Are you covered for Massage Therapy?
Insurance Coverage in Bermuda
No matter what provider you have, since plans are constantly changing, it’s best to contact them directly to find out your coverage.
Argus Group: 298-0888 If you have massage coverage, they will cover $50 per treatment up to $350 per policy year. Some policies do not cover massage at all – best to call them.
BF&M: 295-5566 If you are covered by BF&M – you will receive $58 per treatment up to $1000 per policy year. The catch is that massage therapy, chiropractic, physiotherapy and acupuncture are all grouped together in this coverage.
Colonial Group International: 296-3200 Colonial is a bit different and handles each case separately. Best to call them to find out what you need to do to be covered. But if they do approve it, then you will be covered for $55 per treatment up to 12 visits a year. They also group massage therapy, chiropractic and acupuncture together. Physiotherapy is separate.
Freisenbruch-Meyer Group: 296-3600 FM has two different plans – Standard plan covers $50 per treatment for 15 treatments per policy year. The executive plan covers 100% per treatment up to $1000 per policy year. The difference with this coverage is that you need to get a doctors referral letter in order to be covered with either plan.
What is Reflexology?
What is Reflexology?By Cathy Wong, About.com Guide
Reflexology is a form of bodywork that focuses primarily on the feet.
How does reflexology work?
The underlying theory behind reflexology is that there are “reflex” areas on the feet and hands that correspond to specific organs, glands, and other parts of the body. For example:
•the tips of the toes reflect the head
•the heart and chest are around the ball of the foot
•the liver, pancreas and kidney are in the arch of the foot
•low back and intestines are towards the heel
He believed that certain areas on the feet and hands were linked to other areas and organs of the body. This concept was furthered by physiotherapist Eunice Ingham into the modern practice of reflexology.
Practitioners believe that applying pressure to these reflex areas can promote health in the corresponding organs through energetic pathways.
Dr. William H. Fitzgerald, an ear, nose, and throat doctor, introduced this concept of “zone therapy” in 1915. American physiotherapist Eunice Ingram further developed this zone theory in the 1930′s into what is now knows as reflexology.
A scientific explanation is that the pressure may send signals that balance the nervous system or release chemicals such as endorphins that reduce pain and stress.
What will I feel?
Most people find reflexology for the most part to be very relaxing.
Reflexology shouldn’t be painful. If you feel discomfort, be sure to tell the reflexologist. He or she should work within your comfort zone.
Some areas may be tender or sore, and the reflexologist may spend extra time on these points. The soreness should decrease with pressure.
If you’re ticklish, not to worry. The reflexologist applies firm pressure to the feet.
Why do people get reflexology?
•Stress and stress-related conditions
•Tension headaches
•Digestive disorders
•Arthritis
•Insomnia
•Hormonal imbalances
•Sports injuries
•Menstrual disorders, such as premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
•Digestive problems, such as constipation
•Back pain
Reflexology is a popular alternative therapy. It promotes relaxation, improves circulation, reduces pain, soothes tired feet, and encourages overall healing.
Reflexology is also used for post-operative or palliative care. A study in the American Cancer Society journal found that one-third of cancer patients used reflexology as a complementary therapy.
Reflexology is recommended as a complementary therapy and should not replace medical treatment.
What is a typical reflexology treatment like
A typical treatment is 45 minutes to 60 minutes long and begins with a consultation about your health and lifestyle.
You are then asked to remove your shoes and socks and sit comfortably in a reclining chair or on a massage table. Otherwise you remain fully clothed.
]br] The reflexologist will assess the feet and then stimulates various points to identify areas of tenderness or tension.
The reflexologist then uses brisk movements to warm the feet up. Then pressure is applied from the toes to the heel according to your comfort.
Lotion or oil may be used.
How will I feel after?
Most people feel calm and relaxed after a treatment. They may even feel sleepy.
Occasionally, people feel nauseous, anxious, or tearful, but this is only temporary and is considered to be part of the healing process.
Precautions
If you’re pregnant, talk with your doctor first and let the reflexologist know.
Be sure to give the reflexologist a complete and accurate health history.
If you have foot ulcers, injury, or blood vessel disease such as blood clots, consult your doctor before having reflexology.
Five Surprising Benefits of Massage – From NEWSWEEK
We know a massage feels good, but it can have a host of therapeutic advantages, too.
Sep 3, 2008 8:00 PM EDT PrintEmail
The newest cure-all may be an ancient one: simple touch. The Chinese have been using massage for all kinds of medical conditions for centuries. Now, Western research is confirming that massage isn’t just for muscle pain. One of the most surprising findings: massage may help premature babies gain weight. When Tiffany Field, a professor of pediatrics, became a new mother, she massaged her premature infant daughter and was so impressed with the results she later founded the Touch Research Institute (TRI) at the University of Miami School of Medicine. Massage, it turns out, may boost immunity and help people with a range of conditions from premenstrual syndrome to high blood pressure. It also seems to help soothe pain from arthritis, burns and even surgery. Here are five surprising facts about massage from the research findings at TRI and elsewhere that you can put to use:
1. Pick Your Spot: You don’t have to massage the part of the body that hurts most. If you’re shy about letting a friend touch your aching lower back, for instance, she could help by massaging your shoulders instead. This is because massage creates chemical changes that reduce pain and stress throughout the body. One way it does this is by reducing a brain chemical called substance P that is related to pain. In a TRI study, for example, individuals with a form of muscle pain called fibromyalgia showed less substance P in their saliva (and they reported reduced pain) after a month of twice-weekly massages.
2. De-Stress, Stay Healthy. Massage may boost immunity. Several studies have measured the stress hormone called cortisol in subjects’ saliva before and after massage sessions, and found dramatic decreases. Cortisol, which is produced when you are stressed, kills cells important for immunity, so when massage reduces your stress levels and hence the cortisol in your body, it may help you avoid getting a cold or another illness while under stress.
3. Blood Pressure Benefits: Massage reduces hypertension, suggests a good deal of research. This may be because it stimulates pressure receptors that prompt action from the vagus nerve, one of the nerves that emerges from the brain. The vagus nerve regulates blood pressure, as well as other functions. In a 2005 study at the University of South Florida, hypertension patients who received 10 massages of 10 minutes each over three weeks showed significant improvements in blood pressure compared to a control group who simply rested in the same environment without any massage.
4. Technique Tactics: There’s little evidence to support one kind of massage over another, says Field, so don’t worry about whether your therapist is schooled in Shiatsu, Swedish or some other technique. The key is pressure firm enough to make a temporary indentation in the skin. If you try massage with a partner, use massage oil, which you can find in a health-food store or pharmacist, but test a little on your skin first to make sure you are not allergic.
5. Self Help. You can massage yourself. Although you don’t have to massage the part of the body that hurts to relieve pain, targeting that area does tend to help more. One example is massaging the arms. If you’re in danger of developing inflamed nerves in your hands or arms from repetitive movements (like typing on a keyboard, or even gripping a steering wheel for hours at a time) try massaging your arms for 15 minutes a day. Stroke from the wrist to the elbow and back down on both sides of the forehand.