All Things Considered: What are the Effects of Massage for people with Diabetes?
Photo Credit: Thomas Hafeneth
Massage is one of the fastest-growing complementary therapies around the world. Like any other treatment, diabetic massage has several potential benefits and side effects for people with this diagnosis. Some studies show that it has a positive impact on blood glucose levels and symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. In fact, one group study found that when parents gave a full-body nightly massage to their diabetic children, the children’s glucose levels dropped from an average of 158 to 117 mg / dL within one month.
Diabetes massage relaxes the muscles and calms the mind, thus reducing the physical and mental ailments associated with diabetic symptoms.
What Are Common Complications of Diabetes?
According to the American Diabetes Association, an estimated 1 out of 3 diabetics over the age of 50 will suffer from peripheral arterial disease (PAD). PAD occurs when the blood vessels in the legs are narrowed and blocked by fatty deposits, and the blood flow to the feet is decreased. This can result in an alarming number of consequences, ranging from foot ulcers to amputation. Therefore, it is critical for people with diabetes to ensure that the blood flow to their legs is regulated.
Can Diabetics Use Massage Chairs with Foot Massagers?
Massage products—from recliners with foot-and-calf massagers, to targeted foot-and-calf relief solutions—can serve as an incredibly useful tool for patients with diabetes seeking to increase blood flow in their legs and swollen feet. The Figure-Eight® Technology in many Human Touch® products delivers an advanced technique that emulates those used by a professional masseuse, and this technique increases the blood flow between the legs and torso.
Benefits of Foot Massage for Diabetics
Massage has been shown to drop glucose levels, which can help to prevent hyperglycemia in diabetics. According to Healthline.com, hyperglycemia can cause eye damage, cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, nerve damage (neuropathy), skin and gum infections, joint problems and even can result in a diabetic coma. Helping to relax your body will assist in lowering your glucose levels, which can prevent these types of hyperglycemic ailments.
Another benefit of diabetes massage is the increase in flexibility as the muscles are loosened. High blood sugar can result in the thickening of connective tissue, and massage will increase the mobility and elasticity of that tissue. As the muscles, tendons and ligaments are relaxed, patients will find an increase in motion and flexibility in the joints, therefore improving their quality of life. Thus, a foot massager for diabetics is a great way to increase flexibility and mobility in their feet. Diabetics also often have restricted blood flow in their feet, which massage can help increase.
Important Precautions of Massage for People with Diabetes
All of these benefits of massage should be noted by anyone suffering from diabetes. However, if you are diabetic, you need to consider a few important factors when seeking the therapy.
As with any type of physical therapy, you need to consult your physician before beginning massage therapy. It’s a great option for anyone seeking stress and pain relief, but people with diabetes need to be aware of fluctuations in their blood sugar levels at all times. Diabetics especially need to monitor their glucose levels after such therapy. They may not need as much insulin as they normally do after a massage.
It is also important for diabetics to avoid massage in an area where they inject insulin. Pressure in this area may influence the way that their body absorbs the shot and therefore alter their intake. This is one of the things professional athletes suffering from diabetes especially need to be mindful of.
Are Foot Massagers Good for Diabetics with Neuropathy?
As a final recommendation, diabetics should be cautious when assessing the pressure levels and heat options from any massage service, whether from a masseuse, a chair or with a foot massager. Those who want to try foot massage for diabetic neuropathy need to consult with a healthcare professional and also do their own research to determine if the massage technique or heating levels are ideal for a person of their body type and sensitivity levels.
All Things Considered: How Does Massage Affect Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia, a chronic musculoskeletal condition, affects nearly five million Americans and significantly more women are likely to suffer from the disease than men. The main symptom of it is experiencing pain throughout the entire body, as well as tension headaches, fatigue, stiffness and sleep disorders. Still, the cause of fibromyalgia is still unknown. As a result, those who suffer from it often have anxiety if they will find long-term pain relief.
In 1990, researchers at the American College of Rheumatology identified 18 fibromyalgia pressure points, a.k.a. tender points, that are still used to help therapists diagnose patients with this disease. People feel the tension in their skeletal muscles and in the connective muscle tissue of their body. This tension decreases fibromyalgia patients’ muscle elasticity and affects their arterial blood supply. This activates someone’s pain receptors and results in chronic pain that may not be caused by anything apparent. As a result, treating pain for fibromyalgia sufferers is difficult. The root cause of what leads to experiencing symptoms often is unknown.
The pain of fibromyalgia is only a start to the endless cycle of issues that affect a person’s central nervous system’s release of serotonin. Because of problems with releasing serotonin, patience has an increased likelihood of depression and/or mood swings. Suffering from fibromyalgia also affects the ability to achieve quality rest, which prevents the body from being able to repair itself and can further increase a patient’s depression and exhaust the body, mind and spirit.
Massage Therapy for Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia has no direct cure. However, several treatments are available to alleviate someone’s symptoms. One of the best treatments is for fibromyalgia sufferers to receive is massage therapy. Such therapy helps people get calf pain relief, decreases their stress hormones, and increases their serotonin level. With these benefits, it improves the overall sense of well-being. Special fibromyalgia massage therapy techniques also help to relax the body in order to achieve quality sleep, so the body can repair itself and start fresh for the following day. Once the body has reached homeostasis following a night of quality rest, someone can have both the mental and physical energy to address challenges throughout the next day.
Fibromyalgia and Massage Types
The best massage techniques for fibromyalgia patients combine kneading, pressure, stretching and heat. These techniques will loosen up the parts of the body that are tight and will increase someone’s mobility, allowing them to take on more physical tasks. Good techniques for fibromyalgia also increase circulation and help the body to clear out toxins within the muscles. Recommended forms of massage for fibromyalgia include:
• Swedish massage• Passive stretching• Sports massage
Massage Chair Benefits for Fibromyalgia Patients
Massage chairs make an excellent option for those suffering from fibromyalgia as they are the most cost-effective method for people who require regular, long-term therapy. They also make a great choice because of the convenience and availability for the user to take advantage of professional-grade therapy at any time of day, for as long as they like, and without having to leave the comfort of their home.
Some of the best massage chairs for fibromyalgia patients include:
• Super Novo massage chair• Novo XT2 massage chair• ZeroG 5.0 massage chair• WholeBody® 7.1 massage chair• iJOY® Total Massage
Massage Constraints for Fibromyalgia Patients
Those with fibromyalgia should consult their physician prior to receiving any massage therapy. They also should receive only gentle-pressure massages because their muscles can be sensitive. Once you’ve consulted a therapist and picked a necessary therapy option, make sure to avoid deep-tissue work due to its pressure intensity and muscle overstretching through the treatment process.
Patients also should stick to short sessions. Otherwise, they take a risk to feel unwanted pain after the treatment. The goal is to make your muscles relax and make them more pliable, not to make you hurt.
Massage Benefits for Fibromyalgia Patients
Here are the advantages of fibromyalgia massage therapy techniques:
1) Relaxation to improve sleep. Evening sessions help patients improve their sleep quality at night, thereby allowing the body to recover faster.
2) Improving muscle tone. Massage therapy helps to strengthen the lax muscles and restore the strength and vitality of the client’s body.
3) Improving mental clarity. Relaxation sessions help raise health awareness and reduce mental stress for patients.
4) Elimination of headaches. Improving blood flow to the brain helps alleviate the physical source of headaches for patients. In addition, having such pain relief helps to keep the patient’s mind in a healthier space.
All Things Considered: Is a Massage Chair Safe to Have Around Children?
Safety is critical in any home, but even more so when there are children present. Thankfully, all it takes these days is an internet search to determine whether a product poses any risks to you or your family. In order to help you in your quest for optimal home safety, here are a few things to know when investigating any furniture options, including a massage chair.
As a precursor, please be aware that no product can possibly guarantee it will be 100% safe under ALL circumstances. Objects like plastic bags, household cleaners, and even paperclips can become harmful if ingested or used improperly, so it’s important to monitor children closely in order to prevent injuries. Massage chairs are clearly no different, and children should never be left to play near one without adult supervision.
Critical Safety Precautions to Look For.
Massage chairs are heavy, and they have a lot of moving parts. These are the two primary concerns that most people have when deciding whether to have one around their families. Make sure that the chair you choose has a wide, sturdy base, which will give it a lower center of gravity and make it difficult to tip over. You’ll also want to look at how enclosed that base is, and make sure that there are no exposed areas with gears or wires. Human Touch performs a comprehensive design hazard analysis on its products to minimize any potential hazards.
As many massage chairs include a one-touch or programmed (automatic) backrest recline feature, be sure to keep kids and pets away from the chair at all times when in use. With a motorized retracting (lowering) footrest, make sure to purchase a chair that either has sensors (which can detect foreign objects beneath it), or one that raises the footrest away from the floor as the back of the chair moves forward into the upright position, or one that enables the calf massager to raise on its own if it encounters an object on the floor as it retracts. This will allow you to visually confirm floor clearance before you lower the footrest. Other safety precautions to look for are recline and incline buttons that must be pressed down and held, versus a one-touch “push and forget” method. If a foreign object is accidentally bumped by a moving part of the chair, you can quickly release the button before there is any damage to the person or pet.
Home Furnishing Regulation & Safety Standards.
There are also a number of additional safety standards with which home furnishing companies should comply with. Some people may not be aware of these standards, especially as they apply to chemicals that are invisible to the human eye. But these regulations will protect your family against health risks that extend beyond pinched fingers.
Human Touch massage chairs comply with 14 of these safety standards in the U.S. & Canada, as well as 8 International standards. This list includes (but is not limited to):
cETLus/cTUVus Certification of Compliance, including UL 1647, UL 962, UL-1431, CSA 68 and CSA 60335-1 as applicable. This demonstrates compliance to the requirements of widely accepted product safety standards, which includes regulated enclosures and guards for moving parts, stability against product overturn, and emergency stop switch regulation.CA TB-117-2013 Standard. This is a flammability standard for upholstered furniture. This code is mandatory for all furniture manufacturers selling product in California.CA SB1019 – This bill mandates labelling to indicate whether the product contains flame retardants, which are of concern to many consumers because of the harmful effects of many flame retardants.Airborne Toxic Control Measure (ATCM) commonly known as CARB. This establishes formaldehyde emission standards for panels of layered wood with wood-binding adhesives.CPSIA Regulation. Regulates/enforces the use of lead in surface coatings such as paint and lacquer.FCC/EMC (electromagnetic compatibility). Ensures that electrical products do not generate electromagnetic disturbances that may influence other products.CE certification. This states that the product complies with the essential requirements of the relevant European health, safety, and environmental protection legislation.
Consumer Precautions
As an additional precaution for massage chair use in the home, we also suggest that you use parental discretion to decide if your child should be allowed to use massage chairs as a form of therapy. Children whose bodies are not yet fully developed should not engage in mechanical massage, as it may result in injury.
Additional safety tips and precautions can also be found in individual massage chair user manuals. If you have any questions about using your massage chair, please feel free to call the Human Touch Customer Experience team at (800) 355-2762.
Human Touch® Massage Chairs Receive Exclusive Endorsement from World Federation of Chiropractic
Human Touch, the U.S. market leader of innovative massage chairs, Perfect Chair Recliners, and other wellness solutions, has received an exclusive endorsement by the World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC) for its massage chairs as a valid supplement to back-care therapies. The WFC is a professional organization comprised of national associations of chiropractors in 88 countries, representing them and the chiropractic profession in the international community.
“The WFC is pleased to endorse Human Touch products as valuable tools in the treatment and care of back pain and spinal disorders due to their superior technology, quality, and ability to prevent or alleviate spinal stress,” said the WFC’s Secretary-General, Richard Brown. “The WFC encourages individuals with back pain to consider combining chiropractic care with the high-quality of a Human Touch massage chair or Perfect Chair recliner as an option to achieve optimum wellness.”
After thoroughly investigating Human Touch products, the WFC has concluded that Human Touch massage chairs and Zero-Gravity Perfect Chair Recliners can serve as an important tool for back pain sufferers by alleviating and preventing spinal stress, which is a leading cause of back pain and related disability. According to the WFC, over 80% of Americans will be disabled by back pain at some point during their lives, and persistent /chronic back pain is the single most disabling condition for working-age Americans.
Among the Human Touch products available, the Perfect Chair zero-gravity recliners and Ascent Series Navitas Sleep massage chairs are particularly ideal for assisting in back pain, spinal alignment, and posture.
The Perfect Chair
Inspired by NASA’s neutral body posture, the Perfect Chair places the body in a virtually weightless position to provide relaxation and minimum muscle tension. In this doctor-recommended position, the spine, hips, and knee joints are on or close to the balanced midpoint of the muscles. Its sleek and elegant design and zero-gravity engineering make it a great way to relieve the soreness, tension, and fatigue caused by the constant load-bearing. The Perfect Chair comes in a variety of different styles and colors.
Navitas Sleep Massage Chair
This top-of-the-line robotic massage chair defies the clutches of gravity and adjusts to the individual’s body to fit like a glove. It’s based on the patented Human Touch Technology®, which replicates the hands of a professional massage therapist and delivers 4D massage technology with 104 micro-sculpting and acupressure massage techniques for the upper and lower-body. Human Touch’s patented calf massage mechanism includes targeted shiatsu therapy and a unique air massage that rejuvenates your legs using 19 different massage techniques as well as under-foot reflexology.The Navitas chair also offers 36 wellness programs- more than any chair in the world- as well as cloud touch acupressure, and zero-gravity seating to deliver an experience that will rival even the most proficient masseuse.
“We’re proud to receive this recognition from the World Federation of Chiropractic,” said David Wood, Chief Executive Officer of Human Touch. “This endorsement iterates the effectiveness of Human Touch products in providing health and wellness benefits to the millions of Americans suffering from back pain. We strongly believe that regular massage therapy and proper posture alignment can supplement a balanced diet and active lifestyle, thereby maximizing overall health and wellness.”
In its ongoing commitment to enhancing the wellness of consumers everywhere, Human Touch also offers a Wellness Council. Through the Wellness Council, Human Touch has brought together influential individuals with a variety of wellness experiences and expertise to educate people about how to achieve a healthier and happier life by integrating massage, relaxation, sound posture, and balance into their daily routine. To learn more about the Wellness Council or to get daily, expert prescriptions on achieving a healthier lifestyle, visit https://www.humantouch.com/wellness-council or blog.humantouch.com.
About Human Touch
Human Touch is the leading provider of high-quality, innovative lifestyle products, massage chairs, and experiences that deliver indispensable, life-changing benefits to an ever-growing number of consumers for more than 35 years. Human Touch has been making people feel better by developing state-of-the-art massage products containing patented massage systems that replicate the hands and techniques used by massage professionals, thereby helping to reduce pain and stress caused by today’s hectic lifestyle. Products are available at fine furniture stores, back care specialty stores, and mass-market retailers across the U.S., through international retailers and distributors in more than 40 countries, and online at www.humantouch.com.
About The World Federation of Chiropractic
The World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC) has national associations of chiropractors in 88 countries as its voting members, and represents them and the chiropractic profession internationally. Many individuals and organizations support its work as associate members. The WFC has been a non-governmental organization or NGO in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO) since 1997, and collaborates with many federations representing other healthcare professions. To learn more about the WFC, visit https://www.wfc.org.