Massage After Stroke: Is It Safe?

Massage therapy is a viable option for stroke patients to help them relieve some of their symptoms. Massage therapy can be added to the usual care after a stroke to help stroke patients improve their muscle function and continue to participate in their regular activities. Massage therapy can also help stroke patients improve their upper and lower limb function and decrease spasticity. Massage therapy can also help stroke patients reduce their pain frequency and intensity. Massage therapy can also help decrease post-stroke patients' overall anxiety levels and also improve their overall sense of well-being. Massage therapy can be part of a treatment plan to help people who have had a stroke reduce their pain, improve their function, and decrease their overall levels of anxiety.

Massage therapy can help reduce swelling in stroke patients

Massage therapy focuses on the specific parts of the body where swelling occurs, such as the feet, ankles, legs, or arms. It helps reduce swelling by increasing blood and lymph flow, removing metabolic waste, and increasing the availability of healthy oxygen and nutrients. This can be done through various techniques, including sports massage, remedial massage, effleurage, deep strokes, and lymphatic drainage.

The benefits of massage therapy for stroke patients include reduced swelling, decreased pain, and improved recovery. It is important to note that massage therapy should be used in conjunction with other treatments to address the underlying cause of the swelling. Additionally, it is crucial to consult a doctor before undergoing massage therapy, especially if the patient has any underlying health conditions.

Massage therapy is generally safe for stroke patients, but it is always recommended to consult a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment.

Massage therapy can help stroke patients get used to new sensations in their body

After a stroke, patients often experience swelling in the most affected areas. Massage therapy can help to reduce this swelling by encouraging the body's natural lymphatic drainage process, which removes toxins and waste products from under the skin. This not only helps to reduce swelling but also helps patients get used to the feel of touch in areas of their body that now feel very different.

Massage therapy can also help stroke patients by improving their muscle function and mobility, reducing their risk of falls, and improving their overall quality of life. It can also help to decrease anxiety and depression, which are common after a stroke and can impact a patient's recovery.

In addition, massage therapy can help to reduce pain and improve sleep quality. It does this by releasing enkaphalins (a neurotransmitter that helps with pain response) and increasing the production of endorphins (the body's natural modulators of pain perception). Massage therapy can also help to boost circulation, which is often lacking when a body part cannot be moved, by encouraging fresh oxygen and blood flow to that area.

Massage therapy can help improve circulation in stroke patients

There are two main types of circulation in the body: blood flow and lymph flow. Poor circulation can cause swelling, tension, tightness, and pain. Massage therapy can help move blood through congested areas and allow new blood to flow in. This is done through various techniques that use varying pressure. For example, Pfrimmer Deep Muscle Therapy is a type of massage designed to correct restricted muscles to improve circulation. Leg massage can also help cure poor circulation in the legs and feet by stimulating blood and lymph flow and preventing varicose veins.

Deep tissue massage is another technique that can improve circulation by releasing tension in muscles and increasing oxygen flow throughout the body, especially in the feet. Swedish massage is a technique that can improve circulation by applying pressure to deep muscle and bones, aiding in the return of blood and lymph from the extremities. It can also help remove metabolic waste from the circulatory system.

In addition to improving circulation, massage therapy has been shown to have other health benefits. A 2010 study found that Swedish massage significantly decreased levels of arginine-vasopressin and cortisol, hormones related to stress and aggression. Massage therapy can also boost white blood cells that fight off infections and reduce proteins that cause inflammation and allergic reactions.

While massage therapy can have beneficial effects on circulation, it is important to note that the evidence is mixed, and the long-term effects are unclear. The impact of massage on circulation may also depend on the technique used, as classic manual treatments may produce different results compared to automated massage tools. Additionally, improving circulation through massage may be most effective in the short term, as long-term circulation depends largely on the overall efficiency of the cardiovascular system.

Massage therapy can help stroke patients relax and sleep better

Massage therapy can also help to boost circulation, which is often lacking when a body part cannot be moved. Massage encourages fresh oxygen and blood to that area of the body, removing toxins, and in time increasing mobility. It can also help to relax patients, which can in turn lead to more restful sleep.

Massage therapy can be a great addition to a stroke patient's rehabilitation programme.

Massage therapy can help reduce pain in stroke patients

Massage therapy can be an effective treatment for reducing pain in stroke patients. Massage therapy can be used to treat pain in patients with a variety of illnesses, including stroke. Massage therapy is one of the most commonly prescribed complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) therapies, and is noted to be the most likely to be beneficial and the least likely to be harmful.

Massage therapy can be used to reduce pain in stroke patients by targeting the inner layers of the muscles and connective tissues. This helps to break up scar tissue that forms following an injury and reduce tension in the muscles and tissues. Massage therapy can also promote faster healing by increasing blood flow and reducing inflammation.

A study of 53 hospital inpatients found that massage therapy significantly reduced pain levels. The mean pain level recorded by the patients was 5.18 before the massage and 2.33 after the massage. The study also found that massage therapy improved the patients' overall pain levels, emotional well-being, relaxation, and ability to sleep.

A 2014 study involving 59 participants found that deep tissue massage helped to reduce pain in people with chronic low back pain. The authors likened its effects to those of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen.

Massage therapy can also help to reduce pain in stroke patients by increasing muscle temperature, which allows muscles to relax and loosen, increasing range of movement, and reducing tension. Massage therapy can also reduce stress, both physically and mentally, by encouraging the release of feel-good hormones, such as endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine, and reducing the stress hormone, cortisol.

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