{"id":24324,"date":"2022-07-01T18:05:09","date_gmt":"2022-07-01T22:05:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zeel.com\/blog\/?p=24324"},"modified":"2022-08-09T12:26:21","modified_gmt":"2022-08-09T16:26:21","slug":"should-you-seek-different-massage-techniques-as-you-get-older","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zeel.com\/blog\/massage\/massage-therapy\/should-you-seek-different-massage-techniques-as-you-get-older\/","title":{"rendered":"Should You Seek Different Massage Techniques As You Get Older?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Massage therapy is one of the most effective, natural methods of relaxation and physical recovery, whether you\u2019re rehabilitating from an injury or you\u2019ve simply had a stressful day. Numerous scientific studies have shown that massage provides measurable health benefits<\/a>, which become even more valuable as we age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, the miles we put on our bodies can also bring with them downsides like increased sensitivity to pressure, vulnerability in bones and joints, reduced suppleness in muscles and fascia, and other assorted bummers. These factors can affect the types of massage therapy you (or your older loved ones) should consider\u2014and those you may want to avoid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Golden Rule of Perfectly Personalized Massage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So how should you address potential changes to your massage rituals as you age? Talk to your massage therapist.<\/em><\/strong> Tell them about any and all health factors affecting your life. Trust us, they want to know. A skilled massage therapist will consider a variety of clinical factors before beginning a massage to make sure you get the absolute greatest benefit from it\u2014and avoid any possible harm. Here are the most important ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Health Conditions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Diabetes, arthritis, cancer, and heart conditions can definitely influence the type of massage best suited for you\u2014and some clinical diagnoses even have specialized massage modalities to address their unique issues, such as oncology massage<\/a>. Your massage therapist should choose massage techniques and motions that will not complicate or worsen these conditions. For example, lymphatic drainage massage<\/a> should not be performed on people with congestive heart failure, a history of blood clots or strokes, or people with kidney problems or liver problems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So be sure to inform your therapist of any<\/em> chronic or acute health condition you\u2019re currently experiencing, and he or she will make sure to deliver the treatment that best meets your health needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Book Your In-Home Massage<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Skin Health & Dermatological Conditions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As we get older, the thickness and durability of our skin changes. It can become drier, thinner, and less resilient, which will affect the intensity of pressure and friction that can be applied safely during a massage. Too much pressure could result in irritation or even skin breakage. Discuss these concerns\u2014along with more clinical conditions, such as eczema, rosacea, or psoriasis\u2014with your massage therapist. He or she may recommend a gentler technique like Swedish massage<\/a> and will appreciate knowing in advance if there are particular areas to avoid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Previous Injuries<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important for all massage clients to inform their therapist of previous injuries, and the older you get, the more you may have accumulated. Previous injuries\u2014even those that have healed well\u2014can affect range of motion, sensitivity to touch in that area (including numbness), and the safety of working on that area at all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A prior injury can also provide clues into pain in seemingly unrelated areas. For example, an ankle or foot injury can cause a limp that subsequently affects the low back contralaterally. If a therapist knows what injuries you\u2019ve had they can target the massage more appropriately\u2014even if the injuries seem like old news to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You must let your massage therapist know if you are taking one or more medications to treat any serious health conditions. For example, anticoagulant medications (blood thinners), may make a patient prone to bruising, and thus better suited to a gentler massage technique that avoids deep tissue<\/a> work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another medication group your massage therapist needs to know about is pain relievers. Let your provider know if you\u2019re taking any medications for chronic or acute pain, including OTC medications but especially<\/em> prescription or opioid pharmaceuticals. John S. Stracks, MD, family medicine physician at Northwestern Medicine Osher Center for Integrative Medicine in Chicago, says<\/a> \u201cThe massage therapists who work with my practice are always careful when giving deep tissue massage to someone on narcotic pain relievers.\u201d This is because a patient\u2019s pain perception may be altered by the medication, posing a risk of overtreatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These effects can also become more potent as we age, so an open dialogue with your massage therapist is especially important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pain Threshold<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If your sensitivity to pain has increased over the years or if you\u2019re unable to feel pain until it\u2019s extreme, inform your massage therapist to avoid adverse effects later. You may feel pain differently as you age due to reduced blood flow and circulation, a health condition, or certain medications. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After taking all these considerations to mind, the massage therapist may decide to<\/p>\n\n\n\n