Massage Therapy Journal Winter 2024

58 • Massage Therapy Journal

AMTA Continuing Education

MLD objectives: MLD can help decrease pain, reduce edema, help to disperse the coagulated blood from the tissue space (interstitium) and accelerate overall healing and recovery. MLD considerations: Short treatments two to three times per day, always working within the individuals pain threshold. Chronic Conditions That Might Benefit From MLD Fibromyalgia. A central nervous system disorder that causes muscular pain and fatigue. Individuals also experience tender points in specific locations. Other symptoms include difficulty sleeping, headaches, numbness and tingling, and cognitive impairment. A 2009 study by Ekici G., et al., demonstrated that individuals receiving MLD and connective tissue massage received improvements in terms of pain and health-related quality of life. MLD objective s: Application of MLD can decrease pain and decongest localized tissues, which supports improved range of motion and improved sleep. MLD considerations: Individuals with fibromyalgia often feel exhausted and fatigued. Session time should be reduced to 30 minutes so as not to overwork the body, creating further fatigue. Reevaluation prior to each session and post-treatment evaluation can help to create effective further treatment plans. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Classified as an autoimmune disease, RA creates an inflammatory situation leading to pain, edema, stiffness and loss of function in the joints. Eyes, mouth and lung tissue can also be affected. MLD objectives: MLD can reduce pain, reduce edema, decrease any tissue congestion so range of motion issues can be resolved, and promotes the sessions and work within the pain threshold of the individual. Positioning on the massage table may need to be adapted according to the area of involvement. Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS/ RSD). CRPS is a chronic, intense, painful elimination of inflammatory substances . MLD considerations: Provide shorter

condition affecting any part of the body. The cause is unknown, but the condition often develops following an injury. Symptoms range from intense burning throbbing pain, changes in skin temperature, color and texture, edema, weakness and muscle atrophy. MLD objectives: MLD can reduce pain, decrease the activity of the sympathetic nervous system and activate the parasympathetic nervous system, and reduce any edema. MLD considerations: Due to the extent of the pain experienced by the individual, approach the client with extreme care, working proximal to the affected region. The level of pain and sensitivity will determine the length and frequency of sessions. Migraine/headache. A recurring headache with severe throbbing or pulsating sensations that often include nausea, weakness, and a sensitivity to light and sound MLD objectives: MLD can help reduce pain, possibly reduce occurrence, reduce the duration of the event, and may even preempt a migraine occurrence . MLD considerations: Regular massage to the head and neck region are effective and can be integrated with other massage techniques that relieve muscular tension. During an active migraine, clients are not likely going to want massage. Lyme disease. Lyme disease occurs when a person is bitten by a tick carrying the Borrelia bacterial infection. The first symptom is a rash that appears as a bull’s eye, followed by a fever, headache, body aches and extreme fatigue. The current treatment for Lyme disease is antibiotics. Some of the symptoms, however, can linger for months or even years once the antibiotic treatment is complete. MLD objectives: Relieve pain, decrease edema and possibly support the immune response. MLD considerations: Treat the individual with full-body MLD, focusing on specific areas of discomfort as needed. Frequency of massage sessions will depend on whether the symptoms are chronic or acute.

amtamassage.org/mtj