Pathology for Massage Therapists
S
Scabies
Definition: skin
infection
Causes: parasites;
mites
Signs/Symptoms: itching,
persistent itchy rash, dry scaly
skin, highly contagious by skin to skin
contact
Indications: N/A
Contraindications:
refer to Physician for diagnosis
Sciatica
Definition: inflammation
of the sciatic nerve
Causes: nerve root
impingement caused by disc protrusion or herniation, adhesions at the nerve
root, fibrosis, degenerative joint disease, piriformis syndrome, fibromyalgia
Signs/Symptoms: pain
in buttocks, referring down leg, low back pain, burning, tingling
Indications: Massage
to relieve spasm in piriformis, psoas, adductors, iliotibial band; balance
pelvis, structural realignment.
Contraindications:
Refer to appropriate health care practitioner to diagnose disc problems.
Refer to appropriate health care practitioner for nutritional, diet and
lifestyle changes.
- A
Case Report of the Treatment of Piriformis Syndrome
Applying Modalities of Therapeutic Bodywork
- By Peggi Honig
Scleroderma
Definition: disease
of the connective tissue of the body primarily the skin, but can affect
many organs such as the gastrointestinal tract, heart, lungs, kidneys;
normal tissue is replaced with fibrous connective tissue.
Causes: metabolism
disorder of connective tissue and its ground substance, microvascular abnormalities,
autoimmune system
Signs/Symptoms: pain
and stiffness in finger and knee joints, edema and thickening of the skin,
cold or cold sensitive hands and feet, difficulty breathing, hypertension,
hyperthyroid, flexion contracture, yellow or white round or oval
plaques with red and blue hyperemia at the edge of them; plaques often
follow the distribution of a cutaneous nerve; may have Raynaud's phenomenon
or renal disease
Indications: Massage
to warm skin, maintain skin elasticity, reduce pain, elicit parasympathetic
response
Contraindications:
ROM may be limited due to tension of the skin. If breathing is difficult,
may have to treat sitting up. Cold therapy and extreme heat should be avoided.
Check medications. Refer to appropriate health care provider.
Link - Scleroderma
Support
Schizophrenia
Definition: mental
illness
Causes: unknown;
stress, complications during birth, head injury, virus, environmental poisons,
nutritional deficiencies, heredity, neurotransmitter imbalances in the
brain
Signs/Symptoms: disordered
thinking and perception, depression, behavioral disturbances, delusions,
loss of contact with reality
Indications: Massage
for stress reduction and removal of toxins
Contraindications:
Check for Medications
Scoliosis
Definition: lateral
curvature of the spine
Causes: muscular
tightness, muscular weakness, poor posture, emotional trauma, injury, degeneration
of the spine, bony abnormalities, congenital
Signs/Symptoms: rotation
and lateral flexion of the spine accompanied with fixed rotation of the
vertebrae, poor posture, muscle pain due to imbalances
Indications: Massage
to correct and reduce curvature, decompress structures, movement re-education
Contraindications:
None
Scoliosis : A Case Study of Deep Tissue Massage by Erik Dalton
Symptomatic Scoliosis (PDF)
by Erik Dalton
Getting it Straight
Scoliosis and Structural Integration
By Lana Lensman
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Definition: depression
that occurs in the winter due to shorter and darker days
Causes: lack of sunlight,
poor diet, stress
Signs/Symptoms: loss
of energy, anxiety, sleep often, reduced sex drive, weight gain due to
overeating
Indications: massage
for stress reduction and relaxation of tense muscles
Contraindications:
None; refer to appropriate health care practitioner.
Sebaceous Cyst
Definition: skin
growth that contain a mixture of sebum (oil) and skin proteins
Causes: toxins, bacterial
or viral infection
Signs/Symptoms: whitehead,
swellings on the face, scalp and back
Indications: Massage
for detoxification and stress reduction
Contraindications:
Avoid inflamed area
Seborheic dermatitis
Definition: skin
disorder of the sebaceous glands (oil secreting glands)
Causes: unknown;
but may be nutritional deficiencies, yeast infection, stress, anxiety,
oily skin, Parkinson's disease, immune deficiencies, food allergies
Signs/Symptoms: occur
mainly on the scalp, face and chest, may or may not itch, scaly bumps
Indications: Massage
for stress reduction
Contraindications:
Avoid any inflamed areas
Seborrheid Keratosis ( Basal cell papilloma)
Definition: benign
superficial epithelial tumors
Causes: nutritional
deficiencies, toxin build up
Signs/Symptoms: yellow
to tan to brown to black lesions that are raised above the skin
Indications: Massage
for stress reduction
Contraindications:
None
Seizure - see Epilepsy
Separations (joints)
Definition: separation
of the joints in a side to side manner
Causes: trauma, consistent
overuse of joint
Signs/Symptoms: pain,
swelling, loss of ROM, excessive scar tissue formation around the joint
during healing. Common area - Acromioclavicular; head of humerous forced
into the acromion process tearing the acromioclavicular ligament.
Indications: Massage
for inflammation according to your level of training.
Contraindications:
Refer to physician for complete separations characterized by complete displacement
of the joints
Shingles (Herpes Zoster)
Definition: skin
inflammation
Causes: virus; immune
deficiencies, stress, cancer
Signs/Symptoms: chills,
fever, achiness, blistering of skin, with excruciating pain, sensitivity
to touch, numbness, depression, headache, blisters scab over and fall off
Indications: N/A
Contraindications:
Highly contagious
Shin Splints
Understanding Overpronation By Whitney Lowe, LMT, NCTMB
Shoulder Pain
Soft-tissue Massage for Shoulder Pain
Sinusitis ( acute/chronic)
Definition: inflammation
of the nasal sinuses
Causes: excess mucus
production from poor digestion, bacterial or viral production, hay fever,
food allergies
Signs/Symptoms: fever,
cough, headache, facial pain, cranial pressure, tenderness in the forehead
and cheekbones, stuffy nose, runny nose
Indications: Massage
for detoxification and stress reduction. Sinus pressure points in upper,
medial corner of eyes, along ridge of cheekbone; cervical misalignment, TMJ, cranial misalignment.
Contraindications: Refer
to appropriate health care practitioner.
Sjögrens Syndrome
Definition: autoimmune
connective tissue disorder
Causes: hormonal
changes, stress
Signs/Symptoms: dryness
of the mouth and eyes, salivary gland enlargement may be present, rheumatoid
arthritis; mainly in menopausal or postmenopausal women
Indications: Massage
for stress reduction
Contraindications:
Refer to appropriate health care practitioner
Skin Cancer
Definition: cancer
of the skin
Basal cell carcinoma-
most common, prevalent in fair skinned people, pearly looking bump that
may bleed and never heal.
Squamous cell carcinoma-
lump or tumor under the skin, appearance of a wart or small ulcerated spot
that never heals, may be from overexposure to sun
Malignant Melanoma-most
dangerous, tumor grows from the pigment producing cells of the deeper layers
of the skin; most from moles.
Causes: overexposure
to sun and tanning salons, environmental pollutants, destruction of the
ozone layer
Signs/Symptoms: skin
problems that don't heal, moles that bleed, moles that change in size and
color, reddish irritated spot, smooth growth with an elevated border and
indented center, shiny scar like area that is white, yellow or waxy.
Indications: Massage
for stress reduction and detoxification
Contraindications:
Lesions may be removed with cryotherapy; Use caution around these areas.
Refer to appropriate health
care practitioner.
Skin Conditions
Spotlight
on Research: Massage Effective in Treating Young Children's Skin Conditions
By Michael Devitt, contributing edito
Sleep apnea
Definition: sleep
disturbance; apnea means without breath.
Causes: high blood
pressure, nutritional deficiencies such as calcium and magnesium, lack
of exercise, poor diet, excess mucus, blocked nasal passageways (deviated
septum), adrenal distress, hormonal changes
Signs/Symptoms: irregular
breathing, snoring, oxygen deprivation, fatigue, feeling unrested after
sleep, TMJ, cervical and cranial misalignment
Indications: Massage
for stress reduction and relieve tension in neck, shoulders and back, cranial
realignment, cervical realignment
Contraindications:
none; Refer to appropriate health care practitioner; Bach Flower Remedies,
Homeopathy, Naturopath
University of Maryland Medical Center - Information on using homeopathy and
alternative medicine.
Medline Plus
Polycystic
Ovary Syndrome Is Associated with
Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Daytime Sleepiness: Role of
Insulin Resistance*
ALEXANDROS N. VGONTZAS, RICHARD S. LEGRO, EDWARD O. BIXLER,
ALLISON GRAYEV, ANTHONY KALES, AND GEORGE P. CHROUSOS
Sleep Research and Treatment Center (A.N.V., E.O.B., A.K.), Department of
Psychiatry,
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology &
Metabolism Printed in U.S.A.
Copyright © 2001 by The Endocrine Society
Spasm
Definition:
sudden painful contraction of muscle
Causes: trauma, injury,
nutritional deficiencies, food allergies
Signs/Symptoms: pain,
tightness
Indications: Massage
to relieve tightness
Contraindications:
none
Spina bifida
Definition: congenital
disorder of the vertebral column in which the lamina do not unite at the
midline
Causes: disease or
sickness during pregnancy
Signs/Symptoms: protrusion
of the spinal cord, urinary difficulties, absence of reflexes
Indications: Massage
ok
Contraindications:none
Web resources:
Spina
bifida.org
Spinal Cord Injuries
Working with clients with Spinal Cord Injuries by Ruth Werner
Massage
for Spinal-Cord Injury
Spondylothesis/spondylosis- see arthritis
Spondylolisthesis: An Elusive Cause of Low Back Pain By Whitney Lowe, LMT,
NCTMB
Sprains
Definition: injury
to ligaments (may also involve muscles or tendons); tears in ligaments
Causes: injury, overexertion,
over stretching, unexpected movement
Signs/Symptoms: pain,
inflammation, bruising, swelling; gradual or sudden onset; hyper-mobile
and unstable- joint, sharp pain. Common areas - ankle, knee, wrist, whiplash,
joint separation or dislocation.
Indications: Massage
according to your level of training. Reduce inflammation, vascular flush,
Trigger point to regain flexibility, movement re-education
Contraindications: Traction
may aggravate injury if it involves the injured ligaments. Traumatic injuries
should be assessed by physician to determine severity. Naturopath
and Acupuncturist to speed healing with natural anti-inflammatories.
Strabismus
Definition: eye disorder
in which optic axes cannot be directed to the same object
Causes: lack of muscular
coordination
Signs/Symptoms: squinting
Indications: Massage
for stress reduction; eye exercises
Contraindications:
Refer to appropriate health care practitioner; Bates vision specialist.
Strains
Definition: injury
to muscle or tendon; rupture or tear
Causes: overexertion,
over stretching, not enough rest after exertion, pushing a weak muscle
beyond its abilities
Signs/Symptoms: spasm,
pain, swelling, loss of movement; gradual or sudden onset.
Level 1 - 1% to 50% partial tear of fibers; some loss
of function, can hold against resistance with pain, swelling, muscle guarding
Level 2 - 50%-90% fiber tear; cannot hold against moderate
resistance but may hold against gravity, pain, swelling, edema, muscle
guarding
Level 3 - 100% tear of fibers; snap heard at time of
injury, no resistance possible, may or may not have pain
Indications: Massage
according to your level of training. Reduce inflammation, Trigger
point to regain flexibility, movement re-education
Contraindications:
Traumatic injuries should be assessed by physician to determine severity.
100% tear needs to be referred to physician immediately. Naturopath and
Acupuncturist to speed healing with natural anti-inflammatories.
Hamstring Strain by Whitney Lowe Massage
Magazine
Stress
Definition: any physical,
mental, emotional, chemical, stimulus that interferes with the body's natural
balance
Causes: nutritional
deficiencies, work, holidays, family, noise, traffic, temperature, overwork,
lack of sleep, illness, drug and alcohol abuse. improper breathing; increase
of cortisol in body weakens immune system.
Signs/Symptoms: fatigue,
insomnia, muscle tension, high blood pressure, irritability, anxiety, stomach
disorders, all physical, mental and emotional illnesses, sexual dysfunction,
muscle aches, headaches
Indications: MASSAGE
Contraindications:
None. Refer to appropriate health care practitioner to assist with eliminating
the cause of stress and changing lifestyles.
- The
Mind Is the Source of Our Stress
- By Dale G. Alexander, PhD, LMT and Lansing Barrett Gresham
Robert Sapolsky on
LInkedin.com
Stroke (CVA/TIA)-
see CVA
Massage Benefits Stroke Patients
Massage
Today - Pictures of results of using massage with stroke patients.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus - see Lupus
Subluxation/ fixation
Definition: deviation
in articular cartilage; vertebral misalignment
Causes: muscular
tightness, stress, food allergies, injury, trauma, inadequate muscle tone
and awareness
Signs/Symptoms: pain,
muscle spasm, muscle strength imbalance
Indications: Massage
to relieve muscle spasm and tension, movement re-education and awareness
exercises
Contraindications:
none
Substance Abuse
Definition: addiction
to drugs, alcohol, smoking
Causes: nutritional
deficiencies, stress, emotional disturbances
Signs/Symptoms: their
life is a mess
Indications: Massage
for stress reduction
Contraindications:
Be aware of side effects of medications. Refer to appropriate health care
practitioner.
