"Pre- and Perinatal Massage Therapy explores techniques of therapeutic massage and bodywork that enable massage therapists to support mothers and their babies throughout the childbearing year. In this updated edition of her widely used and trusted text, noted maternity massage therapist and teacher Carole Osborne details the physiological, functional, and emotional developments of childbearing. The three Technique Manuals included in the text teach clinically refined techniques, conveniently woven around women's common needs." -- Back cover.
urturing Massage for Pregnancy is one of the most comprehensive books available for massage students and licensed massage therapists who treat pregnant, laboring, and postpartum clients. The author is a highly skilled perinatal massage instructor who is also a registered nurse, childbirth educator, and doula.
Why we need a daily dose of touch: an investigation of the effects of touch on our physical and mental well-being. Although the therapeutic benefits of touch have become increasingly clear, American society, claims Tiffany Field, is dangerously touch-deprived. Many schools have “no touch” policies; the isolating effects of Internet-driven work and life can leave us hungry for tactile experience. In this book Field explains why we may need a daily dose of touch. The first sensory input in life comes from the sense of touch while a baby is still in the womb, and touch continues to be the primary means of learning about the world throughout infancy and well into childhood. Touch is critical, too, for adults' physical and mental health. Field describes studies showing that touch therapy can benefit everyone, from premature infants to children with asthma to patients with conditions that range from cancer to eating disorders. This second edition of Touch, revised and updated with the latest research, reports on new studies that show the role of touch in early development, in communication (including the reading of others' emotions), in personal relationships, and even in sports. It describes the physiological and biological effects of touch, including areas of the brain affected by touch, and the effects of massage therapy on prematurity, attentiveness, depression, pain, and immune functions. Touch has been shown to have positive effects on growth, brain waves, breathing, and heart rate, and to decrease stress and anxiety. As Field makes clear, we enforce our society's touch taboo at our peril.
A Handbook for Relieving the Discomforts of Pregnancy Massage is a sensuous, relaxing, and loving treatment that has the added bonus of being especially good for you. It’s the perfect way to reduce stress and promote general well-being. During pregnancy, your body is undergoing many changes, some of them stressful and discomforting. Mother Massage, by licensed massage therapist Elaine Stillerman, is a beautifully illustrated guide to help eliminate some of these adverse effects. Designed to be used either alone or with a partner, Mother Massage provides techniques for a variety of massages, including full body massage, preparation for labor and birthing massage, massage during the postpartum and nursing stages, and infant massage. These techniques are explained in step-by-step, illustrated detail. You’ll also learn special massages for treating such discomforts as: • Backaches • Breast Soreness • Charley Horse and Leg Cramps • Headaches • Heartburn • Fatigue • Morning Sickness • Sciatica • Stretch Marks • Varicose Veins • And Many Others Also included are sections on reflexology, herbal remedies, and nutritional requirements for pregnant and lactating women.
Cuts through the confusion surrounding pregnancy and birth by debunking dozens of myths that mislead parents, offering explanations of medical terms, and covering a variety of issues including prenatal care, birth defects, and amniocentesis.
Written by the Director of the world-renowned Touch Research Institutes, this book examines the practical applications of important massage therapy research findings. Each chapter of this comprehensive resource provides a clear and authoritative review of what is reliably known about the effects of touch for a variety of clinical conditions such as depression, pain management, movement problems, and functioning of the immune system. Coverage also includes the benefits of massage to specific populations such as pregnant women, neonates, infants, and adolescents. This book is suitable for massage therapists (including Shiatsu practitioners), aromatherapists, chiropractors, osteopaths, physical therapists, and nurses. - Provides a thorough yet concise review of recent research related to the importance of touch. - Offers practical guidance to healthcare professionals whose work involves physical contact with patients.•Becomes a new book as new studies will be incorporated. •Research techniques, not previously included.
A Practitioners guidebook for the treatment of pregnant and postpartum women. This guide explains 25 treatment routines for the treatment of common pregnancy and postpartum discomforts. The guide includes a treatment routine during labor.
Discover the healing power of massage therapy! With The Complete Guide to Massage, you can use the power of touch to soothe aches and wash away worries. Each page guides you through the time-honored practice with step-by-step instructions and photographs for massaging yourself and others. You'll learn the different strokes and movements within a massage as well as techniques for popular methods, including prenatal massage, Swedish massage, and trigger point therapy. Whether you're looking to relieve muscle tension, alleviate pain, or simply de-stress, The Complete Guide to Massage will help you uncover a whole new world of healing and relaxation.
Massage Therapy: Integrating Research and Practice presents the latest research examining the evidence for the use of various massage therapy techniques in treating pathological conditions and special populations. In this resource readers will find a synthesis of information from the diverse fields of kinesiology, medicine, nursing, physical therapy, and psychology. Authored by experts carefully selected for their specific knowledge, experience, and research acumen, Massage Therapy: Integrating Research and Practice will assist both students and practitioners in these areas: • Learning the benefits of evidence-based massage therapy practice • Understanding various research methods • Developing research skills by learning guidelines for writing case reports and journal articles • Understanding how to integrate massage therapy research into education and clinical practice This text presents a seamless integration of research and practice in four parts, providing readers first with a background to the field of massage therapy followed by discussion of research methods. Next is an evidence-based presentation of the efficacy of massage therapy for conditions and populations often encountered in massage therapy practice. This clinicial section presents three patient populations (pediatric, athletic, and elderly); three pain-related types (headache, neck and shoulder pain, and low back pain); and six conditions that massage therapists may encounter: pregnancy and labor, scar treatment, cancer, fibromyalgia, anxiety and depression, and clients who have experienced sexual trauma. Recommendations and evidence-based treatment guidelines are clearly defined for each condition. Case reports developed from real-life cases are included in this section, offering readers a real-world context for the clinical content presented. The final section illustrates specific ways to integrate research into the educational and professional development of current and future massage therapists. It provides readers with the fundamental tools for a research-based approach in clinical practice, especially as it relates to special populations. A running glossary, chapter summaries, and critical thinking questions assist students in learning the content and act as self-study tools for practitioners. Massage Therapy: Integrating Research and Practice offers both students and practitioners of massage therapy the most current evidence-based information, guidelines, and recommendations for the treatment of conditions often seen in massage therapy practice. This essential reference will assist practitioners in understanding the scientific literature and its application in enhancing the practice of this safe and effective health intervention.
