Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Breathing.....
Thursday, March 21, 2013
So Many Options.....
I'm very interested in what part of the population i want to work with it is time to explore what i can offer the elderly and what specifically i want to do.
Obviously massage in and of itself is nice. The power of touch is a powerful thing. It has been proven that those that are physically touched on a daily basis have lower blood pressure, stress levels, anxiety, and decreases the chance of developing depression (National Institutes of Health). The elderly are the most "untouched" population. A lot of elderly live alone and are less likely to go out on a daily basis.
While relaxation massages are good and can help a great deal, i believe my calling is a little more than that. I would like to work on injuries, post-operations, and maybe some fall prevention. Overall aiding rigid muscles, ligaments, and tendons to soften and scar tissue to release. I read an article today about a study where a guy took 2 groups of older adults (over 65). One group he used massage and gentle range of motion exercises on their feet, ankles, and legs. The second group he only used a placebo magnet therapy or something like that. Then he tested their balance. Turns out there was a HUGE difference in the 2 groups! The group that got worked on performed better all around. How exciting is that!
I also thing scar tissue is a big issue. After hip/ knee/ ankle/ whatever surgeries there is gobs of stiff, rigid, restricting, nasty scar tissue just sitting there hindering range of motion and causing pain. If i could clear that out of an area not only would the person heal faster but physical therapy would be more beneficial and the recovery process would be faster! In addition to surgeries and NEW scar tissue, there are also people out there who have old broken bones, old injuries, and old surgeries that have OLD scar tissues which brings it's own physical restrictions.
These are just a couple ideas i have and it feels good to get them out there.
Obviously massage in and of itself is nice. The power of touch is a powerful thing. It has been proven that those that are physically touched on a daily basis have lower blood pressure, stress levels, anxiety, and decreases the chance of developing depression (National Institutes of Health). The elderly are the most "untouched" population. A lot of elderly live alone and are less likely to go out on a daily basis.
While relaxation massages are good and can help a great deal, i believe my calling is a little more than that. I would like to work on injuries, post-operations, and maybe some fall prevention. Overall aiding rigid muscles, ligaments, and tendons to soften and scar tissue to release. I read an article today about a study where a guy took 2 groups of older adults (over 65). One group he used massage and gentle range of motion exercises on their feet, ankles, and legs. The second group he only used a placebo magnet therapy or something like that. Then he tested their balance. Turns out there was a HUGE difference in the 2 groups! The group that got worked on performed better all around. How exciting is that!
I also thing scar tissue is a big issue. After hip/ knee/ ankle/ whatever surgeries there is gobs of stiff, rigid, restricting, nasty scar tissue just sitting there hindering range of motion and causing pain. If i could clear that out of an area not only would the person heal faster but physical therapy would be more beneficial and the recovery process would be faster! In addition to surgeries and NEW scar tissue, there are also people out there who have old broken bones, old injuries, and old surgeries that have OLD scar tissues which brings it's own physical restrictions.
These are just a couple ideas i have and it feels good to get them out there.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
The Beginning of it All.
The story starts way back when i was ten years old. I was an ambitious ten year old, and at some point i got in my mind that i needed a job. I don't remember why, probably out of sheer boredom that only a ten year old in the middle of the summer can fathom. I started making flyers, flyers for dog walking, babysitting, gardening, just about any service i could offer to the tolerant people in my subdivision. I think every week those house's had a new hand written flyer shoved into their mail slots. I received no response for weeks, probably months, but i was persistent child and one day a old woman called, and it set something in motion inside me.
Her name was Murial. She had to have been at least 80 years old and bound to a wheel chair. She hired me to walk the love of her life, a small poodle named Buddy. I was over joyed at the opportunity. Looking back, i realize that i, a crazy haired, ten year old was the only help she had. We became friends, Murial, Buddy, and I. Some afternoons i would spend with her in her dining room. She squinted to see me and later came to find out, diabetes has taken most of her sight. She would tell me about her childhood in Scotland and about her grandchildren who were about my age.
Pretty soon walking Buddy was only part of what i was doing for Murial. I would help her with her laundry every week and some small chores around the house, i would rake her leaves, and even go with my parents pick her up groceries. One day i went to her door, like i always did and there was no answer. For days my mom called around to different hospitals in the area. We finally found her only to be informed that she was hospitalized and dying. She died a few days later. I don't remember much about that time besides wishing i could have done more for her. I look back on that time and realized what Murial did for me. She taught me how to have compassion, and how to be selfless. She helped cultivate a passion, and maybe she is the reason the elderly and disabled hold a very special place in my heart. At ten years old Murial was my first patient.
Her name was Murial. She had to have been at least 80 years old and bound to a wheel chair. She hired me to walk the love of her life, a small poodle named Buddy. I was over joyed at the opportunity. Looking back, i realize that i, a crazy haired, ten year old was the only help she had. We became friends, Murial, Buddy, and I. Some afternoons i would spend with her in her dining room. She squinted to see me and later came to find out, diabetes has taken most of her sight. She would tell me about her childhood in Scotland and about her grandchildren who were about my age.
Pretty soon walking Buddy was only part of what i was doing for Murial. I would help her with her laundry every week and some small chores around the house, i would rake her leaves, and even go with my parents pick her up groceries. One day i went to her door, like i always did and there was no answer. For days my mom called around to different hospitals in the area. We finally found her only to be informed that she was hospitalized and dying. She died a few days later. I don't remember much about that time besides wishing i could have done more for her. I look back on that time and realized what Murial did for me. She taught me how to have compassion, and how to be selfless. She helped cultivate a passion, and maybe she is the reason the elderly and disabled hold a very special place in my heart. At ten years old Murial was my first patient.
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