Adding Massage Therapy to Your Rehab Program

MASSAGE THERAPY HAS BECOME A COMMON ADDITION TO the rehabilitation program in the chiropractic office. The utilization and number of massage therapists has soared in recent years and this has not gone unobserved in the scientific community.1 Many doctors of chiropractic already have massage therapists as a part of their offices, while others are considering this move, and many more refer patients to massage therapists as a part of their rehabilitation program. But, as utilization increases, so increases the questions from third party payers in the form of, "Why did your refer your patient to these services?" If your only answer to those questions is, "Because 1 wanted to," you may be in for a bad day. The following arc some quick pecks at a number of ar­ticles with which doctors of chiropractic who utilize massage therapists in their rehabilitation program may wish to become familiar. They arc directed at specific problems for which these services might be utilized. PMS—The effect on patients with PMS is viewed in this article. Twenty-four women were placed into two groups. One group received relaxation therapy while the other group re­ceived massage therapy. The massage group received treatment for 10 sessions over a five-week period. There was a reduction in the negative mood of the PMS patients.2 ADHD—Students suffering from attention-deficit/hyperac-tivity disorder received massage therapy at the rate of two ses­sions per week for a total of nine sessions. The patients reported that they were happier following the massage (reports taken after first and last treatment). The teachers of these students also noted improvement in their classroom behavior.3 Multiple Sclerosis—These patients received 10 sessions of massage therapy over five weeks with each session lasting 45 minutes. After the first session, there was a reported decrease in anxiety.4 Spinal Cord Injury—They compared the effects of exercise and massage therapy in patients who had suffered injury to the spinal cord at the C5-C7 level. The massage group received two 40-minute sessions per week for five weeks. There was a reduction in the anxiety level of the massage group but not for those in the exercise group.5 Headaches—Chronic migraine suffers received massage therapy two times a week for 30 minutes per treatment session for five weeks. The subjects reported an improvement in their headaches and also reported an increase in their sleep time.11 Back pain—Many of you are familiar with some of the articles of Dan Chcrkin. In a review of the literature, Chcr­kin, el«/., indicated that mas­sage therapy might be helpful for back pain patients.7 Of course there are many more articles that pertain to massage therapy and we hope that you'll read many of them, but these will get you started. Remember, if you're utilizing massage therapy services, you should read the literature pertaining to this field, including reading these articles in their entirety. The decision to include massage therapy in your rehabilitation program is up to you, but make it an informed decision. Next issue is our last as your intrepid columnists; we hope you're here for our finale. Until then, keep reading the literature, encouraging your patients to exercise regularly, and to comply fully with your treatment recommendations. Your patients' health depends on it. Dr. Roger R. Calemun is a 1974 graduate of Palmer College afChiropractic. practicing in Othello, WA. He is a member of the Adjunct Research Faculty at Life Chiropractic College West, and on the postgraduate faculty of National University of Health Sciences. Dr. Stephan .1. Troyanovich is a 19H7 graduate of Palmer College of Chi­ropractic, practicing in Normal, 1L, and a member of the Adjunct Research Faculty. Depl. of Research, at Life Chiropractic College West. He may be reached at 309-454-5556. EZS3 References 1. SJ Troyanovich. RR Coleman. The Secret to Getting Medical & Chiroprac­tic Referrals: A Complete Marketing Program for Massage Therapists. Normal. Illinois. S & R Publishing 2005. 2. Hcmandcz-Rcif M. Martinez A. Field T, Quintcro O. Hart S, Bcrman I. Premenstrual symptoms are relieved by massage therapy. Journal of Psy­chosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecolngy 20()0;21:9-15 3. Khilnani S. Field T, Hcrnandez-ReifM, Schanberg S. Massage therapy im­proves mood and behavior of students with attenlion-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Adolescence 2003:38:623-38 4. Hcrnandez-Reif M, Field T, Field T. Thcakston H. Multiple sclerosis pa­tients benefit from massage therapy. J of Bodywork and Movement Thera­pies 1998;2(3): 168-1'4 5. Diego MA, Field T, Hemandcz-ReifM, Hat S, Bruckcr B, Field T, Burman 1. Spinal cord patients benefit from massage therapy. Intern J Neuroscience 2002:112:133-42 6. Hernandez-Rcif M, Dieter J. Field T, Svverdlow B, Diego M. Migraine headaches arc reduced by massage therapy. Intern J Neuroscience 1998:96:1-11 7. C'herkin DC. Sherman KJ. Deyo RA. Shekelle PG. A review of the evidence for the effectiveness, safety, and cost of acupuncture, massage therapy, and spinal manipulation for back pain. Ann Intern Med 2003:138:898-906