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Welcome to the latest edition of Massage Moves and the last edition for
2006. Thanks to all of you who have supported and encouraged us this year
as more and more people are discovering the benefits of having a masssage
in your own home.
Unfortunately the massages in Robson Park,
Haberfield 15th November had to be postponed due to the weather but we are
checking whether any other events may be suitable.
We have held
over our normal articles on massage and general health until the next
edition as we wish to discuss a recent development in the massage
industry. We encourage you to read the article on "The Safety of Massage"
and we appreciate any comments you may have.
The next prize draw
will be held on 15th December 2007.
Finally we would like to wish
you and all families a very merry Christmas and a healthy and happy 2007.
If you are looking for that special present then don't forget the impact
that a massage gift certificate can bring!
Best Wishes
Richard
and the Eastern Suburbs Mobile Massage team.
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The Safety of Massage |
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On November 6, Today Tonight included an item about a young lady who
had tragically suffered a stroke and become paralysed from the neck down.
It was alleged that a seated massage she had 5 days before was the cause
of the stroke.
No-one can dispute that is a tragedy for the lady
concerned, her family and friends. The fact that Today Tonight publicised
that her friends have launched a public fund to provide finanical
assistance for the lady is laudable.
The transcript of the Today
Tonight story is included on the internet at http://www.seven.com.au/todaytonight/story/?
id=30190.
The evidence does not support the story and the
information presented on Today Tonight. For example, Today Tonight claimed
that "Doctors believe her condition may have been caused by a simple
massage gone wrong", yet no Doctor appeared on the program to make the
claim and there was no evidence produced by a doctor or medical specialist
to provide a causal link between the massage and stroke.
Another
serious claim made by Today Tonight was that
"The family say one doctor
told them Asha's extraordinary case was the second that week and,
incredibly, doctors see about one case a month of massage causing serious
injury".
Research simply does not support this allegation. For example,
from 1995-2006, the Australian Traditional Medicine Society (ATMS)
Complaints committee did not receive a single complaint about massage
therapy and stroke or any other serious physical injury. Similarly the
ATMS' master policy insurer did not receive a single claim relating to
massage and stroke in the period of 1990-2005. There is simply no evidence
that massage therapy causes stroke or serious injury on a monthly
basis.
Several of the massage associations have put out articles
related to the story and we urge you to read them. These include
"TV
Program Alleges That Massage Causes Stroke, But Where Is The Evidence"
and
"Massage
Causes Paralysis: Fact or Fabrication?".
Whether
the massage caused the stroke
the client had an (undiagnosed) predisposition to the stroke which may
or may not have been triggered by the massage
there was no causal link between the massage and the stroke (ie pure
coincidence)
has not, to my knowledge, been made public (if indeed
it has been determined).
The fact is Massage Therapists pay low
rates for professional indemnity insurance. The professional risk
assessors have identified that massage is extremely low risk. However, we
always urge that should you believe you have suffered an adverse reaction
after a massage (in the form of soreness, discomfort, nausea, etc) then
consult a health care professional. This is particularly relevant if it
extends for more than 48 hours after your massage.
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