1. Transitioning to Light-Touch Techniques in Post-Surgical Massage: A Guide for Seasoned Therapists

Welcome to our series on post-surgical massage therapy! Today, we'll dive into the basics of post-surgical massage, its benefits, and how transitioning to light-touch techniques can enhance your practice and patient outcomes.

The Importance of Post-Surgical Massage: Post-surgical massage is crucial for aiding recovery, managing pain, and reducing stress. By incorporating light-touch techniques, seasoned therapists can transition to a more sustainable practice that still delivers significant benefits to patients.

Supporting ERAS Protocols: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols are evidence-based guidelines for surgeons aimed at improving surgical outcomes and accelerating recovery. Key components of ERAS include preoperative education, optimized nutrition, minimally invasive techniques, multimodal analgesia, and early mobilization. Massage therapy supports ERAS protocols by managing pain, reducing stress, and enhancing circulation and early-stage mobility. These benefits facilitate faster recovery and improve overall patient well-being.

Benefits of Light-Touch Massage in Recovery: One significant advantage of light-touch massage is its effectiveness in post-surgical recovery. It helps manage pain and stress, crucial components of ERAS protocols, which have been shown to improve recovery outcomes (Ljungqvist, Scott, & Fearon, 2017). The integration of massage therapy within ERAS protocols underscores its value in holistic postoperative care, contributing to better pain control, reduced anxiety, and improved physical function.

Reflecting on Your Practice: Consider your current practice and identify areas where you can integrate light-touch techniques. Think about how this transition can help you sustain your practice and better support your patients. Transitioning to light-touch techniques, such as manual lymph drainage, bruise shaving, gentle PROM and nervous system regulation, can transform your massage practice and enhance patient recovery, ensuring you can continue to provide exceptional care without compromising your well-being.

Conclusion: We hope this introduction has provided valuable insights into the importance of post-surgical massage and the integration of massage therapy within ERAS protocols. Stay tuned for our next post, where we'll explore scar tissue and its impact on the nervous system.

References: Ljungqvist, O., Scott, M., & Fearon, K. C. H. (2017). Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocols. JAMA Surgery. DOI: 10.1001/jamasurg.2017.0935

Eryn Price RMT has been in the healing arts for 25 years, instructing massage therapists for over a decade and has put over 500 therapists through her Mastectomy Guide certificate programs in the past 3 years. She is incredibly passionate about filling the gap in women's and trans health relating to accessing safe, educated, and ethical care for post-surgical rehabilitation from breast and chest surgery. To learn more about future training opportunities to enhance your massage therapy practice, please visit https://www.mastectomyguide.com/list-of-upcoming-courses.