Massage therapy beneficial for people with SMA
The therapy aids blood flow, improves joint mobility, reduces tension
As previously discussed, Michael, our patient who has spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), spends all of his time sitting in his wheelchair or laying in his bed. With the lack of mobility and change in positions, he experiences a significant amount of stiffness in multiple joints and areas of his body. Reduction in mobility leads to an increase in pain due to joints and muscles not moving, reducing blood flow to the areas.
We have mentioned and described several activities we’ve performed to improve blood flow, increase elasticity of his muscles, and improve joint mobility. One of the most effective activities we have been performing lately to improve Michael’s comfort has been massage.
At our practice, we are fortunate to have a talented, specialized massage therapist to assist in Michael’s treatments. Not only does she focus on lymphatic drainage of his lower extremities, she also spends time working on increasing blood flow and reducing tension in other muscles, such as his upper trapezius, or neck musculature.
Our massage therapist performs these massage techniques for several different reasons. Improving circulation is a big reason as massage enhances the blood flow to the deprived areas secondary to lack of motion and muscle contractions in these areas. Increasing blood flow helps deliver nutrients and oxygen to the muscles and tissues. Massage is also a good tool to use as support for respiratory function as oxygen circulation is improved.
Muscle relaxation is another benefit of massage. Without the ability to move muscles, the muscles stiffen and tighten up due to lack of blood flow. Massage helps reduce the tension and stiffness in these areas which promotes relaxation and comfort. Along with this comes pain relief.
Massage also improves range of motion. With all of the stretching we regularly perform on Michael, massage helps to improve flexibility and range of motion for improvements in the ability to maintain positions for prolonged periods. Another benefit is enhancing sleep quality, as sleep is important for overall health and recovery.
As you can imagine, living with SMA can be stressful and hard to manage at times. Providing massages regularly helps to reduce stress and anxiety. Massage also can provide a sense of care and support which contributes to a positive emotional health state. Anything we can do to increase Michael’s comfort and improve his overall state and function is our goal. We will continue to modify and manage Michael’s symptoms as his goals and needs change.
Patient perspective
I never realized the importance of massage therapy until I started taking physical therapy. Over the past four years, I’ve noticed a significant decrease in muscle tightness and muscle pain due to massage therapy. Emily is always concerned about my comfort level during my sessions, and she always does whatever she can to decrease my level of discomfort. Having a massage therapist can bring another level of relief to those suffering from muscle contractions.
I’ve told Sydney, my massage therapist, that she has magical fingers. Sydney and Emily work together to not only perform my physical therapy and massage therapy, but they also keep my best interests at heart.
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