Multiple Sclerosis & Massage

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I know that massage is good for those with MS, but is there anything special I need to consider, precautions, areas to avoid, areas to massage etc. I have a friend who will be visiting soon w/MS, and I want to make sure that she has an enjoyable comfortable experience.Any advice would be most welcome.ThanksJenn

 

[Eddie W]

Well...

First of all, don't work on your friend if she is having a flare up!  Warm climates, and temperature can make them feel worse, so forget about warming her up!  It can actually cause a flare up.  Has she visited your area before, especially since she has been diagnosed?  Has she had a massage before?  And remember as with any disorder, take it easy and work with their comfort level, give a good gentle massage.  Take into consideration that this is a nervous system disorder and that her sensory/motor functions are not going to be responding as if she is your everyday client.

 

[ashii]

We both live in South Florida, so that is not a problem. She is used to the heat.Would working with biofreeze or a product such as that be helpful. آ Maybe testing a small area first?Yes she has had massages before, I'm pretty sure since being diagnosed too, but I will check. I don't think she'd let me touch her if she's having a flare up, so آ I know I don't need to worry about that.Thanks.  

 

[???? ?? ????]

I truthfully wouldn't use biofreeze on her, because that is going to effect the sensation even more and unless you use gloves to massage her after putting it on, your hands will end up going numb so you won't be able to tell how deep your pressure is.  As for my own use of biofreeze, I use it on myself in achy areas or when the session is over to decrease any pain that they may have from me doing deeper work.Mainly you just want to help her relax and feel good about herself for a little bit.  The main problem with Multiple sclerosis is that the myelin that surrounds the nerve is decreased, so that the impulses don't fire properly in both directions sensory and muscular.  So you don't want to over stimulate her or do deeper work than her body can truly handle.

 

[7K3]

Multiple Sclerosis & Massage

The August/September issue of Massage and Bodywork has a long article on MS.

 

[Rush]

Multiple Sclerosis & Massage

Thank you for your advice Pandora. I wasn't thinking of a whole massage in biofreeze or the like, just as a cool down, I should have been more specific. I know the heat does bother her.

I am thinking that gentle streches would also be good.

Thanks for the info Gator, however I do not receive the mag. I will look into it. I went to their website, but they were still on the June/July info.

I did find this in Massage Today archive:

http://www.massagetoday.com/archives/2002/03/15.html

 

[Ivory]

Multiple Sclerosis & Massage

Definintely stay away from heat, even if she is used to it.  

As for that article Gator mentioned:

Searching for Comfort / Alternative Therapies and Multiple Sclerosis
   -By Shirley Vanderbilt
http://www.massageandbodywork.com/Articles/AugSep2004/ms.html