Pearl Angelie Villanueva Mahusay

 Complementary and Alternative Medicine Name of Student Institution Affiliation Complementary and Alternative Medicine The electromagnetic and bio-field energies, which are both realized to form inside or near the body and other outside sources, are used in energy therapies. Such esoteric method is used to either manipulate, improve or support these energy fields (Kramlich, 2014). Reflexology, one of the energy therapies also known as massage therapy, is a complementary approach that involves application of pressure to critical areas on the body such as feet, hands, or ears. While most of the time conflicting, science has already proved that massage may help with back pain, improve the well-being of people with mental health issues, cancer, HIV/AIDS, as well as generally safe to practice. Typically, removal of all the clothes is not required. However, uncovering the body part exposed for massage is necessary. It is important to perform an assessment to the muscle and joint at the start of the first session (University of Minnesota, 2016). This assessment is done by applying the necessary range of motion, with repetitions, to determine which muscles are dysfunctional with the efficiency of the treatment. The amount of pressure used varies on the condition and level of comfort a patient discloses. For most cases, the three techniques widely used in medical massage therapy are: neuromuscular massage, trigger-point massage, and myofascial release. During a neuromuscular massage, pressure is applied to critical body parts for tension to release. Trigger point massage, on the other hand, targets reducing-blood-flow spasms into other parts of the muscle. The start of the procedure is commonly painful and further increases as the spasm causes pressure on the adjacent nerves. Spasms are relieved when a moderate pressure of about eight to twelve seconds is applied to the trigger point, a tender area suffering from a tight muscle fibers (2014). The third technique or the myofascial release is used to stretch the constricted myofascial area for further release of tension. The constriction, as well as inflammation caused by factors such as trauma, excessive use, recurring stress and inflammatory drugs, is relieved through pressing into the myofascial for a few or more minutes to release the tension. While massage therapy is among the top services given, it is typically prescribed by most physicians, considered most beneficial and least likely to cause injuries (Dion, Cutshall, Rodgers, Hauschulz, Dreyer, Thomley, & Bauer, 2015). Patients who spent days in the hospital may experience pain and anxiety that may recover slowly due to insufficient sleep, and regular self-care activities not carried out, to name a few. With access to this complementary therapy, impact on the patient is experienced significantly. Research has proven the efficiency of massage therapy in alleviating pain and anxiety. Studies that were conducted in a hospital with participating surgical patients has found that stress resulting from pain and anxiety were improved with massage provided as a complementary method (Dion, et. al., 2015). Specialized education is necessary for hospital-based massage to cater for additional skills usually not practiced in a typical massage therapy setting. The updated training procedures for a typical massage therapy varies from different locations, with no standard and credentials suitable for medical massage. A hospital-based massage therapist must have an appropriate and medical-based massage education, as well as hands-on training, to satisfy the standards set by the medical profession. The therapist must further learn how to navigate within the premises of the hospital, proper ways of documentation, and effectively communicate with every medical representative. The role of a hospital-based massage therapist includes informing every medical team about the benefits and favorable results of medical massage to patients. While it is rewarding to work with patients as a help in reducing the pain from surgeries previously performed, informing all the medical staff of how massage can impact the treatment is a great challenge. Evaluation and complete assessment on the patients’ condition to further decide on the type of bodywork that will highly improve their current state follows. Receiving massage therapy directly from a medical therapist is an advantage for future patient handling. Since medical massage therapy is considered a great help in dealing with the demands associated with treatment and important tool for refilling the energy that is spent on the patient. Furthermore, integration of massage therapy into the care session produces highly positive results in how the patients deal with both physical and psychological discomforts and challenges, respectively. While massage restores the receiver’s well-being that may be difficult to attain for some period of high workload, it is an effective tool of promoting good health and maintaining an increased positive “mind-body-spirit” connection. A treatment massage may remind the receiver the value of being cared for, which further upholds the same value of what to provide others. Allowing the receiver to experience the healing and treatment, brought by massage every now and then, is also necessary to survival. Opening up to positive touch sends back the joy of giving while being reminded of the responsibilities of a medical therapist. Nowadays, many of the health care professionals who have the knowledge of medical massage choose to refer such activity to physical therapists. Although medical insurance covers physical therapy, the burden of high payments on the patient’s side is their primary concern. While some medical representatives believe that massage is an uplifting practice or a great comfort; most people, including patients, thinks there are no significant relationship between medical procedures and massage therapy. However, for some patients, massage is a necessity. As this reality continues to increase, the demand of medical massage therapy in hospitals are also getting higher while its benefits are greatly recognized. References Dion, L., Cutshall, S., Rodgers, N., Hauschulz, J., Dreyer, N.E., Thomley, B.S., & Bauer, B. (2015). Development of a Hospital-based Massage Therapy Course at an Academic Medical Center. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/ articles/PMC-/ on 15 July 2018 Kramlich, D. (2014). Complementary Therapies: Introduction to Complementary, Alternative, and Traditional Therapies, Volume 34, Number 6. Retrieved from https://www.aacn.org/docs/cemedia/C1463.pdf on 15 July 2018 University of Minnesota. (2016). What Can I Expect in a First Massage Therapy Visit? Retrieved from https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/massage-therapy/what-can-i-expect-first-massage-theraphy-visit on 20 July 2018