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Ep 26 – Hernia—“I Have a Client Who …” Pathology Conversations with Ruth Werner
09/03/2020
Guess the pathology: an egg-sized lump in the groin. In this episode of “I Have a Client Who …” a massage therapist describes a client who comes in asking for groin work—to help with a “knot.” What on earth is going on?
It turns out to be simple, but way, way outside our scope of practice—to label, or to treat.
Ep 25 – “The Client is Always Right … Really?” with Cal Cates and Kerry Jordan of Healwell
08/31/2020
What happens when the client is “right,” but factually wrong? Cal Cates and Kerry Jordan of Healwell have some thoughts about the difference between the validity of a client’s experience and what the therapist knows to be scientifically and mechanically sound, and why it’s important for MTs to stay present throughout a session to remain attentive and curious so clients feel heard.
Ep 24 – Patent Foramen Ovale—“I Have a Client Who …” with Ruth Werner
08/27/2020
A man has a stroke at age 35. He fully recovers, but is put on a lifelong prescription of anticoagulants. What is going on, and will he ever be able to receive the deep massage he wants? In this episode, Ruth looks at a common anomaly called patent foramen ovale. We discuss its connection to cryptogenic stroke (and we even dive into migraine for a hot second). Finally, we talk about the safety of massage therapy for clients taking anticoagulant drugs.
Ep 23 – The State of PPE in Massage with Zeel's Alison Harmelin and Amir Hemmat
08/25/2020
Zeel Co-Founder Alison Harmelin and Zeel Senior Director of Public Health and Workplace Safety Amir Hemmat discuss the current state of PPE for massage therapists, including how to prioritize which products to use and which partners to trust, how to plan ahead so you’re not caught unprepared in your practice, and what steps Zeel is taking to ensure the safety of their therapists and clients.
Ep 22 – Fractured Sternum—“I Have a Client Who …” with Ruth Werner
08/21/2020
A client who was recently in a motor vehicle accident was “cleared for massage” by her primary care provider. But it turns out she had no X-rays and that hid the fact that she sustained a fracture to her sternum. What is the responsibility of the massage therapist when a client has been “cleared for massage”? Ruth has some thoughts.
Ep 21 – Lighten Up and Slow Down with Cathy Ryan: A Discussion About Fascia and Scar Tissue
08/18/2020
Author and educator Cathy Ryan joins the pod to discuss her love of fascia and how her work has been informed and changed by research over her 30-year career. We discuss Cathy’s approach to working with scar tissue, deep dive into the wound-healing process, and talk about the possibility of facilitating change in both mature scars and those soon after insult.
Ep 20 – Undiagnosed Rash: What Do You Think It Is? “I Have a Client Who …” with Ruth Werner
08/14/2020
An older long-time client is on the table, midway through her massage. When the MT undrapes her leg, she finds a string of red blisters from the client’s buttock down the leg. “Oh, yeah, it’s kind of itchy,” says the client. In this episode, we talk about undiagnosed skin lesions, how carefully we need to communicate to clients about them, and take a deeper dive into shingles: what causes it, what the risks are, and whether massage therapists might catch it from clients.
08/11/2020
Is it possible that mouth breathing has contributed to, and exacerbated, numerous health conditions? Bestselling author James Nestor wants to convert you into a nose breather. He spent years in laboratories and ancient burial sites, working with researchers at Stanford, the University of Pennsylvania, and other institutions to figure out what went wrong with our breathing—and how to fix it.
Ep 18 – Shoulder Injury—Or Is It?—“I Have a Client Who …” with Ruth Werner
08/07/2020
A client complaining of seemingly uncomplicated shoulder pain has a very complicated issue indeed—the wrong choices here could have led to very serious repercussions. Pathology educator Ruth Werner shares one of her own “I Have a Client Who . . .” stories involving a neighbor, her garden, and her mysterious, stubborn shoulder pain—that turned out not to be shoulder pain.
Ep 17 – The Sacred Sacrum with Massage & Bodywork Columnist Cindy Williams
08/04/2020
The sacrum is held with a reverence because of its energetic, structural, and nervous system significance. Working to create positive change in this area can help balance your clients. Listen as Massage & Bodywork columnist Cindy Williams equips MTs with the information needed to foster a safe working environment for both MTs and clients, removing fears of working in this area.
Ep 16 – Essential Tremor –“I Have a Client Who ...” with Ruth Werner
07/31/2020
A beloved long-time client is already affected by heart disease and diabetes. Now his hands have begun shaking too. In this episode, pathology educator Ruth Werner addresses the complex overlap of conditions that this client lives with, with special attention to his latest challenge: essential tremor, a common, sometimes debilitating problem that is poorly understood and difficult to treat.
Ep 15 – Emotional First Aid with Chopra Center Certified Angie Parris-Raney
07/27/2020
How do emotions affect our biology? What determines how we interpret an experience? How do we navigate a heated exchange? How can understanding emotional intelligence help us? Listen as we wrap up our three-part mini-series on communication skills with Angie Parris-Raney, a 20-year MT who also has certification in Chopra Center meditation. Conscious communication means stopping during an altercation, taking deep breaths, observing from innocence, and proceeding with compassion.
The Ohio legislature adopted Senate Bill 56 on June 21, becoming the second state to enact the Interstate Massage Compact. Massage therapists will soon be able to obtain a multistate license that will reduce holdups and delays that often occur when moving to a different state.
A federal judge has granted a preliminary injunction that halts the enforcement of the US Department of Education’s new Bare Minimum Rule, also known as the “100% rule,” until the court takes further action. This is the first step in what could be a lengthy battle to ultimately delay enforcement of the rule, providing schools more time to adjust their programmatic standards, or overturn the rule altogether. Find out more and what your school needs to do to prepare.
Governor Jared Polis signed into law House Bill 24-1371, requiring local government (counties, cities, or municipalities) to conduct periodic criminal background checks for massage establishment operators, owners, and employees.
MassageBook wants to help you focus on delivering exceptional care to your clients and building the practice of your dreams.
Massage therapy helped Aly George, a 2023 winner of ABMP's Massage Is for EveryBody contest, bond with her brother.
As we get closer to celebrating Massage Is for EveryBody, July 14–20, 2024, we wanted to share more of Julie Plachta’s story, which exemplifies the inclusive values of this campaign.
Your ABMP membership provides benefits allowing you to save each time you rent at Alamo Rent A Car, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, or National Car Rental.
ABMP members save 10% on all Hyperice percussive and heat/ice technology massage devices, including the Hypervolt, Vyper Vibrating Fitness Roller, and Ice Compression.
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