Medical Massage Blog

It is not by accident that I titled this article "Harm by 'Massage'" rather than "Harm by Massage Therapy." The reason is simple: therapy implies a contribution to health improvement, while harm signifies the opposite. In all healthcare fields, there is a foundational principle: “First, do no harm.” In what situations can massage cause harm?

In Part II we are going to discuss mechanisms the therapist may use to trigger the Placebo Effect (PE) to enhance clinical effects of massage therapy and avoid activization or diminishing the negative impact of Nocebo Effect (NE). Of course, this is an introductory article.

In 1957 a patient in Long Beach, CA who suffered from multiple cancer tumors the size of oranges was given only days to live. While dying in the hospital he heard that scientists had discovered a horse serum, Krebiozen, that appeared to be very effective against cancer. He begged for them to use it on him.

When I arrived in the United States 33 years ago, I was hired as a staff trainer for a large physical therapy company in Southern California. This company employed over 120 physical therapists, 50 physical therapy assistants, and many speech therapists providing both inpatient and outpatient services to hospitals across the region.

About a year ago, I developed an instructional video lesson on the application of ice massage for various musculoskeletal pain disorders, including—but not limited to—cases of nerve impingement. Over many years of writing educational materials and creating video lessons, I have not always been 100% satisfied with the final results. Sometimes, after the fact, I would think, I should have added more… clarified better…

“Feels-good” relaxation massage typically involves applying mainly effleurage techniques over the entire body during a one-hour session. This kind of massage can distract from anger and create a temporary false sense of relaxation. 

In Part 1, in addition to other discussions, I wrote about “Medical and Sports Massage as a Distinct Science.” I apologize for repeating myself, but this distinction is crucial for both practitioners and the general public to understand.

From the Author

What I am about to discuss is, in my opinion, equally important for both individuals suffering from medical conditions and practitioners who apply physical treatment methods, including—but not limited to—massage therapists.

Those who follow my writings know that I strongly oppose the use of alternative names for massage. According to massage trade associations, we are promoting our services under thousands of alternative names. This practice undoubtedly confuses both healthcare professionals who may want to incorporate massage into their treatments and the general public seeking help for musculoskeletal pain, stress-related illnesses, and other disorders.

About 25 years ago, I had a patient suffering from fibromyalgia, whom I helped manage the condition. This patient invited me to participate in panels at a local fibromyalgia support group. During one of these meetings, I met an endocrinologist specializing in fibromyalgia treatment. Initially, he was skeptical about the role that medical massage could play in managing fibromyalgia.

Boris Prilutsky will share the knowledge, clinical experiences, and personal mastery he has developed over almost 50 years of practicing medical and sports massage. This mostly hands-on seminar will be presented in a master class format. Boris on the master class: "I was trained to perform step-by-step massage protocols developed through research. 

Job-related burnout is a disease.

Most professional publications usually attribute job-related burnout to constant stress. Today, I would like to discuss burnout in healthcare fields, especially among primary care physicians/family practitioners, as well as among massage therapists.

I was amazed at how this topic resonated with my own thoughts, which I had been mulling over for a while. From the article: "A new White House study found a 400 percent jump in prescription drug abuse between 1998 and 2008. Experts blame a lack of monitoring programs as well as Americans’ increasing unwillingness to bear even small pains."

When I arrived in the United States, the use of manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) was initially limited to reducing lymphedema size. However, long ago, I was trained in performing full-body MLD for the sole purpose of detoxification. To avoid repetition, I will provide links to my articles at the end of this writing, which include detailed explanations.

It might seem strange to title a professionally oriented piece "KISS," but this was necessary to convey the article's message. I will also explain what KISS stands for, and I hope you understand that my intention is solely to support the message of my writing. Approximately 18 years ago, a hypertension patient whom I had successfully treated and helped to sustain normal blood pressure referred another patient to me.

Recently, I spoke with a knowledgeable colleague who shared a troubling story. In a professional massage Facebook group, an educator demonstrated a dangerously intensive technique involving compressing and massaging the carotid artery's sinuses. My friend commented, warning that this technique is dangerous and contraindicated. As a result, the group admin blocked my friend, stating, "You cannot criticize an internationally renowned educator publicly. If you disagree, you should contact him privately to avoid hurting his feelings."