MASSAGE IN ILLNESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21036, 21 November 1931, Page 7 (Supplement)

MASSAGE IN ILLNESS.

There are three main types of conditions in which massage and exercises are important during . illness. (1) In any long-drawn-out-illness the muscles tend to waste and become weak; and if only one can prevent, this happening while the patient is in bed you will succeed in speeding up enormously the period of convalescence. This applies not only to those - people who have received some direct injury through an accident to bones, joints or muscles, but also in any long illness of a general sort... (2) It is most valuable in various nervous diseases in which wasting and weakness or even paralysis of muscles occur. For if we lose the'.use of. one lot of muscles we can often by massage and exercise teach another group of muscles to take over the work of the paralysed group. (_3) In elderly patients'" who are chronic invalids and who have come to the stage of having to spciid most of their time in bed, massage and various forms of exercises to'the 'limbs will help to keep them feeling very, much fitter than they otherwise would.

Massage has many other functions besides those we have mentioned, but at present wo are only concerned with the value of massage for those patients who have to spend a long time in bed. Massage is, of course, not entirely without expense; but in the long run it may often save money. For by having a masseuse into the house once a day vvhile the patient is still in bed the time required for convalescence can often be greatly shortened. I do not suggest that everyone who is ill requires massage. It must always be ordered and supervised by a doctor. But when a doctor considers it advisable you may be sure that the Utile extra expense entailed at the time will in the long run save money, pain, discomfort and time.