NOVEMBER 28 • 2019 | 51
Boom
Not Just A
Spa Day
Massage therapy can promote
healing, alleviate pain and
increase fl
exibility, movement.
ELIZABETH KATZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER
S
ay the word “massage” and it
often evokes a luxurious day
at the spa for some people.
While massage is a great way to
relax, massage therapy is also used
on people with various diseases
and diagnoses, including multiple
sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’
s
disease, cancer, neurodegenerative
diseases, spinal cord injuries
or closed head injuries, or on
individuals dealing with pain from
a vehicle-related or other type of
accident.
Massage modalities can range
from craniosacral therapy, soft
tissue manipulation, active release
techniques, positioning release
therapy and reciprocal inhibition
techniques, trigger point therapy
and Touch for Health kinesiology
work.
“Gentle touches to the body can
help with pain — soft touch going
into the muscles,” said Ronna
Perlman, who recently became
a licensed massage therapist
after completing her training at
Irene’
s Myomassology Institute
in Southfield, a leading massage
therapy school in the country.
“It helps the nervous system
with blood circulation and it’
s a
great complement to traditional
medical treatments,” Perlman said.
“It also helps maintain flexibility.”
Brian Schurgin, president of
Better Life Home Care, began
providing therapeutic
massage therapy
five years ago for
individuals who have
sustained automobile
accidents.
Schurgin, who
also was trained and
teaches courses at
Irene’
s Institute of Myomassology,
sees patients with amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou
Gehrig’
s disease), MS, stroke and
dementia, along with car accident
patients. He and his fellow
massage therapists at Better Life
focus on four kinds of massage:
neuromuscular re-education,
myofascial release, massage
treatments, and cold and heat
pack therapy.
He says he’
s also seen an
increase in patients who are
asking for CBD oil to be
incorporated into the massage
practice.
CBD, short for cannabidiol, has
lately come into vogue and can be
found at independent and national
health food stores. Cannabidiol is
a naturally occurring compound
found in the resinous flower of
the cannabis plant. It is generally
considered safe and non-addictive
and is one of the more than 100
phytocannabinoids in cannabis,
according to an article recently
published in Massage & Bodywork
magazine.
Schurgin said he considers
CBD safe to use on anyone. He
notes that the body naturally
has cannabinoid receptors
(also known as our internal
endocannabinoid system) and,
when used, CBD can affect how
we experience pain and stress.
“Pain management, MS and
Parkinson’
s are the key focus
for CBD use,” he said. “Soft
tissue massage, in conjunction
with CBD, helps promote the
alleviation of pain and increases
relaxation. People are absolutely
asking for it.”
Arlene Schreiber, owner of
Medpro Therapeutics in Franklin,
works exclusively with clients who
are referred to her by doctors.
She focuses on craniosacral
therapy, which, as she describes
continued on page 52
DERRICK MARTINEZ
Brian
Schurgin
Massage therapist
Ronna Perlman gives
a therapeutic massage
to Tungatip “Rada”
Kerdsapin.