Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2003; 8: 164
The Sunrise Community Clinic offers subsidised CAM therapies to a transient population of chemically dependent, mentally challenged and street-involved people. Services include massage therapy, acupuncture and therapeutic touch. We will describe the use of massage therapy, the clinic’s client population and their health concerns and experiences with massage therapy.
During the initial visit with the practitioner, information was collected on client’s demographics, health history, self-identified health concerns and diagnoses. Semi-structured interviews were held with 13 individuals that had visited the massage therapist three or more times during the past 8 months.
Massage therapy was used by 80 clients attending the clinic. Clients attending the clinic were characterised by extreme poverty, homelessness and were often struggling with mental illness and multiple addictions. Health histories and health concerns of clients are indicative of a population with numerous complex health challenges. Stories shared by participants illustrate remarkable self-identified differences in their lives that they attribute to the massage therapy. Key themes related to stress management, connecting mind and body, feeling cared for and an increased capacity for self-care.
The data indicate that massage therapy is frequently used at this Clinic, often in combination with acupuncture. Participants found that services of the massage therapist enhanced their ability to manage their own care and promoted their efficient use of healthcare resources.
