Newspaper Page Text
♦ FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2004
6A
Massage therapy can play key role in pain management
Perry Hospital’s staff of certified massage therapists offers several therapeutic massage options
PERRY - According to the National
Institute for Health, more than one-third of
all Americans will suffer from chronic pain
at some point in their lives, and approxi
mately 14 percent of all employees will take
time off from their jobs because of pain. In
the past this meant countless trips to the
doctor or chiropractor, pain medications,
sleepless nights, and the burden of trying to
make it through each day while enduring
pain. However, recent consumer surveys
and new research show pain sufferers can
find greater relief these days with massage
therapy.
Many people already know that massage
therapy is beneficial in relieving muscle
soreness, reducing stress, and promoting
relaxation. But a consumer survey released
by the American Massage Therapy
Association (AMTA) reveals that more and
more people are seeking massages specifi
cally for pain relief and pain management.
According to the survey, 47 percent of those
polled have had a massage at some time in
their lives for the purpose of relieving pain.
What’s more, 91 percent of adults polled
agreed that massage therapy can be effec
tive in reducing or even eliminating pain.
Consumers are not the only ones touting
the benefits of massage when it comes to
pain relief. According to the AMTA, 62 per
cent of health care providers who had dis
cussed massage therapy with their patients
strongly recommended or encouraged them
to get a massage. In addition, an increasing
number of hospitals and health care organi
zations with pain management programs
are incorporating massage therapists into
those programs.
A growing body of clinical research sup
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Martha Gurley (left), certified massage therapist, give a massage at Perry Hospital.
"National
Massage Therapy
Awareness Week"
is Oct. 24-30. Perry
Hospital's Massage
Therapy will be
offering free "mini
massages" to any
one interested in
experiencing the
healthy benefits of a
massage. The free
massages will be
offered by.appoint
ment only between
4 and 7 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 25;
Tuesday, Oct. 26;
Wednesday, Oct. 27;
and Friday, Oct. 29.
To schedule a free
"mini-massage,"
please call Perry
Hospital's Massage
Therapy at (478)
988-1626.
ports the connection between massage ther
apy and pain relief. Recent studies have
shown that massage therapy is more effec
tive for providing long-lasting relief from
chronic low back pain than other comple
mentary therapies. Therapeutic massage
has also been shown to promote relaxation,
alleviate the perception of pain and anxiety,
and, in some cases, decrease pain intensity
in cancer patients. In other studies, massage
therapy, when used as part of a hospital
based surgery treatment, reduces pain and
muscle spasms in patients who have under
gone heart bypass surgery.
From the patient perspective, massage
therapy is beneficial in that it helps the
patient become more aware of his or her
body and more familiar with the pain they
experience. Not only does the massage ther
apist help relieve muscle and other soft tis
sue pain, but they also have a positive
impact on the patient by virtue of the
human touch. Massage helps the patient
feel comfortable with their body and
improves their confidence by encouraging
them to effectively cope with their pain.
Massage therapy is effective because it
involves a simple and direct strategy of
working ‘from the outside in’ to the root
cause of the pain. Massage therapists use a
holistic approach to pain treatment. They
focus on the entire body system and its rela
tionship to soft tissue rather than concen
trating only on the site of the pain.
“I have seen first hand how massage
affects hospital patients by helping to allevi
ate pain,” says Donna Farner, one of the
Certified Massage Therapists at Perry
Hospital. “Not only am I a certified massage
therapist, but I’m also a Registered Nurse. I
Don't Let the Flu
Get You Down!
Houston Healthcares Med-Stops are open on a walk-in basis to
treat the flu, colds, fever, sore throats and other flu-like symptoms,
We're Here
The Houston Lake Med-Stop and Pavilion Med-Stop are staffed by a physician and registered nurse
at all times. For illnesses like the flu and injuries which do not require a visit to the Emergency Room
or when your family doctor is not available for immediate treatment, visit one of our Med-Stops.
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Houston Lake
Med-Stop
Hwy. 127 and Moody Road
988-1865
Open Mon - Sat
7 am - 6:30 pm
HERE’S TO YOUR HEALTH
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N. Houston Road at Houston Mall
923-2843
Open Daily
8 am - 7:30 pm
'I have seen first hand how massage affects hospital patients
by helping to alleviate pain.'
- Donna Farmer, certifed massage therapist, Perry Hospital
would use massage, in the form of a back
rub, to help my patients get a good night’s
sleep long before I went to massage school
and learned of all the other benefits. That is
one of the reasons why I wanted to become
a massage therapist because I knew how
much good a simple back rub could do.
Besides that, I missed the direct patient
interaction and ‘caring touch’ that massage
therapy provides.”
As the number of health benefits associat
ed with massage increases, including pain
relief, more and more people are beginning
to view massage therapists as healthcare
practitioners. Massage therapy has been
proven to relieve stress and to help reduce
heart rate and blood pressure. Research has
also shown that massage boosts the body’s
immune system and increases the body’s
natural ability to combat illness.
Massage is not just for the young either.
TAKE ACTION 'lf
AGAINST THE f
FLU ■ {
The entire state of Georgia as well as the country is experiencing
a shortage of flu vaccines. We urge you and your family to take
the following steps to help prevent the flu:
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick. You will help prevent others from
catching your illness.
• Wash hands often, especially after you have been out in public or
touched things that other people have touched.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or
sneezing. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Teach your children to cover their nose and mouth with a tissue
whenever they cough or sneeze. Make sure your children don t
share drinking glasses or eating utensils.
• If you suspect you have the flu, contact your family doctor
immediately or visit one of our Med-Stop locations.
HOUSTON LAKE
MED'STOP
Hwv. 127 at Moodv Road
9884865
.Sk
mm
Pavilion
Med-Stop
The number of seniors getting massages is
on the increase. Half of those 65 and older
who got a massage within the past five years
did so for pain relief, for injury or muscle
soreness, or as part of a physical therapy
regimen. Eighty-four percent of seniors
believe massage can be effective in reducing
pain, and 83 percent believe massage can be
beneficial to one’s health.
Perry Hospital offers massage therapy
services in a clinical setting, including deep
muscle massage, prenatal massage, and
Swedish-style therapeutic massage by certi
fied massage therapists. Massage services
are by appointment only and do not require
a physician referral. Massage services are on
a cash-only basis and can be scheduled by
calling (478) 988-1626. Gift certificates are
also available.
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THE HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL
PAVILION
MED'STOP
N. Houston Road at
Houston Mall
9234843