Arthrokinetic.com - educational workshops and textbooks

	Home			About Us	Textbooks	Contact Us

Mike Dixon, RMT

Author
Instructor
Registered Massage Therapist

Arthrokinetic Therapy™ Offering the Best in Educational Services
• Offering educational workshops in Arthrokinetic Therapy North America • Educational consultant for curriculum, teachers, training facilities. • Educational support materials, books, lesson plans, power point

Textbook Catalog

See our photo gallery

	Home
	Previous Participants
	Employee List
	Related Links
	MS Research
	Massage Therapy Resource Library

Need to make a
Bulk Purchase of
Arthrokinetic Textbooks?

Latest Testimonial

I have employed many of the
techniques you taught...
more>>>

The Effectiveness of Massage Therapy Treatments on Clients with Multiple Sclerosis

Mike Dixon RMT

Mike Dixon RMT is Senior Practical Advisor at WCCMT. He presented his findings at the International Symposium on Science in Touch in Montreal May 12-15, 2004

In May 2004, Mike Dixon, RMT and Dr. Liljana Kordic with the help of the students at the West Coast College of Massage Therapy (WCCMT) completed a small preliminary study on the Effectiveness of Massage Therapy treatments on clients or patients who are afflicted with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Fifty-five participants enrolled int he study over a 15 week period. Each participant was given a questionnaire to answer based on the following questions:

Have you noted any change in your fatigue after the massage therapy treatment?
Have you noted any change in the intensity of your muscle spasms after the massage therapy treatment?
Have you noted any change in your walking after the massage therapy treatment?
Have you noted any change in your balance and coordination after the massage therapy treatment?
Have you noted any change in the level of activity after the massage therapy treatment?
Have you noted any change in your pain intensity after the massage therapy treatment?
Have you noted any change in your numbness, tingling or burning after the massage therapy treatment?
Have you noted any mood changes after the massage therapy treatment?
Have you noted any change in your ability to handle stress after the massage therapy treatment?
Have you noted any change in your quality of life after the massage therapy treatment?

Results:

The results of the study showed the following:

79% report an improvement in levels of fatigue
65% report an improvement in intensity of muscle spasms
72% report an improvement in walking
64% report an improvement in balance and coordination
70% report an improvement in level of activity
52% report an improvement in level of pain
51% report an improvement in level of numbness, tingling or burning
71% report an improvement in mood
67% report an improvement in ability to handle stress
89% report an improvement in the quality of life.

In contrast, the participants also reported negative effects as follows:

4% reported a mild deterioration in fatigue while 2% reported significant deterioration
4% reported a mild deterioration in intensity of muscle spasms while 2% reported significant deterioration
4% reported a mild deterioration inwalking
2% reported a mild deterioration in balance and coordination
2% reported a mild deterioration in level of activity
4% reported a mild deterioration in level of pain
2% reported a mild deterioration in numbness, tingling or burning

Conclusion:

Massage therapy treatments positively affect some Multiple Sclerosis symptoms. The results of this study suggest that additional research should be undertaken in order to further establish the effectiveness of massage therapy treatments on clients with Multiple Sclerosis.

Special Thanks goes to the MS Society for participating in this study and for taking time to answer the questionaire.

What is multiple sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis, often called MS, is a disease that affects the central nervous system—the brain and spinal cord. It can cause problems with muscle control and strength, vision, balance, feeling, and thinking.

Your nerve cells have a protective covering called myelin. Without myelin, the brain and spinal cord can't communicate with the nerves in the rest of the body. MS gradually destroys myelin in patches throughout the brain and spinal cord, causing muscle weakness and other symptoms. These patches of damage are called lesions.

MS is different for each person. You may go through life with only minor problems. Or you may become seriously disabled. Most people are somewhere in between. Generally, MS follows one of four courses:

Relapsing-remitting, where symptoms fade and then return off and on for many years.
Secondary progressive, which at first follows a relapsing-remitting course and then becomes progressive. “Progressive” means it steadily gets worse.
Primary progressive, where the disease is progressive from the start.
Progressive relapsing, where the symptoms come and go but nerve damage steadily gets worse.

Whatever your symptoms are, treatment and self-care can help you maintain your quality of life. There is no cure for MS, but it is not fatal except in rare cases.

Source: www.healthlinkbc.ca

Click on this link to book an appointment with me at my downtown massage therapy clinic.

Copyright © 2009 Arthrokinetic Therapy™

Site Designed, Maintained and Database Managed with Priority