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Treating people with massage or music therapy can help reduce agitation and aggression in people with dementia. Getty Images

• Medications are available to treat the psychiatric symptoms of dementia, but some non-drug therapies are effective and offer fewer side effects.
• Music therapy and massage therapy may help lessen agitation or aggression in some people with dementia.
• Looking at the underlying reasons that people with dementia may exhibit these behaviors can also help treat patients without medications.

Massage, music therapy, and other non-drug interventions are effective at treating dementia symptoms such as aggression and agitation suggests a new studyTrusted Source published today in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
For years, many physicians and caregivers have treated side effects of dementia, such as agitation or aggression, with medications. But these drugs have a number of side effects, such as increasing a person’s risk of falls and fracturesTrusted Source.
Now, this study provides people with dementia and their caregivers other options before turning to pills to treat these psychiatric symptoms.
While non-drug interventions for agitation and aggression offer fewer side effects, there’s a lack of research that directly compares them to medication treatments.
In the new paper, researchers tried to fill in this gap by combining results from 163 previous studies that looked at non-drug treatments for aggression and agitation in people with dementia.
Non-drug treatments effective for agitation and aggression
While dementia is probably best known for affecting memory and other thinking skills, research shows that three-quarters of peopleTrusted Source with dementia also have psychiatric symptoms.
These symptoms have been linked to poorer quality of lifeTrusted Source for the person with dementia, as well as faster mental decline and earlier deathTrusted Source.
Their meta-analysis included information on over 23,000 people with Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia.
Over half of the studies had interventions that ran for less than 11 weeks, while some ran for more than 30 weeks.
Researchers found that three types of non-drug interventions, including massage therapy, music therapy, and multidisciplinary care, were clinically effective for treating aggression or agitation in people with dementia, compared to the usual care for these symptoms.
The first was multidisciplinary care, which involved a care plan developed by more than one healthcare provider, such as by both a nurse and a physician.
Massage and touch therapy were also effective. These included interventions such as massage, acupressure, and therapeutic touch.
Music therapy was only effective when combined with massage and touch therapy. Music therapy involved listening to music, playing musical instruments, dancing, or moving to music.
The researchers also found that certain drug-based therapies, including cannabinoids, were more effective than usual care. However, given the potential side effects of these medications, people with dementia and their caregivers may want to consider non-drug treatments for aggression and agitation first, write the authors.

What Is Massage Therapy?It is a type of treatment where a medical practitioner manipulates the soft tissues of the body including; connective tissue, muscle, ligaments, tendons, and skin through the use of different movements and pressure levels. Generally, massage is considered an integrative and complementary medicine offered alongside the standard treatment for a variety of medical conditions.
Presently, massage is not only offered in the luxurious SPAs and classy health clubs but also provided as a service in different businesses, hospitals, clinics, and airports. Read on this post if you are looking to know more about massage, its benefits, and the different types of massage.
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWCommon Types Of MassageGenerally, massage stands for rubbing, pressing, and manipulating the skin tendons, muscles, and ligaments. There are various methods of massage including light stroking and deep pressure. The following are the common types of massage:

• Swedish massage – gentle massage with long strokes, deep, circular movements, tapping, vibration and kneading helping you to relax and energize.
• Sports massage – almost same as Swedish massage, but this is special for individuals involved in sporting activities and events preventing and treating injuries.
• Deep massage – uses slow but forceful strokes to aim at deeper muscle layers as well as the connective tissue that commonly prevents muscle damage from injuries.
• Trigger point massage – focused on tight muscle fibers areas which form in the muscles after fatigue or injuries.

Relieves Anxiety And Stress

Presently, there seems to be more stress and anxiety than ever before. Sparing a moment to visit the spa or enroll for chair massage at your favorite mall can go a long way into helping lessen stress.

Relieves Lower Back Pain

Many people, especially the aged complain a lot about lower back pain. If this pain persists or gets severe, it can end up in disability or missed work. Massage therapy is the best way to go about relieving the amount of pain in the lower back and decrease the chances of disability associated with it.


Reduces Pain In The Body

Although lower back pain is widespread in the elderly, other body pains can also be treated using massage therapy. Parts of the body that one may seek relief from pain include the shoulders, neck, hip-joints, knee, etc. depending on what caused the pain, massage therapists are specially trained to provide relevant remedy for various conditions such as cancer, arthritis, osteoarthritis, headache, injury, trauma, rheumatoid arthritis, myalgia, and carpel tunnel syndrome.
Reduces Muscle Tension

Whether professional athletes with six-figure pay or simply people who follow the basic workout programs, massage is essential for people who exercise. For instance, sports massage can help with flexibility, conditioning, speed up recovery, and range of motions.

Improved flexibility

Both athletes and non-athletes, massage is essential for boosting a variety of motion and flexibility muscles. Massage therapy aids in the stimulation of blood circulation around the body muscles, thus increasing the oxygen flow and nutrients to the muscles, thus leading to enhanced flexibility level among other benefits.
Relieves tension headache

Tension headache is common and is believed to be caused by contraction of muscles in the jaw, face, neck, and scalp. Stress is a significant cause of tension headache, but massage therapy reduces the tightness of the muscles and relieves the pain that tension headache causes.

Lowers depression

Depression happens for many reasons, and it often takes long-term joint support involving many caregivers. Nevertheless, massage therapy plays a significant role in helping depressed individuals, especially those whose depression may be related to enduring pain or any other illness. Apart from helping the patients to take care of the pain as well as other symptoms, massage provides a valuable effect on the overall well-being of the patient.

Boosts body immunity

​The Swedish massage boosts the immunity of the body by increasing the number of cells responsible for fighting the viruses. While massage therapy won’t stop an illness once it starts, it plays a crucial role in boosting the immunity system as well as the ability of the body to prevent sickness before it starts.
If you think you need massage therapy to help you with any of these conditions, no need to worry. Kindly make the most of these benefits for a better and healthier life.

​This gentle massage technique can improve quality of life for cancer patients

  

Dubai Herbal & Treatment Centre (DHTC) is an alternative medical centre providing a unique blend of eastern and western medicineImage Credit: SuppliedDubai Herbal & Treatment Centre (DHTC) has recently introduced the manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) massage. Elena Naranjo and Sandra Serrano, Physiotherapists, DHTC, answer some of our questions about this technique.


Could you explain in simple terms how MLD works?Manual lymphatic drainage was developed by Dr Emil Vodder in 1930 in France. MLD is described as a gentle type of skin massage technique that promotes lymph to drain out of the limb into an area that drains normally. 
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inRead invented by TeadsWhat is MLD primarily used for?The main application is in the treatment of extensive lymphoedema of the limbs. These may be primary or secondary lymphoedema, like those formed after mastectomy with axillary lymph nodes removed, or after tissue damage caused by radiation therapy to the axillary or inguinal lymph nodes or the iliac or lumbar lymphatic pathways. It is important to know that MLD is rarely able to completely eliminate edema in these cases, but it greatly improves the patient’s general condition by reducing edema size, improving their lifestyle and self-esteem. MLD treatment is completed by bandaging and active exercises guided by a physiotherapist.


MLD can also be used in traumatic injuries such as haematomas, distortions, muscle fibre tears, sport injuries and after plastic or trauma surgeries.
In scar therapy, MLD has demonstrably improved wound healing and leads to good scar formation. This technique can be also be used in lipedema, chronic venous insufficiency, palliative care, and in patients with high levels of stress or difficulty falling asleep, chronic and complex pain disorders such as fibromyalgia, migraines and chronic fatigue.
MLD can help in mastodynia, fibromyalgia, scleroderma and in treating cellulite. Healthy people also find benefits in MLD. Women have long appreciated its benefits for swollen legs and its prophylactic use against stretch marks during pregnancy. Post-natal lymphatic massage promotes lactation in nursing mothers.
This can be used to reduce water retention in limbs, especially after long-haul flights or standing for long.

Manual lymph drainage with deep oscillation leads to a significant reduction in pain, reducing swelling in patients with lymphoedema after breast cancer and improving their quality of life.- Sandra Serrano, Physiotherapist, DHTCHow does MLD help improve the quality of life for cancer patients?MLD has demonstrated to improve quality of life for cancer patients in terms of reducing the sensation of pain and the swelling of the extremities decreasing the edema size. It also improves the restricted movement of the affected limb as well as the restriction of the spine and cervical area. This improves the patient’s self-esteem, confidence, physical conditions in terms of strength and quality of movement, preventing lymphedema formation.
In short, manual lymph drainage with deep oscillation leads to a significant reduction in pain, reducing swelling in patients with lymphoedema after breast cancer and improving their quality of life.

It's Called Therapy for a Reason
By Women Fitness Magazine -


7 Surprising Benefits of Regular Massage

​7 Surprising Benefits of Regular Massage : When you think of getting a massage, you may just think of it as the ultimate form of pampering or relaxation. Many of us turn to massage therapy to help combat stress or practice self-care.
But there’s a reason this practice is referred to as therapy and it’s not just because it makes you feel like you’re floating on a cloud. Actually, there are many health benefits of regular massage that go far beyond luxurious self-pampering.
Whether you’re receiving a foot massage from a loved one or spending an hour getting a deep tissue rub, your body will benefit in more ways than one.
Keep these health benefits in mind next time you are debating whether to invest in regular massage therapy.
Boosts ImmunityOne of the more unknown benefits of regular massage therapy is its positive effect on your immune system. According to this study, individuals who received an hour-long Swedish massage had a healthier blood composition afterward.
Swedish massage involves a technique of long, deep circular movements that move blood towards the heart. The result of the study showed that through this technique, the natural proteins found within blood increased.
These proteins help aid the body in fighting against all sorts of illnesses, including viral infections, tumors, and pathogens. So by partaking in a regular practice of massage you are increasing your body’s ability to fight off sickness.
Reduces PainIf you’ve ever received a massage, even at home, then you know how great it feels on areas you may be experiencing muscle pain or soreness. The reason for this is a bit deeper than you may realize.
Actually, barehanded massage activates the same area of your brain as painkillers. If you are experiencing pain within your body, getting a massage will help to reduce that pain in multiple ways. By reducing muscle stiffness you are creating a room within your body to relax and release unwanted tension.
But also by activating this pain regulating area of your brain you are also relieving pain on a neural level. These two combined makes massage a great natural pain killer.
Alleviates Muscle StrainMany of us sit at a computer or desk all day. In fact, 86% of Americans work at a desk. And without realizing it, by spending a lot of time typing, or even texting, we are adding strain to many of the muscles in our arms and back.
Our forearms, in particular, tend to be overly strained in today’s tech-focused world. By focusing massage therapy on these areas, you are able to release some of this strain which will help to prevent future injury.
Neuromuscular massage techniques along with other types of massage services, work to heal the root problem of your muscle strain to help combat the constant sitting. Visit the site for more massage therapy services.
Improves CirculationThe constant flow of circulating blood throughout your body requires a lot of energy and hard work. Many massage techniques are specifically designed to help push the blood around and aid your body in this process.
This allows your hard-working muscles to relax and rejuvenate so that after your massage has ended you experience an improvement in circulation. With improved circulation also comes better functioning in your organs, improved cellular growth, and even healthier skin.
Helps You SleepOne of the many reasons so many individuals suffer from insomnia is due to the amount of tension held within the body. This tension can lead to issues like high blood pressure and anxiety which in turn lead to issues falling asleep.
Because of massage therapy’s intense relaxing effects, your body is able to let a lot of that tension go which helps you fall asleep easier and have a better night’s sleep overall. Many studies have shown a positive link between massage and sleep.
When our bodies are able to get the sleep they need, we decrease our risk for numerous health issues related to sleep deprivation. If you struggle with insomnia, regular massage therapy can help to combat sleep issue long term.
Boosts Your MoodOf course, after an hour-long pampering massage, it makes sense that one would feel better mentally. But there’s actually some science as to why massage has this effect.
Massage therapy has been shown to increase your serotonin and dopamine levels. These neurotransmitters, found in your brain, are directly linked to feelings of happiness, motivation, and reward. So that happy feeling you have after a massage is actually a result of a change in your brain chemistry.
Massage also helps to boost the hormone oxytocin, which can help to give you a feeling of bonding and human connection.
Reduces HeadachesHeadaches can be caused by many different things, but a lot of the time they are caused by unwanted neck tension that is reducing blood flow. Massaging your neck can increase this blood flow to your brain and aid in reducing the pain caused by headaches.
Regular massages to this area of your body can help reduce the reoccurrence of chronic headaches as well as reduce the severity of the pain if one does occur.
Experiencing The Benefits Of Regular MassageThe best way to get familiar with the benefits of regular massage is to experience them for yourself.
Whether you suffer from one or multiple of these issues or even simply want to treat yourself to some quiet relaxation time, there is no reason not to seek out a massage therapy. Not only will your body feel better overall but your mind will also thank you.
So what are you waiting for? Book your next massage appointment today to see these benefits for yourself!