Massage Therapy for the Elderly

Getting older can be physically painful. Many elderly people suffer from arthritis, loss of feeling in their hands and feet, poor circulation, muscular stiffness, inflammation in the joints, skin discoloration, bursitis, and deterioration in the muscles and bones. Massage therapy can be extremely soothing and beneficial to elderly individuals who are experiencing the aches and pains of growing older. Massage therapy for the elderly is often called geriatric massage or senior massage. Geriatric Massage techniques do not usually differ from the techniques used on younger people; however, the main difference is in how an elderly body is positioned on a massage table and the amount of pressure used while massaging.