INTRODUCTION

Geriatric Massage, also known as Massotherapy, is a form of massage designed to meet the specific needs of the elderly population. It aims to treat the whole person and not just the condition they have. This technique involves the use of our hands to manipulate soft tissue to improve blood and lymph circulation, relieve pain, and increase range of motion.

Active or passive movement of the joints may also be a part of geriatric massage.

As we get older, our body suffers from a variety of age-related diseases like Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, diabetes, or heart disease. As a result, we have poor blood circulation and limited physical activity, which slows our lymphatic drainage. Many of our elderly patients will also be anxious, depressed and lonely. Geriatric massage can help our patients maintain and improve their overall health, as well as regain certain physical functions that have been reduced or lost due to aging. In addition, it can relieve anxiety and depression and provide comfort and companionship to an otherwise lonely person.

DESCRIPTION

Geriatric massage uses the same basic massage techniques as Swedish massage. It is, however, tailored to the specific health conditions and needs of the elderly population.

Geriatric massage has the following characteristics:

• Thoroughly review patient’s medical history.
• In most cases, client’s doctor will have to be consulted ahead of time.
• Short sessions. A geriatric massage session usually lasts between 30 to 45 minutes, as a longer session may be too much for an elderly person.
• Use of gentle hand motions. These motions are comfortable and soothing to the body. They are designed to improve blood circulation and heart function, prevent diabetic complications, relieve muscle tension, and relax the body and the mind.
• Passive stretching movement for shoulders, legs and feet are recommended to improve joint mobility and flexibility.
• Longer hands and feet massage helps relieving arthritis stiffness and preventing diabetes complications.
• Plan on helping your elderly patients with taking of their clothes, getting on and off the massage table, turning over or sitting up, and even getting dressed.
• Extra equipment might be necessary, like pillows, bolsters, blanket and     stepping stool.

Heart Valve Disease- Your heart valves lie at the exit of each of your four heart chambers and maintain one-way blood-flow through your heart. Normally, these valves open to let blood flow through or out of your heart, and then shut to keep it from flowing backward. But sometimes they don't work properly. With heart valve disease the following might happened; blood can leak back through the valve in the wrong direction, which is called regurgitation. One of the valves, the mitral valve, sometimes has "floppy" flaps and doesn't close tightly. This is most common heart valve conditions. Sometimes it causes regurgitation. Or the valve doesn't open enough, which blocks blood flow, this is called stenosis

Valve problems can be present at birth or caused by infections, heart attacks, or heart disease or damage. Some valve problems are minor and do not need treatment. Others might require medicine, medical procedures or surgery to repair or replace the valve.

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) - When you have high blood pressure, or hypertension, the force of blood against your artery walls is too strong. High blood pressure can damage your arteries, heart, and kidneys, and lead to atherosclerosis and stroke. Hypertension is called the "silent killer'' because it does not cause symptoms unless it is severely high and, without your knowing it, causes major organ damage if not treated. 

Your blood pressure measurement consists of two numbers: systolic and diastolic.

·         The systolic measurement is the pressure of blood against your artery walls when the heart has just finished pumping (contracting). It is the first or top number of a blood pressure reading.

·         The diastolic measurement is the pressure of blood against your artery walls between heartbeats, when the heart is relaxed and filling with blood. It is the second or bottom number in a blood pressure reading.

A normal blood pressure measurement is 120/80. Your blood pressure is considered to be high, if it is higher than 140/90.

Hypotension- Low blood pressure would seem to be something to strive for. After all, high blood pressure (hypertension) is a well-known risk factor for heart disease and other problems. So, it's easy to understand why you might assume the lower the better when it comes to blood pressure. And it's true that for some people, those who exercise and are in top physical condition, low blood pressure is a sign of health and fitness. But that's not always the case. For many people, low blood pressure can cause dizziness and fainting or indicate serious heart, endocrine or neurological disorders. Severely low blood pressure can deprive the brain and other vital organs of oxygen and nutrients, leading to a life-threatening condition called shock. Possible causes of low blood pressure are; pregnancy, medications, heart problems, endocrine problems, dehydration, blood loss, severe infection, allergic reaction, and even nutritional deficiencies.

Congenital Heart Disease- A type of defect in one or more structures of the heart or blood vessels that occur before birth. It affects about 8 out of every 1,000 children. Congenital heart defects may produce symptoms at birth, during childhood and sometimes not until adulthood. In most cases scientists don't know why they occur. Heredity may play a role as well as exposure to the fetus during pregnancy to certain viral infections, alcohol or drugs.

 Coronary Artery Disease- (CAD) also known as atherosclerosis, happens when the arteries that supply blood to heart muscle become hardened and narrowed. This is due to the buildup of cholesterol and other material, called plaque, on their inner walls. As the buildup grows, less blood can flow through the arteries. As a result, the heart muscle can't get the blood or oxygen it needs. This can lead to chest pain (angina) or a heart attack. Most heart attacks happen when a blood clot suddenly cuts off the hearts' blood supply, causing permanent heart damage.

Heart Failure- The term "heart failure" can be frightening. It does not mean the heart has "failed" or stopped working. It means the heart does not pump as well as it should. Heart failure is a major health problem in the U.S., affecting nearly 5 million Americans. About 550,000 people are diagnosed with heart failure each year. It is the leading cause of hospitalization in people older than 65. The weakening of the heart's pumping ability causes blood and fluid to back up into the lungs, buildup of fluid in the feet, ankles and legs - called edema, tiredness and shortness of breath. The leading causes of heart failure are coronary artery disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. Treatment includes treating the underlying cause of your heart failure, medicines, and heart transplantation if other treatments fail.