Hand and Arm Massage for Female Suffers of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Eddie Caldwell, Bed(Hons), FLCSP(Phys)ACP.

Introduction

Two members of the tutorial staff of the Northern Institute of Massage, Shaun Pennington and Eddie Caldwell, were invited to give a presentation to the Ramsbottom Branch of ARC (The Arthritis Research Council) at Cannon Lewis Hall, Holcombe Brook, Ramsbottom, Lancashire.  One of the principal thrusts of the presentation was a video showing of massage techniques.  However, the electrical power supply failed and the two presenters decided to give a practical demonstration of seated hand and arm massage to the members.

The massage was the standard seated hand and arm routine taught at the Northern Institute and comprised effleurage to the whole arm, petrissage of the arm muscles, frictions and mobilisation of the joints of the fingers, thumb, wrist and elbow and a final effleurage of the whole arm.

The recipients, middle-aged and elderly women, had never experienced professional massage before and they were all delighted with the treatment.  After discussion with the group we decided to undertake a regular treatment session with any volunteers free of charge.

The Project

7 ladies volunteered to have a free hand and arm massage on the third Wednesday of each month starting in May 2002 with a review in November 2002.

Full medical histories were taken at the first appointment.

Each lady would receive remedial massage treatment to hands and arms.  Additionally, each lady would be able to request some further treatment to any area of the body.

The Patient                   Age Group           Years of the Condition

Mrs B                  50 55                  10+ years

Mrs S                   70 75                  40+ years

Replacement knees.  Diabetic. No prescribed medication but takes GSS+Chondroitin

Mrs W                 60 65                  30+ years

          Cannot take medication because of bleeding problems

          But does take GC+Chondroitin & fish oil

Mrs H                  70 75                  12 years

Mrs C                  60 65                  10 years

                             Both hips replaced.  Gold injections.

Ms P                    40 45                  32 years

                             Both knees replaced and one hip incomplete due to

                             infection.

The Therapists

Chris Caldwell

Eddie Caldwell

Fran Garroch

Shaun Pennington

(All members of the LCSP Register of Remedial Masseurs & Manipulative Therapists)

The Venue

All treatments were performed at the Northern Institute of Massage, 14 16 St. Marys Place, Bury BL9 0DZ.

The Treatment

Each patient received a full hand and arm massage treatment as taught at the Northern Institute of Massage.

Each patient may also receive, upon request, an additional treatment.  This is a bonus treatment for volunteering for the project  and to examine other areas of discomfort.  The patients all requested regular neck and shoulder massages and two of the group have requested leg massage centred on knee pain and discomfort.

Interim Feedback from Patients

The feedback reported below is the patients answers to direct questions asked by the therapists prior to, during or after the massage treatments.

1.  All patients report that enjoy their hand and arm massage treatment.

2.  The patients enjoy the social interaction of meeting their friends and meeting the therapists.

3.  The patients report that they feel the treatments helps them relax and become less tense.

4.  They also report that they feel less discomfort and pain in the days following the treatment but that by the next monthly treatment they experience their former levels of pain and discomfort.

5.  Attendance rate for the treatment sessions, with the exception of holiday commitments, has been one hundred percent.

6.  All patients report improvements in range of movement at joints of fingers, wrist and elbow when performing everyday tasks.

7.  All patients report greater ease of movements at the these joints as a result of the treatments.

8.  None of the patients had ever been offered massage treatments during their years of suffering.  Three patients reported that they have discussed this with their GPs and one with her NHS consultant.  She was of the opinion that massage was better than cortisone injections.

9.  The therapists felt that they had established good relationships with the patients and felt that regular hand and arm massage treatments were benefiting the patients.