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massage for spinal cord injuries
Hello, I recently had a client with spinal cord injury. At first I was very nervous in treating him but by taking my time and being as gentle as I could I was able to actually do some good. He said his spinal cord was swollen around C3 & C4. The left arm was almost totally immobile but with some passive stretching and Isometric stretches (PNF) I was able to get his arm to his side and he was able to lift it almost even with his chin.
I was really pleased with the progress as he said the next day he was able to move with less pain and slept more comfortably than he has in months. I'm sure he is now one of my regulars and that's why I am putting this out there.
I need some advice or direction as to where I can find some specific training, if there is any, on treating the spinal cord injury patient for certification. I was thrown into working with him but found I was so much more fulfilled and rewarded in treating him than I have been in some time. We see improvements to most of our clients with tight aching muscles but this was so much more defined I am still thinking about it a few days afterward.
So if anyone knows of any type of training I could take to be certified in helping this type of client I am all ears. Thank you, Randy Mosley
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jessica Mahar on
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Randel, that's great news! As I was reading your post, I got that glowing feel I always get when I'm able to offer someone relief from chronic pain. I'm sorry I'm not any help as far as which courses to take. There are so many techniques out there now that I'm not sure which one(s) would be best suited for this situation but a little voice in my ear kept saying Neuromuscular. Maybe because it's the spine and all the nerves?? In any case, it sounds like you are on the right track with this person in offering gentle massage along with gentle stretches. I have been working on one particular client since 1997 when he fell off the bed of a Semi and shattered his foot. It's all pins and no cartilage and his orthopedic doctor was amazed at the ROM he had in that foot just from me doing gentle massage along with lots of gentle stretches one to two times a week. My point of telling you this is that I tried to find more techniques, better techniques to try and, in the end, the best therapy has always been gentle massage with gentle stretching.
Best of luck to you!
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Permalink Reply by Randel Mosley on
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Jessica, thank you for your input and sharing your experience with your client. I was planning on taking neuromuscular therapy training so your comments helped make my decision for sure.
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Permalink Reply by Gordon J. Wallis on
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Neuromuscular technique for the most part deals with trigger point elimination. I have found that regardless of their diagnosis or presenting symptoms..You can help more people then not, by eliminating trigger points. I had three clients yesterday that had been seeing chiropractors and other massage therapists, but were unable to get any relief from their pain and presenting symptoms.... On all three cases I was able to palpate and eliminate trigger points in their shoulders and hips that completely cleared up their problems.. Interestingly enough, they all had SI joint and lumbar trigger points...One also had upper trap TPs.. All really obvious to me...I dont know how any other practitioner could missed those? All three of those clients were very impressed with me...but each only had a couple trigger points each..They should have been helped a long time ago. Just seems weird to me..
Randel Mosley said:Jessica, thank you for your input and sharing your experience with your client. I was planning on taking neuromuscular therapy training so your comments helped make my decision for sure.
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Permalink Reply by Kimberly Campbell on
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I know what you mean. I was lucky enough to train for NMT as soon as I finished my regular Massage Training and love what it does for my clients and how it's helped me to be a better therapist. It really is a great therapy!
Gordon J. Wallis said:Neuromuscular technique for the most part deals with trigger point elimination. I have found that regardless of their diagnosis or presenting symptoms..You can help more people then not, by eliminating trigger points. I had three clients yesterday that had been seeing chiropractors and other massage therapists, but were unable to get any relief from their pain and presenting symptoms.... On all three cases I was able to palpate and eliminate trigger points in their shoulders and hips that completely cleared up their problems.. Interestingly enough, they all had SI joint and lumbar trigger points...One also had upper trap TPs.. All really obvious to me...I dont know how any other practitioner could missed those? All three of those clients were very impressed with me...but each only had a couple trigger points each..They should have been helped a long time ago. Just seems weird to me..
Randel Mosley said:Jessica, thank you for your input and sharing your experience with your client. I was planning on taking neuromuscular therapy training so your comments helped make my decision for sure.
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Permalink Reply by Nick Balzer on
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What about Cranio Sacral? It might help.
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Both neuromuscular and cranial sacral are on my list of modalities to learn. I believe my future in massage therapy will be therapeutic and/or medical.
Thanks for all your comments. It confirms where I'm headed. :)
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That's wonderful, Randel!! I'm definitely in the medical massage field since I was also a caregiver for approx 10 years as well as an LMT. Best of luck to you!
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http://www.britishsportstherapy.com/ I found this style and philosophy very useful. Soft Tissue Release.
Randel Mosley said:Both neuromuscular and cranial sacral are on my list of modalities to learn. I believe my future in massage therapy will be therapeutic and/or medical.
Thanks for all your comments. It confirms where I'm headed. :)
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