Massage Therapy For Hypertension

Hypertension means having elevated blood pressure. Massage therapy for hypertension is frequent as this is a very common condition.

Many people who have it do not know it.

It is very important for a client to have his/her blood pressure checked often. They should have regular medical checkups. High blood pressure, if left untreated, is dangerous but can be treated with medication, diet and exercise.

It is important to treat this condition because if it is left untreated, it makes the walls of the arteries lose their elasticity. Then they resist blood flow.

When this happens, it causes the left ventricle of the heart to enlarge so that normal circulation is not maintained. If hypertension is not being treated with medication, massage cannot be performed.

If the client says he/she has been diagnosed with high blood pressure but is not being treated by his/her physician and is not on blood pressure medication, he/she is in danger of having a stroke. Do not perform bodywork on this client. Instead explain that massage will not help this person until he/she is under a physician's care.

If the client has the hypertension under control with medication, massage can help keep blood pressure under control by reducing stress and activity in the sympathetic nervous system.

Make sure that you document your SOAP notes with the client's hypertension information. Ask the client about his/her blood pressure and indicate that you did so in your client notes.

If he/she has it, find out the name of the doctor and document that. This is for your own protection. In massage school, you should have been taught about SOAP notes and how to fill them out. If you have not been doing so, review your textbook and begin filling them out with each client you see.

After a massage, the client may feel a little light-headed and will need help getting up. Assist this client in getting up slowly until his/her balance is regained.

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