Client with Ankylosing Spondylitis - help please!

I have several AS clients but don't treat them seated.

When I first started years ago, my first AS client loved the massage but was in pain a few hours later - we worked out that I had worked a little too enthusiastically, so I moderated the treatment and everything was fine. I don't do any deep work on my AS people, and most prefer the MLD nowadays, rather than the classic massage.

If you are treating her in the workplace, I presume she will be fully dressed? Why not try an upper back, shoulders and neck routine and see how she likes it - perhaps the next treatment could incorporate some light work over the SI area.

I also have AS, mainly in my sacroiliac joint and I agree with Jabba's comments above. I think some very gentle massage over the lower back is a good idea, but anything more than that and your client will be suffering later. I've had a deeper massage while my AS was active and had difficulty walking the following day...it also triggered sciatica.

You may also find that your client will be uncomfortable sitting in the same position for any length of time, so take care how she is seated.

My hubbie has AS but with his medication he doesn't suffer too much. His area is in his neck and upper back which are like blocks to massage though he does get relief and feels great afterwards. He also gets very stiff feet which he has been told is part of the AS and finds a foot massage great too.

I would just do gentle massage and go with feedback from your client as to how she is feeling.

Best of luck with it.

Love Rachel

Thank you everybody for your replies!
Some great advice there, and reassuring to know I was thinking along the right lines, too!
I'm off to see client today, so fingers crossed all goes well!
Susie 🙂

A gentle massage of the area would help the muscles relax, possibly bring some relief.

I would also advise the client on diet and nutrition too. Joint pains are often caused by lack of fluids that sort of oil the bones, and de-mineralization of bones that is caused by access acidity, which leaches calcium from the bones. Water, alkaline diet and plenty of essential fatty acids would help.

Fasting and Cleansing in my opinion is the best real cure for AS. In the 1930's V.E Irons (google for him), an american businessman, was faced with a very accute form form of Ankylosing Spondylitis, and by trial and error, he not only cured his condition, but also perfected a complete, very effective system of self-cleansing and nutrition.

Thanks everybody for your great advice. The treatment went well -I performed light massage only on her lower back and she contacted me the day after to say her back was feeling the best it had been in ages.

That's really great info on the nutritional aspect, James - thanks for that, I will pass it on when I see her next. Fortunately she does take very good care of herself with regard to diet and exercise, and is very aware of her condition as one of her parents also has it.

Susie 🙂

Hi there,

I unexpectedly had a last-minute massage client with quite severe AS. I didn't know what it was, but he explained quite well. He's had hip replacements on both sides, about 10 years ago already, and his spine is quite badly curved, he's very hunched over.

He gets very bad pains all around his hips and also in his neck, and came in specifically for very deep massage in these areas.

So I did what he asked for, he must have found it quite painful though, judging from his reflexes, but he ignored my suggestions to reduce the pressure a bit.

I think he will be back. What to do next time? Ease off a bit anyway despite him asking for very deep? Or go in deep again as he requested?

I'm definitely going to read up about the condition too!