Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

There are many potential benefits of massage therapy for the terminally ill that patients and their loved ones should explore during this difficult time. There are massage therapists that specialize in body work that helps terminally ill patients achieve better health and well-being during their final time in hospice or at home. Therapeutic touch is the most common type of massage therapy that is used on terminally ill patients, but there are many different techniques that can work quite well in these cases.

Benefits of Therapeutic Massage for the Terminally Ill

Terminally ill patients often experience a reduction in the following negative symptoms as a result of therapeutic massage:

Anger

Anxiety

Depression

Feelings of isolation

Insomnia

Musculoskeletal pain

Stiffness

Spasms

In addition to reductions in negative symptoms, patients also often see increases in positive attributes, such as self esteem and self worth as a result of therapeutic massage. Being in contact with an individual outside of ones inner circle can also be surprisingly beneficial for terminally ill patients. And theres no denying the power of human touch, whether it comes from an experienced masseuse or notbut an experienced pair of hands can do the most good.

Common Massage Techniques for the Terminally Ill

In addition to therapeutic touch, qualified massage therapists also use methods such as hot