8 · SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2017 HELPING HANDS Massage therapy grows in popularity as pain-relieving treatment No one has to convince Jessie Violet that massage helps relieve chronic and severe pain, and not just because she’s a massage therapist. In fact, that’s the reason why she is a massage therapist. At one time, Violet was a corporate bigwig working in Beverly Hills who had a surfing accident that almost left her in a wheelchair. Massage helped her get relief and recover so much that she decided to leave California and return to Pittsburgh, where she grew up, to become a massage therapist and be a voice for the practice’s power to make people feel better. “I actually love the tough cases because we get so many people who come in with chronic pain, from children to the elderly. Going through that, they can be so exhausted by the pain that one more moment of it is going to be enough to make them crazy,” said Violet, who specializes in treating oncology patients at the UPMC Center for Integrative Medicine. “There is a mind-body connection, so by the time we’re talking about chronic pain, you have to address the whole person and not just say, ‘Here’s a pill, good luck, hope you don’t get addicted.’ I’ve been through pain like that and I just say to people, ‘Please, just listen to what I’m saying.’” The American Massage Therapy Association, one of two primary licensing organizations in the U.S., lists dozens of studies and research on its website on using massage for pain management. Research published in the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery shows massage therapy can significantly reduce pain, anxiety and muscular tension after cardiac surgery, for instance, while research in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice indicates that adults with rheumatoid arthritis who receive regular moderate-pressure massages over four weeks might feel a decrease in pain, as well as greater grip strength and range of motion in wrists and large upper joints. The group also cites a body of research that shows massage can be beneficial for older adults in relieving joint pain, which can then help mobility and balance, as well as high blood pressure and osteoarthritis. AMTA president Dolly Wallace said the possible benefits for seniors don’t end there. “It can help with depression, and enhance blood circulation, and because blood carries oxygen to the brain, it can help them think more clearly,” she said. “Massage can reduce pain and helps people in their ability to perform daily tasks with greater ease and less pain. We’ve also had favorable results with Alzheimer’s patients, because it helps with agitation and can be very calming.” Scott Korb, who founded Vita Massage in 1991 and has locations in McMurray and Regent Square, said that how you approach each client is specific to the person and his or her condition. “One item fairly specific to the elderly population is the integrity and elasticity of the skin,” he said. “Gentle manipulation is important to keep in mind. Among populations, the massage modality utilized does not change. However, the amount of pressure used during the application of the massage stroke and the length of time that stretches are held vary not only based on age but also by the person’s condition and level of tolerance.” One downside to massage is that few insurance companies cover the therapy, although Korb believes that with the medical community’s increasing interest in the field, particularly as an alternative to treating pain through medicine, that might change. Until then, Korb said, it’s often possible to find a therapist willing to work with patients who might have financial limitations. “At our practice, we have created a 30-minute session time for just that reason,” he said. “Research supports that 10-15 minutes of massage provides positive results, reducing stress and improving emotional state.” SEARCHING FORRELIEF BY KAREN PRICE Dozens of studies have been published showing ways in which massage therapy can reduce pain, anxiety and muscular tension, in addition to helping people suffering from arthritis and other age-related conditions.
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