strokes toward heart versus away from heart

[Dirtbiker2714]

I was working on a classmate the other day and while doing some with-the-grain arm flexor strokes, she requested that I not stroke away from the heart (in other words, from elbow to wrist) but only toward the heart (wrist to elbow). The explanation given was that stroking away from the heart would cause varicose veins.

Is this something to be concerned about? I haven't heard this from a teacher but do plan to ask them next week. Advice appreciated!

-b.p.

 

[moxie]

Deep stripping on vulnerable people can damage the veins.

Varicose veins are symptoms of vein enlargement, I believe through loss of elasticity and degradation of the valves in the veins. These valves open in one direction only, they are like little flaps.

By doing deep stripping directly over these veins in the wrong direction (away from heart) you could theoretically damage the valves causing loss of integrity to the vein. There are MTs (and doctors) who believe that a normal, even therapeutic/medical massage session could never deliver the pressure required to damage the valves (in a patient with a healthy vascular system,) because it would cause such extreme discomfort to the patient.

Swedish strokes away from the heart would not likely cause any issues with venous flow. The only caution I have heard regarding this that makes any sense is if the patient's lymphatic system is impaired, you wouldn't want to assist any lymph to deposit toward the extremities. I don't know if I believe that so much either because pressure tends to close the little lymph capillaries temporarily so reverse flow doesn't happen.

I believe this is another case of over-caution being taken to ridiculous extreme. (Kind of like those pregnancy CI acupressure points.)

(We need a little soapbox smiley. : )

 

[zoroxd6]

I believe this is another case of over-caution being taken to ridiculous extreme. (Kind of like those pregnancy CI acupressure points.)

(We need a little soapbox smiley. : )

I absolutely agree 100%, and Breathe, you summed it up quite nicely and succintly, as usual.

Noel

 

[rawr]

There are MTs (and doctors) who believe that a normal, even therapeutic/medical massage session could never deliver the pressure required to damage the valves (in a patient with a healthy vascular system,) because it would cause such extreme discomfort to the patient.

I believe this is another case of over-caution being taken to ridiculous extreme. (Kind of like those pregnancy CI acupressure points.)

(We need a little soapbox smiley. : )

:iagree: Also

You would never want to do deep work over top of someone's varicose veins and that definitely would be contraindicated but as long as someone's vascular and lymphatic systems are healthy there is no reason to feel that you always have to go in one direction.

Breath's explaination was great!

Angie

 

[Gabriel]

well said breathe

 

[Rick Carson]

I recall learning to stroke toward the heart...venous blood flow, yadda yadda yadda...but not because doing otherwise would cause vericose veins.

However, I find that in my work I do not follow the venous blood flow massage protocol.

 

[Sissy Smurf]

thanks, all, for the advice. I thought she (a talented but still quite young MT student) might be a bit extreme about this. I guess it's good to know about in any event.