Hello, songmate-ga!
Your question is very interesting, and prompted me to develop quite
a sensitivity to those with Scleredoma as I researched the disease. It
is extremely debilitating and at this point, at least, has no known
cure. I sympathize deeply with those who have to suffer with the large
variety of symptoms that accompany the various types of Sclerodoma.
Your question has really opened my eyes!
Because you have asked specifically about massage, I will concentrate
on providing you primarily with references that point to massage as a
therapeutic means of alleviating some of the painful symptoms of
Sclerodoma. However, I will start with some good sources for a general
overview of Sclerodoma first, so that you may formulate an
introduction about the disease in your paper.
Scleroderma overview and background information:
“Scleroderma - literally translated as "hard skin" - is a disorder
of the immune system with no known cause or cure. It falls into the
same category as arthritis, since it involves the immune system's
attack on itself and is frequently accompanied by swollen, painful
joints. With scleroderma, too much collagen and other connective
tissue components are produced and the excess is deposited in the skin
and other body organs, resulting in thickening of the skin, scarring
of organs and lesions in small blood vessels which can also affect the
functioning of major organs.”
“Scleroderma affects women three to five times more frequently than
men and is most often first diagnosed between the ages of 30 and 50.
Seven out of 10 people with the most severe form of the disease die
within seven years. The involvement of internal organs, such as the
heart, lungs and kidneys, is particularly life-threatening.”
Read “Judy-Scleroderma Research.” Reaching Out. Vancouver Hospital
and Health Sciences Center. (4/1998) at
http://www.vanhosp.bc.ca/html/reach_apr1998_judy.html
There are two main types of Scleroderma – Systemic and Localized. A
brief description of each follows:
“The systemic forms can affect any part of the body (skin, blood
vessels, and internal organs.)”
“The localized forms are Morphea and Linear.They affect only the
skin (and sometimes the underlying tissues) but do not affect the
internal organs, or reduce one's life expectancy in any way.” Read
“Scleroderma from A to Z.” The International Scleroderma Network at
http://www.sclero.org/medical/about-sd/a-to-z.html
A more in-depth description of the types of scleroderma can be found
at http://www.sclero.org/medical/about-sd/types/a-to-z.html
“Scleroderma FAQ,” by Ed Harris at
http://www.synnovation.com/sclerodermafaq.html offers a thorough,
easy-to-read overview of Scleroderma.
Some excerpts follow:
“Scleroderma is a rare disorder that affects an estimated 40,000 to
165,000 people in the United States. The incidence rate of Scleroderma
appears to be relatively stable at about 19 new cases per million per
year in the US. A number of international studies suggest that
Scleroderma occurs much more frequently in the United States than
elsewhere. These regional differences may be a consequence of
differential genetic susceptibility to Scleroderma, different exposure
to possible environmental triggers, or a combination of both.”
“Scleroderma may occur at any age, but the symptoms most frequently
begin in mid-life. The diffuse and limited forms of Scleroderma are
very rare in children. The disease is 3 to 4 times more common in
women than men. There is some evidence that black women have a
significantly greater risk than white women. In addition, diffuse
Scleroderma appears to occur more frequently among black women and
starts at an earlier age.”
“There seems to be a relatively weak genetic link with Scleroderma.
Close order relatives of an affected individual are much more likely
to have elevated ANA levels, but without any Scleroderma symptoms,
than the normal population.”
***Refer to the entire article for more information on possible
causes, symptoms, and experimental treatments***
A much more clinical and lengthy overview of systemic scleroderma
can be found in “Systemic Sclerosis-Scleroderma,” by U.-F. Haustein,
MD. Dermatology Online Journal 8(1): 3Department of Dermatology,
University of Leipzig, Germany at
http://dermatology.cdlib.org/DOJvol8num1/reviews/scleroderma/haustein.html
Now, on to the topic of massage….
Is Massage Therapy effective in helping the symptoms of Scleroderma?
“Regular exercise, massage and heat” are among the general
guidelines for treatment in sclerodoma include suggested by the League
for Chronic Inflammatory Tissue Diseases. Refer to “Sclerodoma,” by
Dr. M. Walravens at http://www.cibliga.com/en/sclerodermie.html
Massage may be useful in alleviating stiffness:
“underwater massages and and connective tissue massages” have been
used to “at least to stop the progression of stiffness.”
From“Systemic Sclerosis-Scleroderma,” by U.-F. Haustein, MD.
Dermatology Online Journal 8(1): 3Department of Dermatology,
University of Leipzig, Germany at
http://dermatology.cdlib.org/DOJvol8num1/reviews/scleroderma/haustein.html
(This excerpt is found under “Treatment of SSc,” Basic
Recommendations)
Massage may be useful in improving circulation and preventing muscle
distortion:
“Research suggests that massage may be useful in improving
circulation and preventing muscle distortion. More research is needed
in this area to determine whether massage is truly an effective
complementary therapy for scleroderma.” Read “Scleroderma.”
Integrative Medicine (3/2001) at
http://www.healthandage.com/html/res/com/ConsConditions/Sclerodermacc.html
Massage may be useful in improving movement:
“Scleroderma can be appropriate for massage, under a doctor’s
supervision, if the skin is healthy and sensation is normal.”
http://www.somatics.de/PathologyBook/Scleroderma.htm From “Pathology:
Contraindications and Indications for Manual Therapy.” A Massage
Therapists Guide to Pathology by Ruth Werner and Ben E. Benjamin.
Lippincot Williams and Wilkins. 1998 at
http://www.somatics.de/PathologyBook/Intro.htm
“Other treatments include antibiotics for skin ulcers that become
infected, medications to relieve heartburn, antidiuretics for fluid
around the heart, and exercise and **massage** to improve movement.”
From “Scleroderma.” Health and Disease Information. Penn State Milton
S Hershey Medical Center. (updated 10/31/2002) at
http://www.hmc.psu.edu/healthinfo/s/scleroderma.htm
Facial massage has been useful in improving tactile sensation and
alleviating pain:
“Prof. R. Pellerito works very hard on rehabilitation; his team and
himself are trying to improve the non-therapeutic way to cure
patients. They developed the connective massage; the most important
for a sclerodermic patient is face massage. They inquired what would
come from it to patients; after 24 treatments they noticed a great
progress in the tactile sensibility of the part massaged, but also a
retreat of pain, an advance in opening mouth and in psychological
wellness.”
Read “VI National Scientific Congress Against Scleroderma,” by Iliara
Galeti (2000) at http://216.239.53.100/search?q=cache:nQaRILlUSxMC:www.sclero.org/news/gils2000conference.html+%2Bscleroderma+%2Bmassage&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
Massage may be helpful in improving drainage of the lymphatic system:
“My physio helped me with my fingers, (as I didn't have much
movement in them), my sore joints, with a few basic exercises to keep
my joints moving and the lymphatic system pumping. I was also having a
**fortnightly massage to help with the lymphatic system.**
Read a personal experience story titled “My Miracle Story.” Sclerodoma
Association of Queensland at
http://www.scleroderma.org.au/article3.html
Massage may be helpful in reducing symptoms of linear sclerodoma
“Localized fibrosing disorders,” including linear sclerodoma, may be
helped by heat treatment and massage.
(Linear scleroderma: This is characterized by one or more linear
streaks and induration that can involve dermis, subcutaneous tissue,
muscle, and bone. It occurs on the extremities, face, or scalp of
children and adolescents. It is subdivided into subgroups including
linear scleroderma.”
Linear scleroderma: This is characterized by discrete linear
induration that primarily affects the extremities. In more than 90% of
patients, the involvement is unilateral. The disease is complicated by
deformities, joint contractures, and severe limb atrophy. The process
can affect the growth of bony structures.”)
Refer to “Localized Fibrosing Disorders: Linear Scleroderma, Morphea,
Regional Fibrosis,” by Mariana Kaplan, MD. eMedicine (1/8/2002) at
http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3132.htm
Massage may be helpful for painful joints:
Massage and heat application is recommeded for Sclerodoma patients
with painful joints.
Read “Nursing Care of Patients with Scleroderma.” Scleroderma Lupus
Information Sheets. Hunter Area Pathology Service (2001) at
http://www.haps.nsw.gov.au/patrsrcs/patsclero/NrsCrFrm.htm
Contraindications:
Deep tissue massage is contraindicated in connective tissue
diseases, including Scleroderma.
Read “Contraindications to Deep Bodywork,” by Robert Schleip.
Advanced Training.com (12/2000) at
http://www.advanced-trainings.com/contra.html
I hope the references indicated will help you to formulate some
ideas about the role massage therapy has to play in alleviating much
of the pain of Sclerodoma. After you read the articles in their
entirety, you should have a good understanding of the disease and be
able write an excellent, four-page paper!
Let me know if I can be of further help!
umiat-ga
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