Let’s hear it for two groups of people that Accredited Home Care counts on to help brighten the lives of our patients, relax their muscles and reduce their pain: massage therapists and physical therapists!

Both groups of skilled professionals are wonderful people who always bring plenty to the table – literally and figuratively – to aid home care patients in the Flintridge area any time of the day or night.

Yes, home health care clients do have access to a wide variety of skilled personnel and contract help, from skilled nurses to speech therapists to home health aides who help with everything from light housekeeping to running errands.

But the talented massage therapists and physical therapists we work with are definitely worth noting this month. It’s not just our team who thinks so either: professional associations for both occupations have also chosen October as a month for the community to learn more about both types of therapy and recognize the valuable work performed by therapists.

Celebrating the roles of physical therapists and massage therapists can hopefully give attention to these people who work hard every day – and sometimes night – to help patients in and around Flintridge feel better, whether it means various exercises to build muscles or the opportunity to help relax muscles that are already stressed. Both or either therapies can be beneficial in many ways.

Continue reading for more info about the usefulness of both therapeutic disciplines.

Physical Therapy

The American Physical Therapy Association has declared October to be National Physical Therapist Month, and suggests that it’s an optimal time to celebrate the profession’s effort to “transform society by optimizing movement to improve the human experience.”

Physical therapists are dedicated to improving the lives of clients, often starting with a focus on mobility. Sometimes clients may have injuries from a stroke or other trauma and be unable to move, or experience significant pain or balance problems when they do.

Improving mobility can allow the client to move around easier, which can go a long ways to improving their health and positively impacting their overall quality of life.

Physical therapists are encouraged to tell people about what they do this month and use the hashtag #ChoosePT in any social media posts. The APTA site also has other resources about the profession, the opiod epidemic, and the role that physical therapy can have in pain management.

One of the month’s activities was the Global PT Day of Service on Oct. 14, when people in the PT profession were invited to go into their communities and look for ways to use their skills to educate and give back.

Massage Therapy

The massage therapy community has its own education, celebration and advocacy efforts scheduled.

National Massage Therapy Awareness Week, organized by the American Massage Therapy Association, runs Oct. 22-28. It’s an opportunity for massage therapists to let their local communities know what they do, how much work it takes to receive certification, and most importantly, what kind of mental and physical benefits can people see by receiving massages.

The AMTA suggests that massage therapists go out and share info about the week, or massage in general, on their social media pages or business sites. They also can make a point to get out and meet other health-focused community members whose clients can benefit from massage, such as physicians, physical therapists, and fitness clubs.

Massage can be useful for any health condition, from someone with slightly sore muscles to someone battling cancer. The AMTA says massage can improve the mood of cancer patients while it reduces fatigue, nausea, and depression. It also can help reduce neuropathy, which is painful nerve pain that is known to affect people who are receiving chemo treatments.

Home health care options

In a home health care environment, both massage therapy and physical therapy can be useful in helping clients.

At Accredited Home Care, a visit from a therapist can be welcome from a social point of view. For house-bound residents, different people who drop by can provide emotional support.

During these visits, the physical therapists can work with the client for a series of exercises to get them moving and build up muscles that may have been damaged due to health conditions or simply a lack of use. By visiting regularly, people will be able to begin to see progress, such as larger areas of motion or muscles. Therapists can try other methods of pain relief if one isn’t effective.

Massage therapists may bring their tables for clients to lie on, or even offer massages while the client remains seated. Perhaps the massage can be given after another type of therapy or treatment, which can aid relaxation or soothe any aching muscles, or at any other time that’s convenient.

Overall, Flintridge-area residents seeking questions about various therapies, including massage and physical therapies, can find answers from Accredited Home Care.