Stroke connection

[kothandam]

i was talking to some ITEC massage students the other evening and we were discussing case studies etc. one said she couldnt "do" her sister as her sister had had a stroke and the hospital said they thought it was massage that caused the stroke!

she had apparently had a massage at some point before the stroke (not by the student i hasten to add), and the hospital, WITHOUT PROOF I STRESS, said the massage probably encouraged a clot to break away and blam!

i find comments like this totally irresponsible of doctors... where is the proof???

that would also imply, seeing as stroke is something usually waiting to happen in apprently healthy people, that we should not massage anyone, just in case????!!!!!

 

[ptp]

I agree. It is very worrying. Clearly as therapists, we need to exercise caution when massaging anyone with a history of thrombosis or embolism, but if there is no history, how can we possibly know? And if there is a clot in the body, there are numerous activities that can cause it to break off and travel to the brain.

My father in law had a massive stroke a few hours after having his ears syringed, but it was a stroke waiting to happen anyway and whilst I can name a few risks of ear syringing, the risk of suffering a stroke isn't one of them.

Lesley

 

[Pegasus P]

well to some extent I would have to say I believe this statement in as much as it could well be correct.

The doctor was quite careful in their wording in that they are not saying that the massage caused the stroke (we know the clot did that) but that it encouraged the clot to break free and that caused the stroke. by using the words encouraged they are not saying it def. did just that it was a probability.

We all know massage speeds up the metabolism and circulatory systems so if there is a clot there then it is feasiable in my mind at least but then any activity that encouraged the same bodily response could have done the same thing. Its all a question of timing really.

all we can do as responsible therapists is ensure we have done a consultation and that we are aware of as much information as possible.

Tigs
xx

 

[K_M]

I would agree that if the clot was already somewhere in the system, then massage could cause it to be "moved" around the body to an undesirable place.

My daughter suffered a Venous stroke 3 years ago, and I was advised NOT to massage her during her initial rehab (the clot was deep in the brain already, caused by severe dehydration, but that is a different story!) incase it caused further damage as it moved. I compromised by doing very very gentle effluarage mainly on her hands, feet and lower arms.

It was probably at least 6 months before I felt happy to perform any deeper massage strokes on her.

Karen x