The benefits of massage are numerous, and they include restoration of healthy, boosting the immune system, stress relief, and pain relief. Everybody today is running up and down in a bid to make ends meet. There is hardly enough time for relaxation. A few minutes of the massage session is enough for relaxation, and you can face the day with new energy.
There are a variety of massage therapies for varying health issues. In the United States, massage is part of the alternative and complementary medicine. That means it is becoming more and more part of the medication offered together with standard treatment. Studies have linked massage for neuropathy with a host of benefits.
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Benefits of neuropathy massage
Several studies underscore the benefits of the neuropathy massage treatment. The massage therapy gets rid of back pain and increases your range of motion. This type of massage also reduces depression and anxiety, as well as, enhancing immunity. It achieves this by stimulating the flow of your lymph.
For athletes and other sportspeople, the massage is good for sports injuries. The massage for neuropathy promotes rapid healing of the injured tissues and enhances joint flexibility. If you are an athlete, the massage will prove critical to your performance. For neuropathy sufferers, the massage will restore mobility. The condition can affect your movement significantly.
The massage therapy also aids in the pumping of nutrients and oxygen into the tissues by enhancing blood circulation. This alleviates cramping and spasms. Increase in blood flow helps take nutrients and oxygen for nerve repair. Neuropathy and massage are two terms that should go hand in hand if you want to experience recovery.
The release of endorphins in your body is essential when it comes to pain relief. They are natural painkillers and would deal with that migraine you have been struggling with.
The massage de-stresses the nerves causing issues like numbness, tingling, and burning. The discomfort ends when the massage loosens the muscles helping take the pressure away from the nerves.
For those living with arthritis, the massage therapy increases joint flexibility and reduced joint pains.
Other studies show that the therapy is an effective treatment for enhanced sleep quality and decreased anxiety. The therapy improves concentration and is an excellent source of energy. If you are a student, this therapy will enhance your academic performance in a significant manner.
Massage protocol
- Start the session by checking the feet for discoloration such as red spots, fungus in the toenails and cracks in the skin. Also, watch out for dark spots and cold areas. Toenails and other fungal infections are contagious and should be left alone until proper medication.
- On every foot, do some light stroking and light pressure right to the fingers, plantar and every tissue up to the knees. This step involves the whole hand including the fingertips.
- Using the whole hand again, start some light compression for approximately one minute on each foot. Focus on plantar, the dorsal and all tissue to the knee.
- Depending on the tolerance level of the sufferer, start light stretching. On every toe joint, conduct a full range of motion. This should also be done at the ankle and the base of the toes.
- The next step is digital kneading and will also depend on the patient’s level of tolerance. Use light pressure and work on all the surface of the toe back, front and sides. Spend approximately three minutes on every foot.
- Continue with the kneading this time between the foot’s ligaments. Start with the toes and proceed towards the ankles. Don’t forget the arch of the heel and knead ball. Take three minutes to every foot.
- After massaging to the client’s tolerance, it is now time to go deep with the digital kneading. However, this should progress with each session going more in-depth with time. This will take longer than the previous sessions. It will be about ten minutes for each foot. The severity of the condition and the client’s efforts will determine how deep you can go.
- Follow this with the circular stroking of the feet, plantar dorsal and up the knee using your hands.
- The stage is a sequence of the circular motion massage, petrissage, the circular motion again, and deep pressure from the ankle upwards.
- Move back to the toes with a sequence of circular stroking, petrissage, circular stroking, knuckle and digital kneading. The deep pressure on plantar, dorsal, toes, ankle and calf up the client’s knee.
- The final step is whole hand stroking from the toes to the knees. Concentrate on the posterior and anterior surfaces. On each extremity, spend about a minute.
Precautions
Massage is beneficial and the associated risks minimal. However, precautions are necessary. A massage should never leave you feeling sore or painful. It should be a source of relaxation or pain relief. The majority of the serious problems come from excessive pressure or massages oils that are inappropriate.
Cautions on therapy include:
- If you have low platelet count or is suffering from the bleeding disorder, then avoid any instances of a vigorous massage. The same applies for people taking blood thinning medication.
- Massage should never be done on any part of the body with fractures, blood clots, and open wounds. Other conditions like a skin infection, cancer and osteoporosis should make you stay away from massage.
- Massage is ordinarily safe for people living with cancer. However, they should always seek the advice of their oncologist before going ahead with the massage. Direct pressure on the tumor is not appropriate. Avoid applying any such kind of pressure on the area.
- Whether you are using a foot massager for nerve pain or going to a professional masseuse, pregnant women should first consult a physician.
FAQs
Can massage help with neuropathy?
Yes.
Massage could help restore motion to your feet if you were having problems in that aspect. People suffering from neuropathy have nerve damage. A massage hastens the repair process by enhancing circulation. Oxygen and nutrients are taken to the appropriate tissue, and the healing starts. Enhanced flow helps remove toxins and waste that can as well inhibit recovery.
Another way that massage promotes nerve healing is by loosening the muscles. Stiff muscles apply pressure on the nerve, and that causes a significant amount of pain. Massage also gets rid of irritation and pinching.
It is possible to heal neuropathy by removing the underlying cause. Massage is just one of the ways that you can alleviate the pain and support healing.
What is neuropathy of the feet and legs?
It is kind of damage to the nerves where the sufferer feels prickling, tingling, numbness, jabbing, freezing, burning or throbbing on their feet. These symptoms happen gradually. There are a number of conditions responsible for causing nerve damage.
The first primary cause is diabetes. More than 50% of people living with diabetes develop neuropathy of the feet. Uncontrolled blood glucose in the blood causes nerve damage.
Other conditions include alcoholism. Poor alcohol drinking behavior can lead poor dietary choices leading to nerve damage.
Regardless, up to 30% of neuropathies have unknown causes. It, therefore, does not mean that just because you have it, you also have an underlying condition like diabetes.
Can you get nerve damage from a massage?
It is almost impossible to get nerve damage from massage. That is because nerves are underneath a layer of tissue and muscles. Before you can get to the nerves, you will need to have applied an abnormal amount pressure when massaging. And we all know that is not possible.
Furthermore, nerves are not that fragile as many people may think. They are not very sensitive to lead to damage. Compressing the nerves without any danger whatsoever is possible. The only risk is when your body starves them of oxygen.
In times of trauma, nerves produce numerous zappy and electrical sensations that would halt any further pressure that would inflict an injury.
However, there are areas on your body where nerves are more open than others. Fortunately for you, massage therapists are aware of them.
How do I get rid of neuropathy in my feet?
To get rid of neuropathy, you need to receive a massage therapy from a professional together with other medication. Physical therapy can treat the early symptoms of the condition. It can alleviate pain, address weakness, mobility or loss of balance. For pain control, your therapist may recommend transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation units.
Massage, on the other hand, can promote blood flow and ease any tension present on your feet.
Your therapist can also teach you simple home remedies for neuropathy in the feet and skin care techniques to get rid of the pain.
Conclusion
Neuropathy can cause immobility, pain, and tingling. The condition is caused by among others, diabetes and alcoholism. Massage for neuropathy can help alleviate pain, increase blood flow and promote healing. Among the available methods massage remains the most natural remedy for neuropathy of foot. Let a professional masseuse do the massage rather than yourself, and you will see the benefits.