Hi all
Just had a call from a lady with parkinsons disease: her doctor has recommended her to have a course of reflexology...
love to do it but want to know (a) any modifications required both in terms of treatment but more importantly in time..lady wants one hour of therapy...but is this too much
also, the lady requests to have half and half reflexology with facial massage...however, the gp clearly hasn't recommended this so i might have problems....i cannot see whylight facial massage woul dbe contra-indicated but it's the old old insurance issue again...if the doc' hasn't approved this can i do it at all?
any help much appreciated
If the doctor has simply 'recommended' that his patient sees you, and she is paying you for your treatment, it is really not a problem to include facial work as well - if that is what SHE wants. My father has Parkinsons, and loves having his feet 'played with' (his term!) but can't cope with more than around 25 minutes worth - at that point, he has to get up and walk around, due to the spasms that are now beginning to develop in his thighs. Once he has walked around for 5 minutes (goes to the loo, washes his hands, checks to see if the postman has been etc!) he comes back and I sometimes just finish off by massaging his hands.
If you haven't met the lady yet, you can make a decision about treatment options after the initial consultation. If her Parkinsons is mild, and not too much of a problem, then she should be able to tolerate a full hour - but it may be best to work up to this if her condition has deteriorated. Lots of basic relaxation moves are very beneficial, don't hone in too much on specific point work - try them, and if they are very sensitive, lighten up and go back just a couple of times. I know that my Dad cannot tolerate any deep work any more, plus the Parkinsons is now affecting his moods, so the minute I see him starting to frown or purse his lips, I finish off, apply some nice smelly lotion, and don his socks and slippers - it is obviously time for a cuppa!
I'm sure the lady in question would love to have face and feet done - what a treat!
Hiya
ive had clients with Parkinsons - and each has been different. One was very shaky, one mild, so you need to tailor your treatments to the individual.
If your new client wants half and half, go with it. Not only are you working on her feet, but the sense of wellness will lift her if she has requested a facial too.
...and I bet she becomes a regular!
Good luck with, let us know how you get on!
I see no reason why you shouldn't provide the reflexology with a facial massage. Top and toe. Try it out and see how it goes as it may be helpful. There's only one way of finding out what suits individual clients as treatments should always be geared for the individual. You can always adapt and find out which works best. I have only given aromatherapy back massage treatments to a patient with Parkinsons, but he loved it
Love Binah
x
thank you for all the tremendous advice...the client was lovely...it was a form of parkinsons which affects balance so she was not shaky but unsteady on her feet.
gave her 20 minute sessions on face and on feet...on feet mainly relaxation moves with thumbs across solar plexus, head/brain and neck pineal and spine - then thumb walking over whole of feet top to bottom.
next day, client rang to thank me...had felt tired at 9.30 and hubbie helped her to bed which was great news...she's been having great trouble sleeping...next day she said everyone said she looked better and rosy cheeked...
....i rang the parkinson's disease society and they were great; advised me that she'd love the pampering and to stay happy and positive throughout and be guided by client's reactions as regards timing and modifications.
all this advice really helped and i'm pleased to say she's coming back for more....x