A client is a former NFL linebacker with CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy). What is going on inside his head? And is it safe for the massage therapist to work with him?

CTE is part of a range of head injuries that includes traumatic brain injury, concussion, and post-concussion syndrome. We don’t have a lot of information about massage therapy in this context, but we can get enough information to look for good ways to help.

Sponsors: 

Books of Discovery: www.booksofdiscovery.com  

Host Bio:        

Ruth Werner is a former massage therapist, a writer, and an NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider. She wrote A Massage Therapist’s Guide to Pathology, now in its seventh edition, which is used in massage schools worldwide. Werner is also a long-time Massage & Bodywork columnist, most notably of the Pathology Perspectives column. Werner is also ABMP’s partner on Pocket Pathology, a web-based app and quick reference program that puts key information for nearly 200 common pathologies at your fingertips. Werner’s books are available at www.booksofdiscovery.com. And more information about her is available at www.ruthwerner.com.   

Recent Articles by Ruth:       

“Working with Invisible Pain,” Massage & Bodywork magazine, November/December 2022, page 36, http://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1481961-november-december-2022/38

“Unpacking the Long Haul,” Massage & Bodywork magazine, January/February 2022, page 35, www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1439667-january-february-2022/36.

“Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy and Massage Therapy,” Massage & Bodywork magazine, September/October 2021, page 33, http://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1402696-september-october-2021/34. 

“Pharmacology Basics for Massage Therapists,” Massage & Bodywork magazine, July/August 2021, page 32, www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1384577-july-august-2021/34.   

Resources: 

Pocket Pathology: https://www.abmp.com/abmp-pocket-pathology-app

Brain Banks | Concussion Legacy Foundation (no date). Available at: https://concussionfoundation.org/programs/brain-banks (Accessed: 10 January 2023).

Burns, S.L. (2015) ‘Concussion Treatment Using Massage Techniques: a Case Study’, International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork, 8(2), pp. 12–17.

‘Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE): Overview, Background, Timeline and History of CTE’ (2023). Available at: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2500042-overview#a2 (Accessed: 10 January 2023).

Frequently Asked Questions about CTE | CTE Center (no date). Available at: https://www.bu.edu/cte/about/frequently-asked-questions/ (Accessed: 10 January 2023).

Living with CTE | Concussion Legacy Foundation (no date). Available at: https://concussionfoundation.org/CTE-resources/living-with-CTE (Accessed: 10 January 2023).

Massage & Bodywork - September | October 2014 (no date). Available at: http://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/365665-september-october-2014/42? (Accessed: 10 January 2023).

Post-Concussion Syndrome: Symptoms, Treatments, Tests, Recovery, and More (no date). Available at: https://www.webmd.com/brain/post-concussion-syndrome (Accessed: 10 January 2023).

Richer, A.C. (2017) ‘Functional Medicine Approach to Traumatic Brain Injury’, Medical Acupuncture, 29(4), pp. 206–214. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1089/acu.2017.1217.

What is CTE? | Concussion Legacy Foundation (no date). Available at: https://concussionfoundation.org/CTE-resources/what-is-CTE (Accessed: 10 January 2023).

The Sunday Plodcast

BONUS EP: Distance Round-Up

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts