If your lymphatic system doesn't have enough capacity to carry fluid away from an area, you end up with chronic swelling: lymphedema. As a Vodder-certified lymphedema therapist, I am trained to assess lymphedema using a series of measurements. ,I treat patients using manual lymphatic drainage (slow rhythmic massage that increases the action of your lymphatic system) and bandaging to bring down swelling.
I treat patients with fibromyalgia between flares to manage pain, stress and inflammation. Some patients have told me that if they feel a flare coming, massage can help them to head it off
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) goes beyond achy joints. It's an autoimmune condition where your body attacks itself - commonly in the synovial membranes inside your joints, eyes, lungs, heart and other tissues. When your body attacks itself, you get the same symptoms as with an injury from the outside: pain, redness and inflammation. We're lucky that… Continue reading Getting a Massage with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Using relaxation techniques, a massage therapist will help your sympathetic nervous system (the one that shoots out adrenaline) to calm down, and tell your parasympathetic nervous system to take over (this one tells you to rest and digest).
Physical therapies, including massage, work with your body to enhance it's innate responses. Benefits of massage can include reduced pain, stimulation or relaxation of the nervous system, increased circulation, decreased inflammation, increased range of motion...
