The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession

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.    This episode sponsored by:   Yomassage   Anatomy Trains   Guest   For more information about Cathy Ryan:   Massage Therapy Without Borders podcast   From Massage & Bodywork magazine: “Scar Tissue: Not Breakable, But Changeable,”   From the ABMP CE Center: “Scar Tissue Management,” 

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, and how carefully we need to talk about them. Then, we take a deeper dive into shingles: what causes it, what the risks are, and whether massage therapists might catch it from clients. It’s a juicy one!   This podcast sponsored by:   Books of Discovery   Yomassage   Anatomy Trains    Host:   Ruth Werner  

Is it possible that mouth breathing has contributed to, and exacerbated, numerous health conditions? New York Times 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, University of Pennsylvania, and other institutions to figure out what went wrong with our breathing—and how to fix it.  This episode sponsored by:    Yomassage   Anatomy Trains   Guest:     James Nestor   FAQs and breathing advice   Breathing videos   

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.   Are you interested in referred pain? Here are a couple of short, fun videos:   Referred Paid:  Gallbladder | Anatomy Slices   Abdominal Dermatomes and Referred Paid   This podcast sponsored by:   Books of Discovery   Yomassage   Anatomy Trains   Host:   Ruth Werner

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.   This episode sponsored by:   Yomassage   Anatomy Trains   “The Sacred Sacrum, Part 1”   “The Sacred Sacrum, Part 2”  

A beloved long-time client is already affected by heart disease and diabetes. Now his hands have begun shaking too. Is there a safe way to help him, given his medical history? 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. How do we balance all the variables in this situation to offer safe, effective massage? What kinds of work might be most helpful? What, if anything, does the research say? You might be surprised.   Case report: Riou, N. “Massage Therapy for Essential Tremor: Quieting the Mind.” Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies 17, no. 4 (2013): 488–94. doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2013.03.007   This podcast sponsored by:   Books of Discovery    Yomassage    Anatomy Trains    Host:   Ruth Werner

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.   This episode sponsored by:   Yomassage   Anatomy Trains   Guest website:   Angie Parris-Raney

A client recovering from a stroke seems to have given up on getting any better. His massage therapist would like to help, but what can they do? Pathology educator Ruth Werner dives into an "I have a client who ..." story with a description of stroke, how it affects function, and the role of massage therapy in this context. This is a complicated situation that also involves ethical boundaries, communication skills, and some ideas for options that manual therapists might pursue for their clients with this central nervous system injury. Additional resources you might be interested in:   Durai Pandian, J., Toor, G., Arora, R., Kaur, P., Dheeraj, K. V., Singh Bhullar, R., & Sylaja, P. N. (2012). Complementary and Alternative Medicine Treatments Among Stroke Patients in India. Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation, 19(5), 384–394.    Sibbritt, D., van der Riet, P., Dedkhard, S., & Srithong, K. (2012). Rehabilitation of stroke patients using traditional Thai massage, herbal treatments and physical therapies. Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao = Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 10(7), 743–750.    Thanakiatpinyo, T., Suwannatrai, S., Suwannatrai, U., Khumkaew, P., Wiwattamongkol, D., Vannabhum, M., Pianmanakit, S., & Kuptniratsaikul, V. (2014). The efficacy of traditional Thai massage in decreasing spasticity in elderly stroke patients. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 9, 1311–1319.    Werner, Ruth (2008). Potential for Recovery in CNS Injuries. Massage & Bodywork September/October 2008 Issue.    This podcast sponsored by:   Books of Discovery   Yomassage   Anatomy Trains   Host:   Ruth Werner

Organization, communication, and trust are the three pillars Nancy Saunders’s bodywork practice, and important skills she establishes when educating new professionals at the Boulder Massage Therapy Institute in Colorado. From the basics of connecting often with clients to the physical appearance of your space—especially during COVID-19—Nancy reminds us of the importance of setting and holding yourself to high standards and meeting clients where they are—after all, it’s their session.   This episode sponsored by:   Yomassage   Anatomy Trains   Guest website:   Nancy Saunders

What does successful client communication look like? It involves active listening, foregoing judgment and assumptions, and clear direction. University of Denver assistant teaching professor Dr. Kerry Mitchell guides listeners on being present for your clients during COVID-19, “selling the why” during difficult conversations, and being aware of verbal triggers.   The episode is sponsored by:   Yomassage   Anatomy Trains