Massage for the elderly

As the growing ageing population grows, there’s no doubt that you or one of your family members will reach the age of 70+

It is often this age group that can experience a large range of health issues that can affect their daily lives. Simple tasks such as opening jar bottles, getting up and down flights of stairs or lifting bulky items become more difficult. It’s also people at this age group who don’t fully consider massage as a form of therapeutic treatment to improve their physical and mental capabilities.

Common health conditions such as arthritis (both osteo and rheumatoid), poor circulation, and diabetes are examples that most can suffer after the age of 45. Other more degenerative but slow and progressive disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s can lead to some disruption in daily activities. 

Geriatric treatment requires some thoughtful preparation due to their more fragile state of the body. Things to consider include table set up, length of treatment and areas of focus. Because there may be a number of conditions that may require addressing, massage for the elderly is sometimes about providing more comfort and giving  temporary relief - whether it’s pain related or something as simple as improving quality of sleep. Other benefits include improving joint mobility, reducing swelling, improving circulation and inflammation.