Massage therapy has its benefits, and they can be applied to just about everyone. From relief from headaches and body aches to help with managing stress and finding "me" time, the list of the benefits to be had from a professional massage is extensive. Just about anyone can reap these benefits, and the elderly are no different. As a matter of fact, the elderly can certainly benefit a lot from the services of a professional massage therapist. This specialized niche of massage therapy is called geriatric massage.
Treating Alzheimer's Patients
Massage therapy is one avenue of treatment for patients with Alzheimer's disease. Although there is no known cure for the disease, many Alzheimer's patients are treated with massage therapy to help promote relaxation. Certified massage therapist Susanne Runion recommends massage therapy for this very purpose. "Because of the direct contact that massage therapy offers, it provides those with Alzheimer's disease a way to relax, thereby reducing the anxiety associated with the disease," she says. She goes on to mention that the therapy is also a form of stimulation, which can help patients to be more communicative physically.
Easing the Pain of Aging
Geriatric massage therapy can also help with the aches and pains that come as a natural part of aging. According to Massage Therapy 101, a leading information source for everything related to massage therapy online, massage encourages circulation and alleviates stiffness, and it also helps to eliminate some of the inflammation that can build up in the joints. Problems like muscular stiffness, arthritis, skin discoloration, muscle and bone deterioration, tendinitis, bursitis, and respiratory problems can all be improved by massage, according to Massage Therapy 101.
The Benefits of Human Touch
It is also important to consider the benefits of physical contact when it comes to massage therapy for the elderly, especially when it comes to those who are residents in nursing homes or being treated as inpatients at a hospital. Massage therapy allows often lonely seniors to enjoy some physical human contact.
