Strumping is also an active release technique, which is additionally called "ART". There is active movement on the behalf of the client, and the practitioner will then apply pressure and movement with their own hand, fist, elbow or othet tool, to manipulate the underlying soft tissue.We are STRipping soft tissues while a joint is PUMPING, moving back and forth through its normal range of motion.
Strumping is regularly practice in neuromuscular therapy, medical and sports massage therapies, and more, but can be used in almost any general massage therapy session.
To view and practice strumping, you can register in any of our neuromuscular or sports massage trainings at: https://ceinstitute.com/ Home study courses are in instantly available after purchase and accessible 24/7, until your paid course access expires.
Here is an instructor demonstration of strumping hands-on practice:
Some oncology clients worry that having a massage when you have cancer may make the cancer cells travel to other parts of the body. But no research has proved this to be true. Instead, research has shown that cancer does not spread through increased circulation through a brisk walk or hot shower, therefore, cancer would not spread through similar increased circulation from a circulatory massage.
That does not mean that there are not special precautions and contraindications when providing massage therapy to clients who have had cancer, or are currently fighting cancer or are in terminal hospice. Practitioners should avoid massaging any area that is receiving active radiation treatments. Do not massage areas where the skin is broken, bleeding or bruised.
Practitioners should avoid general massage therapy to your arms or legs if they are swollen because of lymphedema. Lymphedema is a build-up of fluid due to the lymphatic system not draining properly. This might be a result of surgery to remove the lymph nodes, or damage to the lymph nodes or lymphatic vessels from radiotherapy. There is a specific type of massage used for lymphedema called Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD).
Complete oncology training should be completed prior to practicing massage on those who have cancer to review these precautions, contraindications and more. You can find oncology bodywork and massage training at: https://ceinstitute.com/collections/oncology
In this video, we'll review some oncology terms that might be helpful when working with people who have cancer:
Some reflexology charts are old. Some are new. Regardless of age of a reflexology chart, there is no credible scientific evidence that shows one chart being more effective than another.
Never use a reflexology chart without expressed owner permission. Unauthorized use of a reflexology chart is unethical and could also be considered illegal use. Lawsuits could prevail when someone uses copyrighted materials without permission.
ALL foot reflexology charts show the bottoms of the feet. Some charts will also show the tops and sides of the feet too. Some reflexology charts are old. Some are new.
Reflexology Points That are of General Agreement
In a reflexology chart, the sole of the foot should match a map of the human body:
Reflex points for the head would be found in the toes.
Reflex points for the chest would be found in the ball of the foot.
Reflex points for the organ area would be found in the arch of the foot, under the ball and before the heel.
Reflex points for the pelvic area would be found in the bottom of the foot, or in and around the heel.
Eunice Ingham credited as the original creator of a specific reflex point foot chart. In Ingham’s chart, what’s important to note is she created a map of the foot in much greater detail than previously held. Individual reflex points for organs were not a customary part of the original foot zone therapy. These organ reflex points, which are now commonly depicted in foot reflexology charts, are largely contributed to Ingham’s work.
It is estimated that over 100-foot reflexology charts have been created since Ingham’s original depiction of foot reflex points. While most foot reflexology charts do not match, common similarities have created industry standards.
Foot reflexology charts follow a map of the human body. The top of the body is depicted in the toes and the lower body reflex points are depicted in the lower heel of the foot.
Charts should show a left and right foot. The spleen is found on the left side of the body and the gall bladder is found on the right-hand side of the body. These spleen and gallbladder reflex points should be depicted in their respective areas of the left and right feet.
Charts usually would not depict an organ that is primarily located on one side of the body on both feet, or the opposite foot from where the organ is located.
The following is a general list of medical conditions where massage and bodywork is generally not advised/contraindicated. Seek a physician’s advice about an individual’s specific medical condition PRIOR to providing bodywork.
Active Chicken Pox: Highly Contagious Virus – usually includes excessive skin lesions and broken skin.
Cellulitis: Commonly Cause by a Bacterial Skin Infection
Fever: Possible infection in the body (and potentially infectious to the therapist and their clients)
Flu/Influenza: Viral Infection of Respiratory System. HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS.
Impetigo: Bacterial Infection of the Skin. Rash with fluid-filled blisters. HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS. Ensure all lesions are healed before massage can be considered.
Infections and/or Inflammations: Appendicitis, Bronchitis, Fungal, etc.
Someone recovering from a recent infection (i.e. bronchitis) may be “okay” for massage. It is always best to check with their physician FIRST, prior to providing bodywork. Discontinue bodywork services immediately if client with recent infection or inflammation shows any signs of medical or physical distress.
Lymphangitis: Infection of Lymph Capillaries
Meningitis: Infection of the Meninges. Viral Meningitis is HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS.
Pneumonia: Infection in the lungs.
The Pneumonia itself may not be contagious; however, the microorganisms that caused the pneumonia could be HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS. Anyone in respiratory distress is most likely contraindicated for bodywork services – check with a physician for greater information and direction.
Scabies, Mites & Lice: Parasitic Infection – HIGHLY SPREADABLE. No contact should be made until infestation is completely eradicated
Systemic Swelling/Edema: Individual could have serious organ failure, infection or other serious medical illness for systemic swelling. Obtain physician’s diagnosis, direction and approval with these clients.
Active Tuberculosis: Bacterial Infection that usually begins in the lungs but can infect other areas of the body. HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS when active. Generally considered not contagious in latent stage. Can lay dormant/latent/non-contagious for years. Seek physician approval and direction for “latent” infected clients who are coughing, or for any other concerns.
This is a partial list of massage contraindications. For more information, please register for training with us on this website! Thanks!
Dwell time, also known as contact time, is the amount of time that a surface should remain wet to achieve a sanitization product’s desired result. For example, some products advertise that they kill 99.9% of germs; however, to kill those 99.9% of germs there is usually a dwell time where the surface area must remain wet with that sanitizing product.
A dwell time on average can last between 30 seconds to 10 minutes or more. Sanitizing is less effective when proper dwell times are not observed. Dwell times also require a proper amount of sanitizing product to be applied, which is just as important as the dwell time itself. Here are some examples where dwell times should be practiced and adhered with sanitizing products:
Disinfectant Wipes: Some of the most popular household wipes (including Lysol and Clorox) recommend that the surface being sanitized must remain wet for 4 minutes after being wiped.
Disinfectant Sprays: In addition to dwell time, sprays may have further directions such as distance to spray a surface to sanitize it. Lysol recommends spraying for 3-4 seconds within 6” to 8” of the surface being sanitized with a dwell time of 3 minutes where the surface must remain wet.
Bleach Solution Soak: When 1/3 cup household bleach is mixed with 1-gallon water, objects should usually be immersed for not less than 60 seconds and not more than 10 minutes, depending on what is being sanitized.
Hand Sanitizer: Hands should remain wet with a hand sanitizer for at least 20 secondsafter application. Dwelltime language is usually not used with hand sanitizer, but we felt it’s appropriate because many will not wet their entire hands with hand sanitizer, nevermind keep them wet for at least 20 seconds with plentiful product. Our sparing use of sanitizing agents today is mostly born from the appalling shortage of sanitizing agents available during this pandemic, which has not been helpful in preventing the spread of germs.
The four sanitizing products and practices listed above have dwell times that range from 20 seconds and up to 10 minutes, where the surface areas or objects being sanitized must remain wet. Proper sanitation is regularly not achieved if a product’s dwell time is not provided.
Some people will spray or wipe a surface area with a sanitation product, and then wipe it dry without allowing for dwell time. This is one of today's most popular and improper uses of a sanitizing product. It is important to not rush the sanitization process by adhering to proper dwell times, or else the entire effort could be an expensive waste of time and leave you exposed to a dirty or infected workspace.
Hard surfaces versus porous objects can have different dwell times. Different kinds of sanitary agents, as well as different sanitation manufacturers could have contrasting instructions. It is extremely important to follow each product’s individual instructions to keep yourself safe, and your clients happy and healthy during this viral age. It only takes a few seconds to read and practice these various uses, but those few seconds could make the difference of properly sanitizing your business, or leaving it exposed to germs.
There are three key factors in addressing massage therapy treatment room air quality to reduce the risks of airborne contaminants:
Increase the amount of air ventilation or air exchange around your massage service;
Increase the amount of air filtration to purify the air in your massage workspace; and
Alter your massage therapy service to avoid prolonged exposure to a client’s airway, through socially distant services (suggestions can be found here on our school blog)
Step Up Your Massage Business with Socially Distant Appointments
COVID-19 is an illness that is primarily spread through respiratory droplets. The greatest risk of contracting this virus is through close contact with an infected individual, which is why social distancing has been recommended during the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, efforts should be made whenever possible during a massage or bodywork appointment to create as much distance as possible between a client's airway and a practitioner.
Some massage and bodywork services offer a greater amount of distance from a client’s airway than others. Here are two appointment examples that can incorporate a COVID-19 social distancing theme at work:
Foot Reflexology
This ancient healing art is a service that can provide full body relaxation while producing the greatest amount of distance from a client’s airway. Foot reflexology can be provided in a supine or prone position, although prone position is preferred during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This appointment can also start with a tranquil foot soak to cleanse the feet and set a relaxing mood of utopia during these stressful times. Best practices are to provide the foot soak outside, on a rooftop or balcony for best air quality. A soak also allows for an easy and enjoyable socially distant appointment as most do not require a practitioner to be present.
The Foot Makeover
aka Happy Feet or Renew You or Pleasure Paws or Service of the Month
This appointment can be renamed and produced as an add-on or independent appointment. It is generally provided as a 30-minute session with 10 simple steps:
Sit the client in a relaxing sudsy aromatic foot soak. Leave magazines for the client to entertain themselves during this relaxation time. The foot soak will help cleanse the client’s feet of physical debris and odor.
It is usually recommended within the industry to provide water with lemon, an assortment of teas and spa snacks such as individually wrapped nuts or fruit during a relaxing foot soak. However, due to the pandemic, everyone at the establishment should wear a face covering. As such, it is not recommended to serve refreshments so that the client will retain their face covering for their entire appointment.
After an appropriate amount of foot soak time, lay towels or a clean bath matt between the foot soak and massage table, or provide spa slippers for the client to wear to the massage table. Dry off the client’s feet with a clean towel and lead them to the table where they will lie face down in the prone position.
Place an ankle bolster underneath the client’s ankles to bolster their feet in the air and a large clean dry towel in between.
Apply a foot scrub to the client’s feet. Salt or sugar scrubs are the best choice in a dry massage treatment room. Focus the scrub on the bottoms of the feet and around the heels. Use less vigor on the tops of the feet and around the toes.
After a thorough foot scrub, rinse hands with water and do not dry. After rinsing the hands, use wet hands to rescrub the client’s feet. This wet moisture on a practitioner’s hands will start to dissolve a salt or sugar scrub for easier removal. Repeat rinsing hands and using wet hands to rescrub the feet until the scrub abrasives are dissolved.
Apply wet hot towels to the client’s feet with gentle compressions. Begin to pull and rub away any remaining debris or stickiness of the foot scrub. Repeat the process with new fresh hot towels as needed until the feet are clean of all scrub material.
Place a new clean large dry towel underneath the client’s feet. Wrap one foot with the corner end of the dry towel and start foot massage on the other foot then switch. Use massage cream or skincare moisturizer for the foot massage. Oils or gels are not recommended. The goal is to moisturize and soften the foot.
Pat and rub the bottom of the client’s feet dry with corners of the clean dry towel that is underneath their feet. The goal is to remove any excess moisture from the bottom of the client’s feet so that they do not slip in their shoes or on any other surface.
Help the client off the table. The client’s blood pressure has likely decreased during this heavenly service, so allow them to sit-up for a moment before standing to reorient themselves. This service is now complete.
Socially Distant Massage Service Summary
Both foot reflexology and foot makeover appointments can be provided in the prone position and allow a client to remain dressed for the appointment duration. Reducing the time a client spends in an establishment plus providing service in the prone position could help reduce a practitioner’s exposure to infectious agents such as COVID-19.
The best way to prevent the acquisition or transmission of COVID-19 is to self-isolate, so if you do work with clients, it is critical to seek education on how to improve air quality, sanitation, and other work-related preventative measures. This includes getting creative to create and promote services that generate the greatest amount of social distancing between a practitioner and client during our new normal of COVID-19.
As cited from our Massage Magazine article on Heated Thermotherapies:
Heated thermotherapies increase blood flow and cellular metabolism, which can help reduce muscle spasms, increase tissue elasticity and decrease pain.
Heat induces viscoelastic property changes in collagenous tissues. A large systematic review found that heat increases range of motion (ROM) with these collagenous tissue changes.Additionally, the study concluded that a combination of heat and stretching is more effective than stretching alone.
Increased healing potential: In one study, a heating pad increased blood flow to the trapezius muscle up to 144% in healthy individuals.Increased blood flow applied to an injury site is thought to increase the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the injury, thus a promotion or potential acceleration of healing processes.
