Floridian Brand Massage chair use may be a welcome addition to your post-surgery recovery regimen, along with medication, bed rest, and physical therapy.
In September 2016, the medical journal Pain Medicine reviewed sixteen different studies and concluded that massage therapy could efficiently and effectively reduce pain severity and anxiety in those who have undergone surgery. The study, which was commissioned by the Massage Therapy Foundation with support from the American Massage Therapy Association, concluded that patients should consider massage as a therapeutic option to manage these issues.
Let’s talk for a moment about pain. After undergoing surgery, pain isn’t always short-lived. Some research suggests that persistent or chronic post-surgical pain may last two to three months after surgery. The same medical journal published in 2013 that post-surgery pain, which is responsible for nearly 25% of the cases of chronic pain, can also interfere with mood and sleep, along with other facets of both physical and mental health.
Moreover, post-surgery pain is not limited to the incision site and surrounding areas. As one begins healing, many patients may adopt new moving methods to compensate for initial discomfort. This in turn can disrupt the normal alignment of muscles and joints, trigger additional aches and pains, and can even lead to long-term dysfunction.
As mentioned earlier in this article, massage can help with post-surgery recovery. Massage benefits patients with most types of surgery by reducing surrounding discomfort and realigning muscles and joints. Jenice Mattek, a Chicago-area massage therapist, explains that “massage therapy helps with changing alignment due to complications post-surgery—the alignment of the body itself or any joint. It can help turn muscles back on that may not be working as they should be.”
In addition, massage therapy may improve healing after trauma, and in some cases, significantly reduce the degree of postoperative fibrosis – a potential complication after surgery where the production of excessive fibrous scar tissue is produced and may result in decreased movement in the patient.
Some clients may not associate ongoing discomfort with previous surgery. Mattek asks, “Is scar tissue causing the complications, and have they related it back to their surgery?” She adds that massage around the surgical site can determine if scar tissue is forming near the area or distantly as well.
Beyond the physical pain aspect, a patient will likely experience anxiety and stress, regardless of the type of surgery. According to Dr. Brent A. Bauer, director of the complementary and integrative medicine program at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, “Even the best surgical experience is still a highly stressful experience both on the physical and emotional level,” he says. “Thus, anything we can do to help the individual manage their stress and sometimes, the stress of their loved ones—may in fact, improve outcomes.”
Not only does massage—including massage chair therapy—soothe the muscles, but for the duration of the treatment, it encourages us to put ourselves in a relaxed state of mind and body. Massage therapy can reduce symptoms of pain, stress, and anxiety without the side effects associated with medication. In support of this, Dr. Richard T. Lee, assistant professor and medical director of the integrative medicine program at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston says that “massage can reduce symptoms of pain, nausea, stress and anxiety,” without the possible side-effects of medication.”
Complementary and integrative medicine experts who use massage, yoga, and other non-surgical approaches, along with traditional medical therapies to treat cancer patients and others with severe conditions, have found that gentle Swedish-style massage can help reduce anxiety and pain.
Before working with a client who’s undergone surgery of any type, Mattek advises seeking medical clearance if they’re less than six weeks post procedure. “Also, if there’s an infection or redness present, or a wound is not healing, do not work directly on that area,” she advises. The same caution should apply to those seeking pain and discomfort relief via Floridian Brand massage chair.
An additional word of caution: Massage should also be avoided if one is taking certain medications. Pain medications reduce sensation, so you may not feel pain if the massage chair massages a sensitive area or inadvertently presses hard enough to cause bruising or nerve damage. Moreover, Blood-thinning medications such as warfarin may make you vulnerable to bruising and bleeding.
One should always ask for a doctor’s advice before introducing massage chair therapy into one’s post-recovery regimen. Not all surgeries and not all medical conditions are appropriate for massage chair treatment. That said, a growing body of research supports the notion that massage therapy has much to offer postsurgical patients by easing their path toward healing.
