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The Benefits of Geriatric Massage
Thursday, August 29, 2024, 10:40 AM
The benefits of massage therapy for seniors are often overlooked. While massage therapy is commonly associated with young athletes recovering from injury or relaxing in a spa, it can be hugely beneficial in maintaining a healthy and active body for those over 65 years old.
This month, we spoke with NHPC member Shawn Trimble, whose practice in British Columbia has afforded him the pleasure and opportunity of working with a large population of senior citizens.
Shawn helps shine a light on the techniques, misconceptions, and greatest rewards when working with seniors.
A Natural Transition
Shawn has been an NHPC member for over a decade and started his massage therapy career on a university campus, primarily treating young athletes.
That changed when Shawn moved to the small community of Comox, British Columbia.
"Comox is a seaside community on the east coast of Vancouver Island with no shortage of beaches, mountains, golf courses, and pickleball courts. There's a strong community recreation focus on senior's' involvement. It is an ideal place to retire and live an active lifestyle."
Comox is also home to 19 Wing Comox, a Canadian Forces Base. "As it turns out, there are a lot of Air Force veterans who have decided to retire here," Shawn observes.
Shawn admits that his journey to working with senior's wasn't his initial intention, but rather something that happened naturally. It is where he found his niche as a massage therapist.
"Like I would with younger clients, I judge and perform based on the individual presentation, so it really isn't much different at all," he notes.
Benefits of Massage Therapy for Seniors
Holistic health care can support well-being at different stages of life. Massage therapy can release stress, improve joint health, and increase range of motion, all of which are important as we age.
Massage therapy has been found to have significant benefits for a variety of symptoms and conditions, such as sleep issues, vertigo, carpal tunnel, and cancer-related symptoms like fatigue.
Education plays an important role for all ages. "Education about your body and your wellness is one of the biggest benefits you can get [from regular massage therapy]," Shawn says.
He noted that, outside of retired health professionals, senior citizens tend to be less familiar with how the body works.
"Most of my patients appreciate learning more about the how's and why's of their body and understanding what can change for them.
"I think that regular visits can help by having another set of educated eyes on your level of health, especially when you get into the 80+ age group where things can start to deteriorate rapidly."
In addition, some areas of the body may benefit from more attention later in life. "Back, neck, and hips are the main areas I focus on," Shawn explains about working with his senior clients.
The loss of spinal mobility is one of the bigger negative impacts of aging. Trying to maintain cervical range of motion, especially rotation, is important. Maintaining or improving hip and thoracic extension helps with ambulation (the ability to walk independently) and reaching overhead.
Considerations for Massage Therapy for Seniors
As they do with any client, a massage therapist will determine unique, client-specific contraindications during the appointment through health history and intake forms.
The practitioner must also get informed consent from all clients, regardless of age. This means ensuring that the client understands the treatment and what to expect throughout the session.
Informed consent is especially important if the client is hearing impaired, visually impaired, or has any other barriers to communication.
Generally, however, there are four considerations when working specifically with an elderly population.
Transparency
The client should disclose their medical background, including medications, implants, heart and circulatory conditions, and skin conditions.
The client's doctor may need to be consulted prior to treatment to discuss possible side effects of medication the client is taking. However, this applies to all patients, not only seniors.
"Referring the patient back to the doctor in cases where you are not sure would be the best approach. There are times where side effects of medication are going to affect your expectations of results, and explaining that to the patient is important," Shawn says.
Practitioners may also refer clients to other practices that may be better suited for their needs.
Mobility
Massage therapy normally requires the client to get on and off a massage table and lay in prone (face down) and supine (face up) positions. However, there are good alternatives for those with limited mobility.
The therapist can accommodate mobility issues in the treatment room by adjusting clients to a seated position. The massage treatment would proceed on a chair instead of a table.
Mobile massage is also an option, where the practitioner travels to the client's home.
Treatment Duration
The length of treatment may be adjusted for each client's comfort and preference.
The therapist may increase the time scheduled for an appointment to ensure clear communication about the treatment expectations and goals, intake form, and health history.
Pressure
As with any client, the massage therapist will adjust the pressure of the massage according to the client's preferences, what is reasonable considering their conditions, and the therapist's own physical ability.
Skin becomes delicate as people age, so friction or deep pressure may need to be reduced for senior clients.
Shawn shares that there can be misconceptions about the body's ability to improve or what it can withstand after a certain age. "There are cases where expectations should be lowered, but improvements can always happen."
Connect with Shawn
Working with seniors can be a rewarding experience for a holistic health practitioner. Shawn enjoys the opportunity to hear and engage with each client's story.
"Seniors are living history," he says. "They all have fascinating stories and lives to share. We massage therapists get the opportunity to get to know our patients in a way that other practitioners don't."
Finally, Shawn notes,
Don't underestimate your own or another's willingness to get better. There is always room to grow in our knowledge and experience within this profession and that is one of the most rewarding aspects.
You can find Shawn practising at Comox Manual Therapy Collective in Comox. Connect with him at shawn@themassagetherapyclinic.ca.