It’s not a secret at all that massage therapy has several benefits upon the human body, as it’s far from being just a method of relaxation.
For example, it was recently discovered that therapeutic massage can help to reduce the unnecessary use of anti-psychotics!
How? Human interaction is the secret!
According to a report from The Alzheimer’s Society, there is a small – but it exists – amount of evidence showing that massage can help in the management of several symptoms associated with dementia. To be more specific, we’re talking about depression, anxiety, or even agitation.
People living with dementia can easily and gladly accept a hand massage, as the touch of a hand is still a familiar sensation to them. A quick, five-minute session of therapeutic massage on the hands can trigger a psychological relaxation response!
But this is not everything, as it can also increase the level of serotonin, otherwise a monoamine neurotransmitter, known as a contributor to the feeling of happiness.
Hands aren’t the only areas where therapeutic massage moves can be applied. Foot massages, for example, are great for promoting sleep, but also transmitting a sensation of support and comfort, which leads to deep relaxation. Therefore, it can also reduce some of the behavioral symptoms of dementia.
Moving on, it was also revealed that massage can treat one of the most critical symptoms of dementia, agitation. For the past years, this side effect was treated with medication, but let’s not forget that this also involves side effects, like increasing a patient’s risk of falls and even fractures.
Even more, it was observed that therapeutic massage used with a specific control group will have great effects for those already suffering from dementia, not to mention they also have a useful adjunct to the current pain management plan.
As mentioned above, dementia patients can enjoy multiple benefits, even after a quick massage session. It helps getting rid of feelings like anxiety while increasing the body’s alertness. But, probably one of the most important benefits, is easing the feeling of loneliness and boredom, felt by a lot of patients. If you prefer, massage has what it takes to make dementia patients feel, once again, worthy of themselves.
To sum it up, it can easily be said that therapeutic massage can easily be considered an alternative in easing the behavioral symptoms, through the sensation of calmness it triggers. Therefore, it’s also a holistic approach to taking care of dementia.
Thanks to her extensive experience, but also knowledge and massage training, Maria’s Professional massage can be the place where you can see the benefits of therapeutic massage put into practice.
Everything begins with scheduling an appointment for a patient suffering from dementia and you can help them embark on a journey to obtaining a better mind and body, through gentle human interaction.
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