Effects of Massage Therapy on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - Essay Example

"Effects of Massage Therapy on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis" is an interesting example of a paper on complementary and alternative therapies. 
The pressure amount, the application pace, and the duration the stroke lasts are a few considerations that direct the particulars of any massage stroke. The massage therapist’s ability to merge the procedure with fluid movements produces a comprehensive and thoroughly pleasurable massage for any patient. Some instructions should be followed in conditions where massage is recommended (indicated) and not recommended (contraindicated).

Indications. (1) Every individual cell of the body is maintained by a rich supply of body fluids, such as the blood and lymph. Circulatory massage increases the circulation of these fluids which are responsible for supplying nutrients and oxygen to the body and removing wastes and toxins. Massage basically facilitates the promotion of general fitness. (2) Massage eases constant energy circulation, creates balance, and facilitates communication with all body systems — the cardiovascular, digestive, lymphatic, nervous, respiratory, and urinary systems. (3) Massage assists the healing of soft tissue injuries through effective circulation in the injured areas and proper stimulation of the healing tissues. Massage therapy can normally aid faster recovery and improvement and lessen injury discomfort. (4) Massage therapy stabilizes the nervous system. It either relieves or stimulates nerves and neural pathways, conditional on the body’s necessity during the massage process (Saeger & Kyle-Brown, 2008).

Contraindications. Full-body circulatory massage is contraindicated to patients with acute insulin-reliant diabetes, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or edema. The body’s reaction to touch could worsen the disease. Massage could free a blood clot, cause it to float, and block the blood flow that could result in a heart attack or stroke for patients with cardiovascular diseases. Unusually high body temperature which could be a sign of severe infection is a contraindication

for massage. Massage should never be executed over fractures, open wounds, infected areas,

lesions, varicose veins, fresh scar tissues, contusions, or tumors (Saeger & Kyle-Brown, 2008).

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Lou Gehrig’s disease, or motor neuron disease (MND) is a rapidly progressive, irreversible, and ultimately fatal neurological condition that causes damage to the motor neurons. While motor control is progressively lost, sensations remain unharmed. Patients with ALS could therefore largely benefit from massage therapy in preserving function and in relieving discomfort and anxiety. The intellectual faculty is not affected by the disease, however, patients may become emotionally very weak, and with a high possibility of anxiety, depression, and many other depressing psychological outcomes. Although massage therapy could not reverse the condition, it could at least relieve muscle contractions, preserve a range of motion at atrophied joints (Werner, 2008), help lessen some of its symptoms and generally improve the patient’s quality of life (Massage and Motor Neurone Disease, 2014).

Massage improves mobility. Massage of the muscles could stimulate blood flow and subsequently improve general mobility. Particular nerve centers could be stimulated using acupressure, or mobility may be enhanced using long, heavy strokes.

Massage relieves fatigue. Massage raises energy levels and helps ALS patients in conserving it through the release of muscle tension and toxins in the muscles and reduction of the stress hormone called cortisol.

Massage helps insomnia. Massage can help recover from insomnia in patients with ALS. It creates a more relaxed physical and mental state and activates the parasympathetic nervous system responsible for allowing the body to relax.

Massage improves circulation. Gentle massage could stimulate circulation and internal organs, particularly in inflamed, painful, and cold extremities caused by a build-up of lactic acid in the muscles due to reduced mobility in ALS patients.

Massage improves symptoms of depression. Massage stimulates the nerve receptors of the nervous system, thus causing a release of the mood-lifting chemicals serotonin or dopamine into the body (Massage and Motor Neurone Disease, 2014).