87 Indian Rock Road
Windham, NH 03087
(603) 894-6402
"Windham's Wellness Center"
"Windham's Wellness Center" |
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Breast Health and Massage A woman’s breasts have many meanings in life, and have been revered since the beginning of time. They are symbols of femininity, sexuality, and motherhood. Breasts provide a trade-mark of woman-ness and a sense of self. This symbolism, and the experiences and sensitivities that result from it, can cause us to overlook the fact that our breasts are body tissues with ordinary tissue needs. We can be uncomfortable seeing to these needs, or uncertain how to go about ding so. Society around us often helps reinforce ambivalent feelings about our breasts and breast care. Most women at some time experience symptoms like congestion and tenderness in our breasts. Many of us have breast trauma or medical procedures for cosmetic, diagnostic, or treatment purposes. Life cycle changes are associated with a variety of breast discomforts. As the body ages, the breasts change. Many of these changes are perfectly normal. Massage therapy is a gentle and effective way to promote breast health and help relieve breast tissue symptoms. Breasts are not a usual part of a massage session unless you specifically request that they be included. Well-breast care can go a long way to seeing that breast pain does not become part of a normal day, Here's a sobering thought: One in eight women has a chance of getting breast cancer at some point in her life; each year, 40,000 women die from breast cancer. We are all concerned about monitoring for breast tissue changes. The massage therapist is also a skilled palpator who can support the routines of medical breast monitoring. The savvy female will use the skilled palpation of her massage therapist to assist her in breast health. It makes sense that a massage therapist trained in the nuances of soft tissue palpation will, with regular breast examination, ably augment the physician you see only once a year. Insist on the care you need! What Breast Massage May Do For You:
Your Questions and Concerns about Breast Massage: Breasts are often compressed in tight clothing which is not ideal for the flow of blood and lymph, and they do not have inherent structures like muscles to help them move. Breast massage involves gentle hands-on techniques to enhance circulation and drainage. Many women have scars which cause breast pain, ‘pulling,’ and the development of pockets of swelling. Massage therapists employ specific techniques, along with application of skin lubricants, to soften and improve scar quality. As a client of massage therapy you have the right to consent to any treatment you are receiving. This involves being informed about all aspects of the treatment plan, including goals and priorities, positioning, draping of the body, and modalities being used. You can say yes or no to components of the plan and at any time make adjustments you need to feel comfortable. When you are considering breast massage, make sure your questions are answered and you have a clear picture of what is involved. Your perception of the professionalism and integrity of your practitioner will be key – how your concerns are listened to and addressed is an important indicator of this trustworthiness. Massage therapists are trained to be versatile and flexible. Breast exposure can be a sensitive issue for some women. Although uncovering the breasts is almost always most effective for specific treatments like scar work, there are always options available if you are uncomfortable about having your breasts undraped. Many massage therapists are cautious and will not work on tissue that they cannot see, so if receiving breast massage is not right for you, learning self-breast massage may be beneficial. Ask your massage therapist about any training he or she has received in breast massage. Remember, breast health is at least as important as good dental hygiene! |
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