Massage Therapy Journal Fall 2024

Fall 2024 • 77

with a traumatized population, such massage therapy benefits come with significant therapist responsibilities. It is not possible to help someone with anxiety unless they feel safe. That becomes the first order of inquiry and the most essential part of the treatment.” A pilot study 2 examined the effects of light touch manual therapies (LTMT) on headache, anxiety and other symptoms experienced by active duty United States service members with chronic PTSD. Ten service members who were diagnosed with PTSD and suffered a self-reported head injury were provided two hour-long sessions of mixed LTMT given one week apart. Data to assess the effects were gathered before and after each session. The results showed that headache, anxiety and pain interference were significantly reduced during the course of the pilot study, suggesting that LTMT may be helpful in reducing some of the symptoms of PTSD and head injury. For massage therapy to be as effective as possible, however, the right type of massage technique needs to be used at the right time . “Any tradesperson will tell you, ‘The right tool for the right job makes any job simpler,’” says Howe. “We use rocking to identify and assess areas of the body that are resistant to movement. It is a simple, non-invasive technique that allows the therapist to locate regions contributing to the client’s current state.” This type of therapeutically applied rocking can help the client recognize and potentially release

holding patterns, Howe adds, while also reducing the sensitivity to external triggers. “The actual hands-on work is basic and not complicated because clients may not even be able to tolerate touch or deep work,” Fitch says. “My role is to ensure that the client is comfortable with whatever I do and wherever I suggest that we work. That is the most important piece of the therapeutic alliance.” Craniosacral therapy might also be a good choice, especially for clients who may need help interacting with their resistance or restriction. Here, massage therapists can help to facilitate the release of tension areas that cause operational drag. Additionally, the light touch of craniosacral may allow the client’s nervous system to shift from a stress response (sympathetic) to a recovery response (parasympathetic), which can be especially important for clients with PTSD. “Often, an individual living with PTSD struggles to calm down or down-regulate,” explains Howe. “They may be touch averse. They get stuck in a sympathetic nervous response, also known as fight/flight.” Massage Therapy: One Part of a Whole “Massage therapy can be easily integrated with other approaches,” says Howe. “Collaboration of care with other health care providers can be a valuable asset.”

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