The Seduction of the Sea - Healing Waters and Massage therapy.
I was fortunate to grow up on the eastern shores of North America . Safety meant that summer mornings were spent in swimming lessons. As if by ancient ritual, we trundled into the cold Atlantic waters to learn all the necessary survival strategies of the sea. We bristled as the chilling waters enveloped us, turning our youthful skin a jarring shade of blue. Directed by our skilled militant instructors, we stood in place, held our noses and plunged ourselves in and out of the water at a rate of a 100x per minute, a glorious torture. It got our blood pumping, our hearts racing, and our bodies ready for the day of never ending activity. After early morning squeals of protestation, by mid-day we were die-hard converts. The sun had come out and we spent our days creating wondrous water games that captivated our imagination, burned our endless energy and left our spirits soaring. Since then, I have always been seduced by the splendour of the sea.
Hydrotherapy in Clinical Massage Practice
In my work as a massage therapist, I often call on the healing powers of water. The appropriate use of hydrotherapy in treatment can increase the effectiveness of massage therapy substantially. You can use it during your treatment and easily give your clients recommendations for self-treatment that will decrease their healing time tremendously.
The effects of water on soft tissue
The human body is 98% water. It is an essential component to our health. When fascia and muscle becomes dehydrated, they become hard and knotted. Like a dried out kitchen sponge, they lose their malleability. Unable to stretch and function properly, soft tissue dysfunction and subsequent pain sets in. By producing effective means of absorbing water in a therapeutic manner, one is able to restore function to the area and reduce a client's pain quickly and effectively. In our Jing Advanced Massage Holistic Medical Massage series, the use of hydrotherapy is the first tool that we employ to bring clients out of pain in a 1-6 treatment schedule. It is easy to apply and reduces your work by half.
Hot and Cold Therapies: must add water
Hydrotherapy in Latin translates as the therapy of water. However, in clinical treatment 'hydrotherapy' has come to mean the application of heat and cold to the body. This is an important distinction and is commonly overlooked in various medical and clinical texts.
Wrapping one self up in an electrical blanket or even getting cosy under the covers with a hot water bottle might feel nurturing, but if you are looking to reduce pain in your clients you must add water to the equation. In some cases like an electrical heating pad, you are countering any benefits that you might be gaining by dehydrating the soft tissue- supporting the cycle of dysfunction.
The benefits of heat
Heat is defined as 36.7-40 degrees Centigrade (98-104 Fahrenheit). It should never be hot enough to scald the skin. The introduction of heat to the tissue allows
- Muscles to relax
- Vascular dilation in the blood vessels increasing blood circulation
- Increased nutrition and fresh oxygen to damaged tissue
- Increased the flow of the lymphatic system
- Decreases muscle spasm
- Increases pliability and joint mobilisation
The benefits of cold - Cryotherapy
Ice or cold compresses are extremely valuable mechanisms to bring clients out of pain and are rarely implemented in clinical practice by massage therapists. They should be! There are very few contraindications for 'cryotherapy' and the benefits are almost boundless.
- An almost immediate anaesthetic effect, decreasing pain
- Decreases the stretch reflex
- Decreases muscle spasm
- Decreases swelling in the case of sprains, strains and bursitis
- Forces fluids into elimination channels, increasing lymphatic function
- Soothes deep aches such as tooth aches and head aches
When to use Hot and Cold therapies
Heat is best suited to alleviate pain in its chronic stages such as an injury or pain that has been prolonged and presents as dull and achy. The application of moist heat functions to soften the tissue, bringing new blood and oxygen to the area to encourage restoration in the soft tissue.
Contraindications for heat therapy include inflammation and sites of acute injuries.
Ice and cold therapy is best used in cases of acute and sub-acute stages of pain. Anyone who has sprained their ankle knows the power of an immediate ice pack. It quickly numbs the area and reduces the swelling, which allows for a faster recovery.
Contraindications for cold include osteoarthritis, thin skin, and aversion to the cold. Some people may form 'ice welts' that will disappear once the ice is removed.
How to apply Hot and Cold Therapies
Heat: As stated earlier it is very important to add a moist heat to get the optimum results for our clients. Simple methods for application are
• Hot water bottle wrapped in a warm wet cloth. You can enhance the effects by using essential oils or balms such as a 'tiger balm'. You may leave it on the affected area such as the low back, while you work on your client's shoulders or feet and then return to the area to begin the massage and see that your work is ten times easier.
• Heated wheat, seed or lavender bags heated in a microwave. These natural products have some moisture in. You can enhance their effectiveness by wrapping them with a warm wet cloth.
Direct heat application should never exceed 20 minutes.
• Hot Stone Fusion. Using hot basalt stones heated in water to massage the body is one of the most beautiful ways of bringing warm moist heat to the body. It is a glorious blend of luxury and serious therapy. Clients adore the nurturing feeling and your hands and wrists are saved from doing deep massage. It is true that 1 stroke with a stone is worth 5 with the hand. This is because of the scientific powers of hydrotherapy. It is a glorious therapy but be aware, stone therapy has become quite a trend and companies are offering expensive equipment and below standard one day training courses. If you are interested in this work, it is important that you obtain proper training, as if you are not fully confident, you can injure you client and yourself. If anyone tells you have to wear garden gloves to do a massage. start running!
Cold: Again there are simple ways to work cold into your therapeutic work.
- Packs. Cold packs that can be placed in the freezer allow quick cooling of the area. The good old bag of frozen peas is absolutely perfect in a pinch.
- Direct Ice Application. It is highly effective to massage an area directly with ice. Place small paper cups of water in the freezer. When frozen, peel the top half off the cup off and hold the bottom end, insulating your hands. Massage the area is small concentric circles.
Application of cold/ice packs should be 20 minutes on 40 off. Direct ice massage should be no longer than 10 minutes.
- Cold Stones . You can use stones chilled in ice water to massage an area directly.
Contrast Bathing.
The interplay between hot and cold therapies is one of the strongest tools that we have to speed up the healing process of the soft tissue and the body's systems. It is excellent for
- Joint inflammation locally or systemically
- Chronic pain
- Circulation problems
- Boosting the immune system and overall heath
Always apply cold first. By first applying cold to the area to rid the area of inflammation, stagnant blood and lymph fluid, the area becomes decongested. Follow immediately with heat to literally 'bathe' the area with new blood and nutrients to cleanse and heal the tissue, including fascia, muscles, and organs. Repeat the process several times for maximum effect.
Recommended Formula: start with cold 5-7 minutes; heat 3-5; cold 3-5;heat 3-5-cold 3-5. For up to 40 minutes.
This can also be done by immersion in cold and warm baths for self-treatment. This work can have an overall balancing effect, boosting the immune and circulatory system.
Complementary Hydrotherapy
Immersion in water has other benefits like the reduction of stress on the joints. Being weightless in water can calm the nervous system and allow for joint mobilisation that is impossible on land.
Many luxury spas and resorts have developed ingenious ways to make the most natural and basic of elements -water- into wild and outrageous treatments.
Most have steam rooms and hot tubs to soak your cares away. Flotation tanks, hydrating warm wraps and treatments like Watsu (shiatsu preformed in the water) can all be complementary to soft tissue work.
Local hydrotherapy pools are also fantastic resources especially for elderly clients. Being weightless in water also has an emotional component. Often we feel deeply supported and free, something we are not afforded in everyday life.
Given my knowledge of hydrotherapy, I realise now, what I felt was tortuous in my youth, was giving me the vital foundation for a healthy body. Water is a powerful element. Use it for you and your clients' health and you can treat both body and soul.
About Jing
Meghan Mari and Rachel Fairweather are directors and principal tutors of Jing Advanced massage + Training- an organisation dedicated to excellence in all aspects of postgraduate massage training. Offering a unique range of Holistic Medical Massage workshops for treatment of pain, we also offer courses in Hot Stone Fusion, Amma Fusion, On Site Massage and Pregnancy Massage. Based in Brighton, we offer courses around the UK
Tel: 01273.628.942.
Email: info@jingmassage.com
www.jingmassage.com
Text: Copyright Meghan Mari 2004
Photos by Meghan Mari