Lately, in all the various professional
publications, including professional associations, there were
intensive discussions involving terms like Medical Massage,
Therapeutic Massage, Orthopedic Massage and Sports Massage.
It is a well-known fact that most
arguments are sparked because of the difference in terminology. In my opinion, the term
Medical Massage and Therapeutic Massage means the same thing. I am
fairly optimistic that every dictionary will support my position. We
are massage therapists, which means we provide therapy by means of
massage. Therapy means health benefits to the human body and that is
what medical massage therapy stands for. I call the methods I teach
and practice - Medical Massage. I do this by a simple reason –
because the founders and researchers who developed these methods
called them Medical Massage.
Massage Therapy encompasses different
disciplines, specializations and expertise. For example, Full Body
Medical Stress Management Massage associates important methods in
managing side effects of stress, including high blood pressure,
anxiety, tension headaches, ulcers as well as prevention of
aforementioned pathologies. Orthopedic Massage is also a
Medical/Therapeutic Massage that deals with procedures designed to
treat back & limb disorders that could be results of sports
related injuries, industrial injuries, car accidents and etc…
Another area of expertise is the Sports Massage including pre and
post event sports massage procedures. Pre-event sports massage helps
us prepare athletes to perform better as well as prevent sports
related injuries. Post-event sports massage is series of methods
that focuses on rehabilitating professional athletes and gym
enthusiasts from the side effects of vigorous exercise and
overtraining.
I believe that scientifically designed
step-by-step protocols are much easier to study than selection of
techniques based on spontanous asperations. Step-by-step protocols
promising faster and more sustained results as well as preventing
practitioners from aggravating their clients’ conditions. For a
field practitioner it’s irrelevant whether to label our methods as
“Medical Massage”, “Therapeutic Massage” or “Massage Therapy.” What
is important is to realize that massage therapy is a simple,
powerful and safe therapeutic tool.
Recently, I had a conversation with a
massage therapist who is not my graduate but takes a lot of my
advanced continued education classes. Incidentally, this
practitioner also had a strong background in marketing. His opinion
was that my medical massage programs are so valuable that students,
like in any other school, should be required to pass an interview
and an entrance exam in order to be accepted into my school,
especially for advance classes. My reply was that I believe in
a simple approach to medical and sports massage. Everyone regardless
of their academic background, who wants to treat people with their
hands, should have an opportunity to become a massage therapist.
What sets a good therapist apart is not his/her ego; social status,
intellectual level, ethnic background etc., but the ability to
deliver results.
Based on my experience of educating more
than 7500 students, I have come to the conclusion that in the
beginning of the training process it is very difficult to predict,
which individual will be better practitioner. To discover
one’s potential as healer, it takes will, desire and dedication,
right philosophical approach and understanding. My hope is that
this book will help you to discover the right direction in
discovering of your true potential.
History of modern Medical
Massage.
The foundations of modern medical
massage were set in the early 20th century with
Anatoly Sherbak - a leading Russian physician and scientist of the
time. Spending more than 20 years in research and clinical studies,
Sherbak investigated and developed medical
massage procedures as a powerful reflexotherapy
method.
His basic approach was to eliminate
abnormalities in reflex zones — specific areas that include the
skin, muscles, connective tissue, periosteum, which could be
result of inner organ diseases as well support and movement
system disorders.
He believed that inner organ diseases
transmit pathological impulses via a given spinal segment of
innervation to the various somatic structures on
that segmental level. As a result of these pathological
impulses, abnormalities develop in all structures of those
particular reflex zones, and are expressed in the form of higher
skin density, muscular tension, developing of trigger points, high
tension and immobility of connective tissue, hypertrophy or atrophy
of the periosteum. These abnormalities cause pain, discomfort,
limited range of motion and a variety of other symptoms. When
diseased inner organs are the cause of abnormalities, the reflex
phenomenon is termed "viscero-somatic
reflex."
At the same time, spinal disorders such as
spondylosis can promote the development of abnormalities in the
reflex zone — in both somatic and visceral components. The
pathological impulse generated by such a disorder can not only cause
pain at its somatic origin, but also reach inner organs and disturb
their function. This reflex phenomenon is termed somato-visceral
reflex. Hippocrates, the "father of medicine," once said, "If a
patient has a health problem, first check his spine." There is much
truth in this statement.
According to Sherbak, the application of
medical
massage techniques by a practitioner helps to
eliminate abnormalities from somatic elements, which will then
reduce pain and increase range of motion. Additionally, a
therapeutic effect on inner organs via medical massage application
can be observed.
It is very important to understand that
abnormalities in skin, fascia, periosteum couldn’t always be
detected because of needed time for incubation. On other
hand, any inner organ disease, stress or support and movement
system disorder, causes muscles reflect almost immediately.
In any of the
scenarios mention above all components of soft tissue (skin,
fascia, muscle, other connective tissue) are still biologically
active zones. By mobilizing this soft tissue we awaken
significant positive changes in function of organs and
systems.
Sherbak died in 1936, leaving a
tremendous database of research behind. Before his death, he made
appearances before various European medical community gatherings. He
asked physicians and scientists to take over his database and
continue his work in developing medical massage procedural
protocols.
Two German physicians, O. Glezer and
V.A. Dalicho, answered the call. They spent an additional 20 years
on medical massage studies and clinical work. In 1955, Glezer and
Dalicho introduced a complete medical massage protocol to the
medical community.
Nowadays technology develops
so fast that people constantly experiencing something new.
The most advanced computer you’ve purchased six months ago is
not so advanced today. The same could be said about cellular phones,
entertainment equipment etc. To expect something new and
advanced became the "normal" pattern of thinking to the point that
if we don’t get this “newest”, “latest and greatest” gadget we feel
somewhat inadequate almost deprived.
Once I submitted an
article to the professional publication on the following topic -”The
Role of massage therapy in stress and pain management.”
As part of the article I’ve offered the results of
studies related to massive negative effect of stress on
human health andUnited
States economy. This study was
conducted by very reputable institution and the paper was published
in 1996.
The editor of the
publication requested to find the more recent data. I
responded to him that I tried to query for a more current data but
couldn't find an equally reliable source of information to the one I
offered. I also stated that should the new study be conducted
today, the negative affects of stress would exceed those stated in
the study of 1996 because since that time sources of stress such as
9/11 attack, terrorist threat including the possibility
of dirty bomb attacks etc, greatly
multiplied.
The editor agreed with me, but insisted
that readers always looking for a “fresh” data. In the
resulting compromise I had to remove the “dated,“ but essential and
interesting data, because it wasn’t related to the main topic of the
article but was only supportive material. Yet the incident
left an unpleasant residue, because the scientific integrity has
been sacrificed to political
considerations.
When I present workshops, write articles
or offer reference to studies, which, of course,
contain the date of publication, I often confronted with
the request of "fresher” data. I’d be happy to present those
“latest and greatest” data if they would be available and if they
are just as reliable and substantiated by solid research. However,
the point of the matter is, that human body isn’t a computer or a
cell phone, it already been ingeniously designed and optimized by
the creator and there isn’t undertakes so many drastic
changes. Also despite expectations, there weren’t
frequent extensive and serious studies on massage therapy
in our professional fields. It is not always that what’s "New"
is actually better. In fact on many instances apparently
wonderful theories never were able to prove themselves
clinically as good or safe ones.
Protocols and methodology that I offer
were mostly developed during last 40-55 years. Most importantly,
since then these protocols were in massive clinical use, and
prove to be very effective and safe. My positive personal
clinical experience, makes me love this methodology as
well motivate me to share my knowledge with
others.
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