Medical-massage graduate program
The postgraduate training through Beaumont Hospital's Schools of Allied Health and Integrative Medicine program is geared for those who have already graduated from a massage-therapy school and completed 500 supervised hours of hands-on work. Those with one to two years' experience after graduation are preferred.

Beaumont's program consists of 24 hours of classroom instruction during a three-day period, followed by 40 hours of hands-on work under a teacher's supervision. Classroom instruction will cover: the pathophysiology of cancer; treating cancer in the United States; side effects of treatment; how side effects are helped by massage; contraindications; and chemotherapy. The hands-on work is to include massage for scars; massage for women with breast implants; and wellness lymphatic drainage.

The hospital has applied for continuing education units for this course from the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. Tuition for the program is $1,000, which includes all class materials.

"Our graduates know what's going on in a cancer patient's body," says Charlotte Versagi, supervisor of medical massage in Beaumont's Integrative Medicine program, teacher of the graduate course, and a contributor to MASSAGE Magazine. "We know what not to touch, and what areas can benefit from therapeutic massage."

Beaumont's Schools of Allied Health serve the health-care needs of the community, state and nation by providing education for allied health professionals.

Beaumont's Integrative Medicine program offers treatment to supplement standard therapy. It is part of the hospital's Oncology Services department. Services include medical massage, reiki, healing touch, guided imagery, yoga and meditation.

For more information call (248) 898-8047.

Massage Therapy
Rubbing areas that hurt is a natural human response. Massage therapy is based on the same principle: rubbing and mobilizing muscles, which increases blood circulation and enhances relaxation. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) considers massage therapy to be a body-based method of complementary medicine.

There is now extensive evidence that proves massage therapy has many helpful benefits when used before, during and after the surgery, chemotherapy and radiation process experienced by most cancer patients. It has been known for years that massage provides physical and emotional benefits for cancer patients by relieving muscle tension, relieving back and shoulder pain, helping with chronic fatigue, anxiety and depression.

How does massage therapy work?
A professionally traned therapist massages muscles and mobilizes soft tissue. During this process nerves are stimulated, waste products are squeezed from the muscles, "feel good" chemicals are released in the brain (endorphins), blood flow is increased, blood pressure is lowered and the relaxation response affects all body functions.

Click here to get more knowledge:The different massage therapy techniques

This information is reposted with thanks to MASSAGE Magazine and Beaumont Hospital.