What is rehabilitative massage?
Rehabilitative massage is intended to assist in recovery from an illness or injury. Primary goals are usually to reduce muscle tension, reduce swelling, and improve circulation as appropriate.
Rehabilitative massage can require sessions up to multiple times a week, using techniques ranging from circulatory massage and manual lymphatic drainage to more conventional massage, stretches, and exercises.
What conditions can rehabilitative massage help?
Soft tissue injuries: After a vet has helped you work up what’s hurting your animal, ask if massage might help to improve recovery time and your friend’s comfort while they heal
Arthritis and other geriatric concerns: While most chronic conditions can eventually get to where maintenance massage is appropriate, they often need more frequent and specialized care to start with
Most other concerns!: Massage has many benefits and few contraindications. If your animal has congestive heart failure, certain kinds of cancer, an active infection or fever, or an open wound/broken bone, then a massage is not appropriate, or at least not on the affected area. Animals with many other conditions will benefit from the general effects of massage (reduced muscle tension, relaxation) and massage can be tailored to their symptoms (massage to benefit digestive, respiratory, lymphatic, immune systems is possible!).
Manual Lymphatic Drainage
Manual Lymphatic Drainage is a complicated massage technique that is very effective at moving lymph through the body, “draining” congestion at lymph nodes. It is excellent for treating swelling and is also appropriate as part of recovery from surgery. It can also be a part of palliative or hospice care, especially when patients no longer tolerate more stimulating techniques. If you want MLD for your animal, please say so on your intake form and include the condition you hope will improve with MLD.