CE INSTITUTE LLC BLOG

Many bodyworkers, massage therapists, spa and salon workers are not working right now because they cannot socially distance themselves during this pandemic aka COVID-19.  This work disruption has been economically devastating for most.  Today, I found a sweet article that told about how a wife took a job as a dishwasher in an assisted living facility right here in Jacksonville Florida, so she could still see her husband, after being separated from him for 114 days due to COVID-19.  It is fact that many of us have been separated from loved ones during this pandemic - so this could one creative example of seeing your loved one, while continuing to be of service and earning a little extra income too.

Now, I'm sure some of my colleagues will think that they didn't go to school and spend years or decades, perfecting their craft to do dishes.  But some of us do have to seek new opportunities right now, and I feel this is a perfect example of clever ingenuity.  There are many different and "new normals" to be had.  Please feel free to share your ideas here on this BLOG post, or on social media so that we can all help each other during this extraordinary time of COVID-19.  If you're being deprived of visiting a loved one in a restricted medical facility and need income, seeking alternative employment within their facility might help you and many, in more ways than one.   

Click HERE to see this story on Fox News:  https://www.foxnews.com/us/wife-dishwashing-job-nursing-home-alzheimers-husband

Author: Selena Belisle, Owner/Instructor, CE Institute LLC, Miami FL

Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness. Serious outcomes of flu infection can result in hospitalization or death.[i]

Person to Person Transmission: People with the flu can spread it to others up to about 6 feet away. Most experts think that flu viruses are spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby (or possibly inhaled into the lungs). Less often, a person might also get the flu by touching a surface or object that has the flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth or nose.

Massage therapists, spa and salon service workers should stay away from people with the flu and stay at home if they have it. It is also important to wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use a minimum 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Surface areas (including chairs), equipment, bottles/containers and linens must be washed/disinfected if you meet someone who has the flu or any virus/contagion. Consider all frequently touched surfaces and make sure they are cleaned.

The Flu Is Contagious: Most healthy adults may be able to infect other people beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick. Children may pass the virus for longer than 7 days. Symptoms start 1 to 4 days after the virus enters the body. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick. Some people can be infected with the flu virus but have no symptoms. During this time, those persons may still spread the virus to others.

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Author Selena Belisle is the Founder of CE Institute LLC in Miami FL. She is a retired professional athlete and has been practicing massage therapy for over 30 years. Selena is an approved CE Provider with NCBTMB & the Florida Board of Massage. She now teaches full time for the Complementary and Alternative Health Care Industries. You can learn more about Selena’s training and CE classes at www.CeInstitute.com

[i] National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. “Influenza (Flu).” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 5 Oct. 2017, www.cdc.gov/flu/about/index.html.

Author: Selena Belisle, Owner/Instructor, CE Institute LLC, Miami FL

A fever is a temporary increase in your body temperature, often due to an illness. Having a fever is a sign that something out of the ordinary is going on in your body.  For an adult, a fever may be uncomfortable, but usually isn't a cause for concern unless it reaches 103 F or higher.

Fever occurs when an area in your brain called the hypothalamus — also known as your body's "thermostat" — shifts the set point of your normal body temperature upward. When this happens, you may feel chilled and add layers of clothing or wrap up in a blanket, or you may shiver to generate more body heat, eventually resulting in an elevated body temperature.

Normal body temperature varies throughout the day — it's lower in the morning and higher in the late afternoon and evening. Although most people consider 98.6 F normal, your body temperature can vary by a degree or more — from about 97 F to 99 F — and still be considered normal.

Fever or elevated body temperature might be caused by:

• A virus
• A bacterial infection
• Heat exhaustion
• Certain inflammatory conditions (i.e. rheumatoid arthritis)
• A malignant tumor
• Some medications (i.e. antibiotics, seizure or blood pressures medications)
• Some immunizations
• Sometimes the cause of a fever cannot be identified[i]

A fever can be a sign of a more serious medical illness, which could include infectious or contagious disease.  It is usually best to refer a feverish client to a physician, and in some cases, request approval and/or direction from the physician for massage therapy, spa or salon services.

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Author Selena Belisle is the Founder of CE Institute LLC in Miami FL. She is a retired professional athlete and has been practicing massage therapy for over 30 years. Selena is an approved CE Provider with NCBTMB & the Florida Board of Massage. She now teaches full time for the Complementary and Alternative Health Care Industries. You can learn more about Selena’s training and CE classes at www.CeInstitute.com

[i] Mayo Clinic Staff. “Fever.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 21 July 2017, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fever/symptoms-causes/syc-20352759.

Author: Selena Belisle, Owner/Instructor, CE Institute LLC, Miami FL

Epilepsy is not contraindicated for most massage therapy, spa or salon services.  However, there are some special services like cupping where epileptics who experience seizures would not be a good candidate for service.  That is because if an epileptic had a seizure and fell to the ground with glass or plastic cups stuck to them, the cup could break or cut the client and provide a greater medical problem beyond the seizure itself.  Special contraindications should be provided in any quality board approved class you take to learn the service (such as this cupping example).

Epilepsy is a spectrum of brain disorders ranging from severe, life-threatening and disabling, to ones that are much more benign. In epilepsy, the normal pattern of neuronal activity becomes disturbed, causing strange sensations, emotions, and behavior or sometimes convulsions, muscle spasms, and loss of consciousness. Epilepsy has many possible causes and there are several types of seizures. 

Anything that disturbs the normal pattern of neuron activity—from illness to brain damage to abnormal brain development—can lead to seizures. Epilepsy may develop because of an abnormality in brain wiring, an imbalance of nerve signaling chemicals called neurotransmitters, changes in important features of brain cells called channels, or some combination of these and other factors.

Having a single seizure as the result of a high fever (called febrile seizure) or head injury does not necessarily mean that a person has epilepsy. Only when a person has had two or more seizures is he or she considered to have epilepsy. A measurement of electrical activity in the brain and brain scans such as magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography are common diagnostic tests for epilepsy.[i]

The Following are First-Aid Informational Recommendations Provided by the CDC:

Do NOT do the following things during or after a seizure:

• Do not hold the person down or try to stop his or her movements.
• Do not put anything in the person’s mouth. This can injure teeth or the jaw. Note: a person having a seizure cannot swallow his or her tongue.
• Do not try to give mouth-to-mouth breaths (like CPR). People usually start breathing again on their own after a seizure.
• Do not offer the person water or food until he or she is fully alert.

The CDC recommends the following to help someone who is having this type of seizure:

• Ease the person to the floor if they are in an unsafe place where they could fall - and if easing to them to the floor can be provided without further harm.
• Turn the person gently onto one side. This will help the person breathe.
• Clear the area around the person of anything hard or sharp. This can prevent injury.
• Put something soft and flat, like a folded jacket, under his or her head.
• Remove eyeglasses.
• Loosen ties or anything around the neck that may make it hard to breathe.
• Call 911.

Stop service IMMEDIATELY if a client experiences a seizure.  Attend to the client to the best of your ability and call 911 for further direction and assistance.

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Author Selena Belisle is the Founder of CE Institute LLC in Miami FL. She is a retired professional athlete and has been practicing massage therapy for over 30 years. Selena is an approved CE Provider with NCBTMB & the Florida Board of Massage. She now teaches full time for the Complementary and Alternative Health Care Industries. You can learn more about Selena’s training and CE classes at www.CeInstitute.com

[i] “Epilepsy Information Page.” National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 5 May 2018, www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Epilepsy-Information-Page.

Author: Selena Belisle, Owner/Instructor, CE Institute LLC, Miami FL

Massage therapists, spa and salon service providers will usually need to provide extra care for their diabetic clients in the event of diabetic or peripheral neuropathy.

Diabetic Neuropathy: can result from having high blood glucose for many years can damage blood vessels that bring oxygen to some nerve endings. Damaged nerves may stop, slow, or send messages at the wrong times. Numbness, pain, and weakness in the hands, arms, feet, and legs may develop. Problems may also occur in various organs, including the digestive tract, heart, and sex organs. Diabetic neuropathy is the medical term for damage to the nervous system from diabetes. The most common type is peripheral neuropathy, which affects the arms and legs.

Peripheral Neuropathy:  is a type of nerve damage that typically affects the feet and legs and sometimes affects the hands and arms. Peripheral neuropathy is very common. About one-third to one-half of people with diabetes have peripheral neuropathy.

It is ill-advised to work on any bodily surface area that the client cannot feel.  Diabetic clients can experience numbness, especially in the distal extremities, due to the common nerve damage that can occur with this life-long disease - this is known as Diabetic Neuropathy & Peripheral Neuropathy. Furthermore, a diabetic’s capacity to heal from skin nicks or cuts is poor.  The smallest unhealed cut on a diabetic could result in infection, necrosis (tissue death), amputation, sepsis and/or death.  It is important to use special caution when working with diabetics, and as always, seek approval and/or direction for services from a medical physician regarding medical conditions.

Author Selena Belisle is the Founder of CE Institute LLC in Miami FL. She is a retired professional athlete and has been practicing massage therapy for over 30 years. Selena is an approved CE Provider with NCBTMB & the Florida Board of Massage. She now teaches full time for the Complementary and Alternative Health Care Industries. You can learn more about Selena’s training and CE classes at www.CeInstitute.com

Author: Selena Belisle, Owner/Instructor, CE Institute LLC, Miami FL

Chickenpox is a very contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). It causes a blister-like rash, itching, tiredness, and fever. The rash appears first on the stomach, back and face and can spread over the entire body causing between 250 and 500 itchy blisters. Chickenpox can be serious, especially in babies, adults, and people with weakened immune systems. The best way to prevent chickenpox is to get the chickenpox vaccine.

A person with chickenpox can spread the disease from 1 to 2 days before they get the rash until all their chickenpox blisters have formed scabs (usually 5-7 days).

It takes about 2 weeks (from 10 to 21 days) after exposure to a person with chickenpox or shingles for someone to develop chickenpox.

If a person vaccinated for chickenpox gets the disease, they can still spread it to others.  For most people, getting chickenpox once provides immunity for life. However, for a few people, they can get chickenpox more than once, although this is not common.[i]

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Author Selena Belisle is the Founder of CE Institute LLC in Miami FL. She is a retired professional athlete and has been practicing massage therapy for over 30 years. Selena is an approved CE Provider with NCBTMB & the Florida Board of Massage. She now teaches full time for the Complementary and Alternative Health Care Industries. You can learn more about Selena’s training and CE classes at www.CeInstitute.com

[i]Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. “Chickenpox (Varicella).” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 11 Apr. 2016, www.cdc.gov/chickenpox/about/index.html.

Author: Selena Belisle, Owner/Instructor, CE Institute LLC, Miami FL

Use caution when working with cerebral palsy stiffness or contractures around the head or joints. Do not force a joint to a “straightened” position and be aware that moving a stiff head could cause “dizziness” to the client.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that affect a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture. CP is the most common motor disability in childhood. Cerebral means having to do with the brain; palsy means weakness or problems with using the muscles. CP is caused by abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain that affects a person’s ability to control his or her muscles. 

The symptoms of CP vary from person to person. A person with severe CP might need to use special equipment to be able to walk or might not be able to walk at all or require lifelong care. A person with mild CP, on the other hand, might walk a little awkwardly, but might not need any special help. CP does not get worse over time, though the exact symptoms can change over a person’s lifetime.

All people with CP have problems with movement and posture. Many also have related conditions such as intellectual disability; seizures; problems with vision, hearing, or speech; changes in the spine (such as scoliosis); or joint problems (such as contractures).  We need to be especially concerned with any client with a contracture.  Moving a body part too quickly or with too much range of motion could do damage to our massage, salon or spa client.

Doctors classify CP according to the main type of movement disorder involved. Depending on which areas of the brain are affected, one or more of the following movement disorders can occur:

• Stiff muscles (spasticity)
• Uncontrollable movements (dyskinesia)
• Poor balance and coordination (ataxia)

There are 4 Main Types of Cerebral Palsy:

• Spastic Cerebral Palsy: The most common type of CP is spastic CP. Spastic CP affects about 80% of people. They have increased muscle tone. This means their muscles are stiff and, as a result, their movements can be awkward. Spastic CP usually is described by what parts of the body are affected:
  • Spastic diplegia/diparesis: In this type of CP, muscle stiffness is mainly in the legs, with the arms less affected or not affected at all. People with spastic diplegia might have difficulty walking because tight hip and leg muscles cause their legs to pull together, turn inward, and cross at the knees (also known as scissoring).
  • Spastic hemiplegia/hemiparesis: This type of CP affects only one side of a person’s body; usually the arm is more affected than the leg.
  • Spastic quadriplegia/quadriparesis: Spastic quadriplegia is the most severe form of spastic CP and affects all four limbs, the trunk, and the face. People with spastic quadriparesis usually cannot walk and often have other developmental disabilities such as intellectual disability, seizures, or problems with vision, hearing, or speech.

• Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy: Includes athetoid, choreoathetoid, and dystonic cerebral palsies.  People with dyskinetic CP have problems controlling the movement of their hands, arms, feet, and legs, making it difficult to sit and walk. The movements are uncontrollable and can be slow and writhing or rapid and jerky. Sometimes the face and tongue are affected, and the person has a hard time sucking, swallowing, and talking. A person with dyskinetic CP has muscle tone that can change (varying from too tight to too loose) not only from day to day, but even during a single day.

• Ataxic Cerebral Palsy: People with ataxic CP have problems with balance and coordination. They might be unsteady when they walk. They might have a hard time with quick movements or movements that need a lot of control, like writing. They might have a hard time controlling their hands or arms when they reach for something.

• Mixed Cerebral Palsy: Some people have symptoms of more than one type of CP. The most common type of mixed CP is spastic-dyskinetic CP.

Author Selena Belisle is the Founder of CE Institute LLC in Miami FL. She is a retired professional athlete and has been practicing massage therapy for over 30 years. Selena is an approved CE Provider with NCBTMB & the Florida Board of Massage. She now teaches full time for the Complementary and Alternative Health Care Industries. You can learn more about Selena’s training and CE classes at www.CeInstitute.com

Author: Selena Belisle, Owner/Instructor, CE Institute LLC, Miami FL

Body lice are parasitic insects that live on clothing and bedding used by infested persons. Body lice frequently lay their eggs on or near the seams of clothing. Body lice must feed on blood and usually only move to the skin to feed. Body lice exist worldwide and infest people of all races. Body lice infestations can spread rapidly under crowded living conditions where hygiene is poor (the homeless, refugees, victims of war or natural disasters). Infestation is unlikely to persist on anyone who bathes regularly and who has at least weekly access to freshly laundered clothing and bedding.

Body lice eggs usually are seen in the seams of clothing or on bedding. Occasionally eggs are attached to body hair. Lice found on the head and scalp are not body lice; they are head lice.

Body lice can spread epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. Although louse-borne (epidemic) typhus is no longer widespread, outbreaks of this disease still occur during times of war, civil unrest, natural or man-made disasters, and in prisons where people live together in unsanitary conditions.

Body lice are spread through direct physical contact with a person who has body lice or through contact with articles such as clothing, beds, bed linens, or towels that have been in contact with an infested person.[i]  As such, massage, spa or salon services should not be provided while an individual is infected with body lice.

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Author Selena Belisle is the Founder of CE Institute LLC in Miami FL. She is a retired professional athlete and has been practicing massage therapy for over 30 years. Selena is an approved CE Provider with NCBTMB & the Florida Board of Massage. She now teaches full time for the Complementary and Alternative Health Care Industries. You can learn more about Selena’s training and CE classes at www.CeInstitute.com

[i] Global Health – Division of Parasitic Diseases. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). (2013, September 24). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/body/gen_info/faqs.html

Author: Selena Belisle, Owner/Instructor, CE Institute LLC, Miami FL

Gout is a form of arthritis generally caused by a build-up of uric acid in the joint. It regularly starts in the big toe joint and joints furthest from the heart where our body’s temperature is coolest, and the uric acid can “crystalize”.  

• Considered one of the most painful kinds of arthritis
• Symptoms include:
  • Pain/tenderness
  • Tightening of the skin
  • Swelling
  • Redness or discoloration
  • Warm to the touch
• Is generally caused by consuming purine rich foods, such as alcohol, anchovies, dried beans, gravies, liver and peas

An area affected by gout may be red, hot to touch on the surface, swollen, and the client may have moderate to extreme pain.

Most people who have gout are house-bound, and are unable to stand or walk without extreme pain.  It is ill-advised to press on the affected area, and it is recommended to seek approval and/or direction for services from a medical physician regarding medical conditions.  This may include rescheduling any services that involves the affected area (i.e., a pedicure for someone who has gout in their big toe), so that they can receive their personal care service without extreme pain.  Manicures will also have similar contraindication if any of the joints of the fingers or hands are suffering from gout.  Pressing or providing traction to a tissue that is already swollen with gout could create greater tissue damage and swelling, regardless of location. 

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Author Selena Belisle is the Founder of CE Institute LLC in Miami FL. She is a retired professional athlete and has been practicing massage therapy for over 30 years. Selena is an approved CE Provider with NCBTMB & the Florida Board of Massage. She now teaches full time for the Complementary and Alternative Health Care Industries. You can learn more about Selena’s training and CE classes at www.CeInstitute.com