What Are the Benefits of Geriatric Massage?

Massage can be beneficial to everyone but geriatric massage is a specialty massage that focuses on age-related health conditions of those 65 and older. This is not a watered down version of traditional Swedish massage, but one that uses modified techniques by trained therapists. Sessions are usually 30 minutes with the client supine or in side-lying position. And to prevent damage to the fragile skin and muscles usually found in this age group, stripping and deep tissue strokes are avoided. The benefits of geriatric massage are systemic, therefore it should be considered as part of a health-care plan for anyone who wants to maintain their health and independence well into their golden years.

Lowers Blood Pressure

• High blood pressure, often called the "silent killer," affects about two-thirds of the population over the age of 65. In the November 2004 issue of "Complementary Therapies in Nursing & Midwifery," researchers Esther Mok and Chin Pang Woo studied 102 non-medicated elderly stroke survivors, the youngest being 65, and found that slow-stroke back massage lowered blood pressure. The participants were assigned to either a massage group or a control group. The massage group was given slow strokes on their back for 10 minutes before bed for seven straight days. The control group received the standard care for stroke survivors. The heart rate and blood pressure of all participants was measured before treatments began, after the seven days of treatment, and again three days later. Participants in the massage group showed significantly lowered heart rates and blood pressure immediately after the week of massages and three days later.

Stimulates Lymph Flow

• The normal aging process causes a slowdown in the immune system, making the elderly more susceptible to influenza, pneumonia and other diseases. A better functioning lymphatic system improves the immune function which can protect against these diseases. The lymphatic system is a network of capillaries, vessels and nodes that moves toxins via the lymphatic fluid from the tissues to the lymph nodes, where they are collected and removed from the body as waste before they can enter the bloodstream. A geriatric massage using light, gentle stroking can be used to manually pump the lymphatic fluid through the system.

Reduces Swelling (Edema)

• Swelling of the lower extremities is a common problem found in the elderly. It can be reduced by positioning the affected area higher than the heart and using light massage strokes directed toward the heart. But not all swelling should be reduced during massage, such as pitting edema, which is recognized when the indentation of a finger pressed into the affected tissue does not rebound after the finger is removed. Pitting edema may be an indication of a more serious medical condition.

Improves Quality of Life

• According to The Michael Stern Parkinson's Research Foundation, the average age of onset for Parkinson's is 61. The most recognized symptom is impaired movement, but other symptoms can include sleeping disorders, anxiety, depression and memory impairment. Research by the Touch Research Institute, which studies massage therapy effects through all phases of life, conducted a study with patients diagnosed with the disease. They were put into two groups. Over a five week period, one group was given massage and the other progressive muscle relaxation sessions. Physicians found that the group that received massage reported having more effective and less disturbed sleep and improvement in their daily-life functioning.