Massage
therapy has risen above the term “alternative therapy”.
Current day, it’s a vital part of the health care practices of
many people living in today's stress-heavy world.
Traditional
healthcare facilities throughout North America are finally recognizing
the important therapeutic benefits
that massage therapy
lends its patients. Of late, massage therapy has become integral
to the health
care industry. It’s used to treat every patient imaginable – those
with illnesses, chronic diseases, and also average people who are looking
to attain a higher sense of well-being, and inner and outer harmony.
Recently, Health Forum released their annual survey, conducted on behalf
of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA). The new national
survey polled hospitals and clinics across the nation on their use of
massage therapy. The survey revealed that the number of hospitals that
now offer massage therapy as a patient service has increased by more
than one third over the past two years. This means that American hospitals
have recognized the benefits that massage affords patients, and as a
result 71 percent are now offering massage therapy for stress management,
patient comfort, improved joint and muscle mobility, pregnancy, physical
therapy, infant care, as part of their post- and per-operative regimes
and to comfort those in hospice facilities.
Of those surveyed:
* 67% now offer massage to patients experiencing chronic pain, such
as fibromyalgia.
* 52% of those hospitals surveyed have incorporated massage into their cancer
care programs.
* 52% now offer massage to physically-challenged or rehab patients to improve
mobility.
* 67% of those hospitals surveyed even offer healing hands to their staff to
cut down on work-related stress and illnesses.
Solid research has proven that massage therapy can:
* Boost the immune system
* Significantly lower blood pressure
* Comfort those going through drug or alcohol withdrawal
* Sooth chronic joint and muscle pain
* Battle fatigue
* Ease stress
* Combat depression
Now if
massage therapy isn’t a miracle cure I don’t
know what is.
