Meryanos Cathy J
Cathy's Mobile Massage, Conway, SC, USA.
Int J Ther Massage Bodywork. 2016 Dec 9;9(4):22-29. doi: 10.3822/ijtmb.v9i4.330. eCollection 2016 Dec.
There is limited access to health care in rural Ghana and virtually no rehabilitative services available. This situation presents a unique opportunity to utilize chair massage in addressing women's health in rural Ghana, particularly when it comes to muscle pain and fatigue from heavy labor. The objective of this case report is to determine the results of chair massage as a strategy to reduce neck, shoulder, and back pain, while increasing range of motion.
The patient is a 63-year-old Ghanaian female, who was struck by a public transport van while carrying a 30-50 pound load on her head, two years prior. The accident resulted in a broken right humerus and soft tissue pain. A traditional medicine practitioner set the bone, however there was no post-accident rehabilitation available. At the time of referral, she presented complaints of shoulder, elbow, and wrist pain. In addition, she was unable to raise her right hand to her mouth for food intake.
The results of this case report include an increase in range of motion, as well as elimination of pain in the right shoulder, elbow, and hand. Visual assessments showed an approximate increase of ROM within the ranges of 45-65 degrees in the right arm, as well as 10-15 degrees in 4th and 5th fingers. There was also a decrease in muscle hypertonicity in the thoracic and cervical areas, and a profound increase in quality of life for the patient.
This case report illustrates how therapeutic chair massage was utilized to address a common health concern for one woman in rural Ghana. It also demonstrates that pre-existing musculoskeletal disorders and pain may be eliminated with massage intervention. Massage therapy may be important to ameliorating certain types of health problems in remote rural villages in low income countries.
加纳农村地区获得医疗保健的机会有限，几乎没有康复服务。这种情况为在加纳农村地区利用坐式按摩来解决妇女健康问题，特别是解决繁重劳动导致的肌肉疼痛和疲劳，提供了一个独特的机会。本病例报告的目的是确定坐式按摩作为一种减少颈部、肩部和背部疼痛，同时增加活动范围的策略的效果。
患者是一名63岁的加纳女性，两年前她头顶着30至50磅的重物时被一辆公共运输货车撞到。事故导致右肱骨骨折和软组织疼痛。一名传统医学从业者接好了骨头，但事故后没有康复服务。在转诊时，她主诉肩部、肘部和腕部疼痛。此外，她无法将右手举到嘴边进食。
本病例报告的结果包括活动范围增加，以及右肩、肘部和手部疼痛消除。视觉评估显示右臂活动范围增加了约45至65度，第四和第五指增加了10至15度。胸段和颈段肌肉的高张力也有所降低，患者的生活质量有了显著提高。
本病例报告说明了如何利用治疗性坐式按摩来解决加纳农村一名妇女的常见健康问题。它还表明，通过按摩干预可以消除先前存在的肌肉骨骼疾病和疼痛。按摩疗法对于改善低收入国家偏远农村地区的某些类型健康问题可能很重要。
