
often involves water in motion, which acts to massage the body, whether
in soft, soothing waves or firm jets of water pressure.
Hydrotherapy also has internal applications, such as colonic irrigation or colon hydrotherapy, in which water is circulated through the colon to flush out impurities and body toxins.
To learn about other forms of massage therapy, go to www.massagetoday.com/aboutmt. To locate a massage therapist in your area who can provide you with more information on hydrotherapy and other massage techniques, go to www.massagetoday.com/locator.
Medical Schools Missing Out on Massage
By all accounts, we are in the midst of the "Golden Age" of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Public use, multidisciplinary acceptance, and insurance reimbursement of CAM services are at an all-time high. However, there is still progress to be made, particularly in some circles. For evidence, look no further than the September 2002 issue of Academic Medicine, which featured a study entitled, "The Teaching of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in U.S. Medical Schools: A Survey of Course Directors."
Results showed that, among the 19 therapies listed by course directors, massage therapy was ninth in terms of the percentage of course directors who reported teaching the topic at their medical school (41.1%). Ninth out of 19 therapies may not sound unreasonable; however, a closer scrutiny of the data revealed that not only did acupuncture and chiropractic ranked well ahead of massage therapy, so did nutrition and diet; herbs and botanicals; homeopathy; and more "eclectic" therapies such as meditation and relaxation; spirituality/faith/prayer; and "ethnomedicine" (Ayurveda, non-acupuncture Chinese medicine; Native-American medicine).
It is encouraging to note that so many U.S. medical schools have CAM programs, and that many of these programs reflect a diversity of CAM services. However, considering the numerous proven benefits of massage, it is somewhat disheartening to see massage comparatively underrepresented in current medical school curriculum. There is good news, however: Despite the lack of massage curriculum currently in U.S. medical schools, there are thousands upon thousands of qualified massage therapists across the country ready to serve you. You can locate a therapist near you at www.massagetoday.com/locator.
Reference: Brokaw JJ, et al. The teaching of complementary and alternative medicine in U.S. medical schools: a survey of course directors. Academic Medicine, Sept. 2002:77(9), pp876-881.
This Month's Massage Q & A
Question: What can massage therapy do for a torn meniscus? Would it cause further damage, or be helpful?
Answer: With a torn meniscus (the shock-absorbing pad of cartilage in the knee), massage should be avoided until it shows significant healing. At that point, massage therapy will not help the meniscus itself, but will be invaluable in treating the muscle pain that probably accompanied the injury, as well as pain resulting from compensation in standing and walking during the healing process.
Question: How does massage help joint mobility?
Answer: It's actually pretty straightforward. Muscles cross joints. If the muscles are tight, they compress the joints. Relaxing the muscles decompresses the joints.
Note: Information provided in the Massage Q & A section is drawn from comments posted on the "Ask a Massage Therapist" forum, where massage therapist James (Doc) Clay fields questions on the profession. The forum is located at https://www.massagetoday.com/ask/.
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