According to the American Medical Massage Association (AMMA), medical massage is “a system of manually applied techniques designed to reduce pain, establish normal tissue tension, create a positive tissue environment and normalize the movement of the musculoskeletal system. There is a large body of research supporting the physiological benefits of medical massage therapy. They include:

• Increasing circulation
• Increasing/restoring joint motion and flexibility
• Reducing post-surgical adhesions and swelling
• Relaxing and softening injured muscles
• Improving sleep quality
• Stimulating the lymph system
• Releasing endorphins to reduce pain

Patients can arrange the free medical massage therapy through their nurses. Service hours are limited and not all services are available every day or on all units. Services are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information on any of these services, please call the Wellness Institute at 440-375-8153.