December 1st was World AIDS Day. In honor of that, we’d like to share how massage can be beneficial to those suffering from HIV/AIDS. According to Massage Today, “Massage therapy plays a vital role in helping patients cope with the various symptoms of HIV/AIDS and indirectly boosts the immune system at the same time. As part of the medical team, massage therapists can greatly enhance the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS in the physical and psychological realms, by providing the personal touch other therapies do not generally provide.”
Specific benefits include:
- facilitating the removal of excess phlegm to relieve respiratory congestion
- increasing blood and lymph flow to assist in metabolic waste removal and blood cell regeneration
- preventing muscular atrophy due to inactivity
- reducing postsurgical scar tissue
- boosting the immune system
If you have any questions or concerns, please consult with your doctor about whether or not massage is right for you.
Sources:
https://www.massagetoday.com/mpacms/mt/article.php?id=13288
https://www.massagemag.com/hivaids-patients-massage-provides-touch-humanity-40379/