Friday, September 09, 2011

Communicating with a massage therapist when you have arthritis

 Massage should make you feel great. Some studies, though they are limited, show that ia massage can help reduce stress levels, pain, and may act as a natural anti-depressant, according to an article in Arthritis Today. page 96, Sept/Oct. 2011

If you have arthritis, you will want to talk with a massage therapist about areas that may be painful, where he/she should avoid or apply less pressure. Massage should be about comfort and if you are concerned about massage causing you pain, you should feel free to talk with your massage therapist about it. If you are not comfortable talking with the therapist, it may be time to find one who is more receptive to your concerns.

Ask your physician about types of pressure to avoid. Talk with friends about therapists they have used. Massage should make you feel wonderful and should not cause your worry or pain.

If you want to relax back muscles at home, a Full Back Warmer from Maine Warmers, is the next best thing to a massage. It costs $40.00, and can be used over and over, compared to a one-time massage at $35 to $100. The cover of this great big Back Warmer, microwave heating pad, is washable, the filling is all natural whole corn, without any added perfumes or other fragrances, and it conforms to your body.