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Africa
Explore chapters and articles related to this topic
Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Rheumatic Disease
Published in Jason Liebowitz, Philip Seo, David Hellmann, Michael Zeide, Clinical Innovation in Rheumatology, 2023
Similarly, evidence exists for the use of massage in people living with scleroderma. Traditional Thai massage, when used in combination with stretching and use of heat, was noted to improve mobility.22 In traditional Thai massage, practitioners use all body parts, including hands/thumbs, forearms, and feet, to move energy throughout the body in energy pathways called “sens.”23 An intensive hand physical therapy program that includes soft-tissue massage showed benefit in persons with scleroderma in terms of pain and disability after a three-week course.24 Interestingly, the ancient practice of manual lymph drainage, or light massage from truncal to distal extremities with the goal of improving lymphatic function, has shown some improvement in hand edema related to early scleroderma.25
Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the Management of Chronic Pain
Published in Gary W. Jay, Clinician’s Guide to Chronic Headache and Facial Pain, 2016
The term massage includes a variety of manual therapies. Common forms of massage include Swedish massage (superficial massage of muscles with lotion or oil), deep tissue massage, shiatsu (pressure over acupuncture points), thai massage (stretching in a sequence of postures), reflexology (pressure to points in feet that are thought to correspond to body parts), rolfing (physical manipulation and movement to restore alignment), and craniosacral therapy (light touch to restore balance in the movement of cerebrospinal fluid). The mechanism by which massage improves pain is uncertain. Soft tissue massage, the most common form of massage therapy, is thought to act by modulating local blood flow and oxygenation in muscle. It also promotes mental relaxation, which may modulate immune system function and pain formation.
Touch Therarpies
Published in Anne L. Strozier, Joyce Carpenter, Introduction to Alternative and Complementary Therapies, 2013
Anne L. Strozier, Catherine E. Randall, Erin Kuhn
The theory of acupressure is a common thread through most Eastern healing systems. The Chinese refer to the pressure points as meridians and often refer to acupressure as needle-less acupuncture. In Japan, Shiatsu, meaning “finger pressure” uses hands, elbows, and feet to unlock the energy paths incorporated through a series of stretching techniques (Shiatsu Practitioners Association of Canada, 2005). Similarly, Thai massage integrates passive stretching, yoga postures, and pressure along energy lines to stimulate blocked energy and allow the body to recreate new energetic patterns and proper alignment. Finally, India’s system of health, ayurveda, refers to the body’s pressure points as “marma points” and applies acupressure, oil massage, aromatherapy, and energy healing to each point, opening the channels and restoring the body’s normal functions. Despite its reputation as a noninvasive therapy, acupressure is reportedly powerful enough to rewire the body’s central nervous system. In Pan Nain’s documentary Ayurveda: The Art of Being, a doctor demonstrated the power behind the technique by paralyzing a goat after touching a marma point on the back of his skull. Specialists in acupressure would argue that the healing power of all massage techniques come from some form of stimulation to pressure points.
Everyday life with chronic back pain: a qualitative study among Turkish immigrants in Denmark
Published in Disability and Rehabilitation, 2021
Anne-Mette Honoré Grauslund, Jannie Solmunde Michelsen, Bente Appel Esbensen
In desperation about the pain and unfulfilled expectations of healthcare services, the participants sought out both recognized and alternative treatments. These included swimming, physiotherapy, medical treatment, and acupuncture, and other complementary therapies, such as Thai massage, cupping and warm patches. Several had heard from acquaintances that back surgery was a potential treatment for the pain. Many expressed fears of surgical complications and had heard horror stories from others who had undergone surgery for back pain, and about the risk of losing mobility. The desperation to get rid of the pain was so great that some were considering surgery as a treatment option and one participant had gone back home to Turkey for the operation, primarily as a result of the experience that the treatment in Denmark was inadequate.
Massage efficacy in the treatment of autistic children – a literature review
Published in International Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 2018
Robert Walaszek, Natalia Maśnik, Anna Marszałek, Katarzyna Walaszek, Marcin Burdacki
The Thai massage originates from India, and at the philosophical level it is associated with Buddhism and Ayurveda. This massage method includes maneuvers similar to those used in the classical massage, such as caressing, rubbing, kneading, and similar passive movements of which the purpose is to stretch the muscles and tendons and to increase the joint mobility, tractions, and other movements from the spectrum of joint mobilization and pressure exerted on the biologically active points in the course of energetic channels. The advantages of the Thai massage are the following: accelerated circulation of blood and lymph, and thus better oxidation and hydration of the tissues, as well as relaxation and improved elasticity of muscles (Wiwanitkit 2010).
Effect of Acupressure on Dynamic Balance in Elderly Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Published in Experimental Aging Research, 2020
Seyedeh Ameneh Motalebi, Zeinab Zajkani, Fatemeh Mohammadi, Mohammad Habibi, Maryam Mafi, Fatemeh Ranjkesh
Balance is required for independence in activities of daily living (Dunsky et al., 2017). Balance impairments can lead to high fall risk and mobility decline in older adults (Değer, Saraç, Savaş, & Akçiçek, 2019). So, the present study examined the effect of acupressure on dynamic balance in elderly women. Based on the results of the present study, there was a significant difference in the time to complete the TUG test, as well as the number of steps taken with both right and left legs between the two groups after the completion of the acupressure program. These results are in line with the results of national (poorbarzegar, Minoonejad, seidi, & mozafaripour, 2016; Safakheil et al., 2013) and international (Chatchawan, Eungpinichpong, Plandee, & Yamauchi, 2015; Tütün Yümin, Şimşek, Sertel, Ankaralı, & Yumin, 2017) studies conducted in different age groups. For instance, Chatchawan et al. (2015) reported that providing 30 minutes of traditional Thai massage in the foot, 3 times a week for 2 weeks on 60 middle-aged diabetic patients, significantly improved the time of TUG test and one leg stance. Tütün Yümin et al. (2017) also reported the positive effect of foot massage on dynamic balance (examined by TUG and Functional Reach Test) and static (evaluated by one-leg standing test with eyes open-closed) in 38 patients with diabetes type II. Safakheil et al. (2013) also observed significant improvement in the balance tests (Berg and TUG tests) of 35 elderly after 15 sessions of manual static stretch and massage for an hour during 5 weeks. In a study by Mohsen poorbarzegar et al. (2016) on 30 Iranian athletes aged 18 to 28 years, 10 minutes of lower limb massage could improve the static (Balance error scoring system BESS) and dynamic balance tests (Y test).