Breasts

[thewolf595]

Last year there was a discussion on this forum concerning massages that included the breasts (of either males or females).

Several posters mentioned that they massaged these areas if the client requested but others thought it was a no-no.

None of the books I have list routines for this area and I was only able to find limited guidance on the bodymechanics website.

Is this type of massage requested often and if you cover this area what routines do you use?

 

[Oxcppjxwcphdj]

I am in my fourth year of this now and it has never been requested or indeed expected....

Tigs
x

 

[Seraphin Falls]

I've seen it used in Masunaga's books, but that takes place in Japan. I, myself would not be comfortable doing that.

 

[Nikola]

Hi

Personally I wouldn`t be comfortable with touching other peoples bosoms!!
I don`t think it`s appropriate.....

Not sure what benefits you would get from that anyway?

Lx

 

[Chance Too Burn]

I received some of my massage training in Europe, where there is a much more relaxed attitude and at the same time there is a great emphasis on details of clinical aspects of massage - including the anatomy and physiology of the breasts.

Because of this, I often remind women that regular, massage is very important for optimal breast health. I see this as an educational role, particularly when I see a client for massage, who has visible marks of a tight underwire bra. There is some evidence that these can cause congestion, inhibit lymph flow and limit circulation. Daily self-massage (at least 5 mins) therefore is very beneficial.

I also feel that if there is mutual trust - breast massage can be part of the treatment and clients have requested this both for health and aesthetic reasons. When included in a full body massage, it can feel as a very nurturing and at the same time liberating experience.

A.

 

[Didi]

I have done Balinese massage training where the chest is massaged at the same time as the stomach. I woun't say the breasts themselves were massaged but effleurage moves did cover that area. At first it seemed a bit unncessary but it can feel quite liberating and therefore adds to the psychological well being gained from massage. I haven't offered this though - in england i'm just not sure we're ready for it. Of course if you were in thailand ........ anything goes

 

[Drogo]

As someone who has very rounded shoulders and terrible posture I have had it suggested by my college tutor (a sports massage therapist) that I work the whole pectoral area deeply and regularly as tightness in this muscle needs to be stretched and lengthened to allow the muscles in the back of shoulder and and neck to take their proper place and shape, allowing normal posture. I do this regularly on myself (as far as is possible), but am not sure how I would feel if someone else were to be manipulating this area. I think it certainly has no place as part of a general massage session or with a client you don't know to well or feel comfortable with!

 

[Liz S]

As alternative and complimentary health therapists we are supposed to be looking after peoples health and wellbeing, as professional health therapist we are supposed to put our own feeling and prejudices aside to help someone with their health issues.

There are therapists who do not like feet or feel uncomfortable touching them, so if someone comes with a sprained ankle then they are turned away because that person does not do feet.

There are others who will not address pseudo sciatica or a groin strain injury as it require the therapist to work deeply through the gluteus or the groin and they would not feel comfortable touching someone's bottom or groin as they feel it might be somehow inappropriate so the patient continues to suffers unnecessarily or ends up with a operation or disabled.

Since the chances of having breast cancer reduces considerably with regular breast massage and examinations this is something that I feel needs addressing by physical heath therapists.

I don't think any therapist who has been looking after someone for a few years would be very happy if they did not see them for a few months and the next time they came they had a radical maxectomy (spell) to look after, especially when they consider they could have quite easily prevented it.

It is IMO a matter of putting things into the correct perspective, talking thing through with your patients and agreeing what is the best course of treatment for each person, obviously if someone is not happy to receive breast massage as a preventative treatment or any other form of treatment then you have to abide by their wishes, but I do feel they should be given the choice.

 

[TurBreeaiu]

I am learning ITEC Holistic Massage at the moment and we have been taught front of body massage to the entire front (male or female) where you encompass stomach and chest massage together and then separate stomach and then chest using the towel to cover the breasts. We also practiced on eachother for this and I didn't think I would feel comfortable at all but I felt absolutely fine and in some ways it felt far better as it felt the whole body was included. As someone said previously I would not call it massaging the breasts but obviously the effleurage does cover them lightly. There are women who prefer this method and I have reliably been told by a lady I see for reflexology (who also does massage) that often women ask her to do the whole of the front rather than abdomen and chest separately. This is just personal preference and I, personally, am glad I was taught this as an option.

 

[AAM]

Hi Paul

you may be aware that breast cancer is a subject very close to my heart....





I have never seen any research which suggest massage will reduce chance of breast cancer even a little never mind considerably...and I am not sure how regular breast massage can easily prevent a radical mastectomy...I am interested and open to learning from any information, studies etc that you have.


Tigs
xx

 

[Kayleen]

This may of course be true of the "dodgy" massage parlours but those Thais who practice the orthodox Thai massage are very proper in their treatments. More so than us in the West.

When I learnt to do Inch Wrap with Finders, massage of the breasts was part of the general treatment and no-one felt awkward or embarrassed about the massage.

Love

 

[Adam D]

hi paul,

i have to agree with tigerbee on this. i think this statement of yours...



is a little dangerous without research evidence to back it.

if as therapists we "can quite easily prevent" breast cancer, would it not follow that we can do the same with any cancer? hmmmm

 

[no_censorship_8524]

i have had a hydrotherm massage and your breasts are included in the treatment(hope that sounds ok!) iwas really uncomfy about having them "done" but did cos i wanted to appear cool with it........when you are having a treatment it all flows and it is not any different to having your arm massaged. I think we have
preconcieved ideas about what the therapist might feel when in reality they see us as a whole being not seperate parts .

 

[?Katie?]

Have to say Paul that I agree with Tigerbee and Ro§ie regarding your statement...I, as you know have had Breast Cancer and it is something I obviously feel very strongly about





Have you any evidance to back it?


Many blessings
stormdeva x

 

[Confused Babe]

I can only speak from my own hands on experiences over the last 20 years, you will have to asses it for yourself as to if you consider reducing overall tension on the many glands and keeping the flow of fresh nutrients and lymph thought the breasts will or will not reduce the chances of anything untoward happening.

My experience over the years says yes it does the same as it gets rid of mastitis and other painful breast conditions, the other side of the equation is a therapists sensitive hands should detect something amiss a long time before a Dr or often even the patient themselves become aware of it and point them straight round to their GP, I have also had experience of this both professionally and in my personal life.

It only takes a couple of minutes each side and fits into a front of body massage seamlessly with out it feeling any different from any other part of the massage and once you assure them that you will inform them if anything feels wrong they relax and stop worrying about them.

 

[pboiyvqs]

I find this a very interesting thread as I have only recently completed my first massage training course (VTCT Swedish massage). On this course we were specifically warned against touching any breast tissue (either intentionally or accidentally while massaging the back). Everyone, of course, accepted this but there was no explanation as to why. Was it because breast massage was felt to have no benefit, because it is generally felt to be culturally unacceptable in the UK and therefore unwanted by clients, or simply because it is something of a minefield - blurring the lines between therapy and sexuality in a situation in which both the therapist and the client can be left vulnerable?
I would certainly be interested to know more about this - even if it is of no practical use with clients and is only helpful when I massage my wife. She is one person who (I hope!) won't sue me - and if it can be of use to her, then I'm all for that.

 

[Dream M]

I know Kate Jordan... she has some great info there. I went to the school in Florida where she teaches Pregnancy Massage.... she is very good!!!

I was taugh how to massage the breast and also how to use decongestion and myofascail techniques as well
As to the reduction of breats cancere possibilities etc, I don't know.

I teach ladies how to massage their breasts... there are books too.... It really helps just before they go for a mammogramme (spelling!) as it reduces excess fluid so they dont get squashed so much.

I also do massage for cancer patients and those who have had breast augumentation and mastectomies, I usually do Myofascail work.

I general, I feel that the breasts should not be included in a general massage, however there are exceptions and it may be wise to get written consent...

 

[BLAH BLAH BLAH]

Kate Jordon's article can be found here on the MassageToday.com site. There is also this discussion which has a variety of links for those who are interested.

Mat xx

 

[Grak]

Hi Mat

You will find that there is little or no research into most types of preventative health care as it is not in the interest of the people who make there vast livings out of the unfortunate people who develop these serious and often life threatening imbalances.

I actually offered my services at my own expense many years ago to allow some clinical studies to be done on this very subject but I did not even receive any reply from one of the countries leading teaching consultants for cancer research.

It is not that difficult to work out though as it is the job of the lymphatic system to rid the body of anything that does not belong there, so if your lymphatic system is sluggish be it due to inappropriate constriction through clothing or being overstretched through infection, or people being stressed out as they seem to be these days which makes the system run below par then it obviously cannot do its job properly.

So what can we as health therapists do to help prevent one of the highest killers of women and a few men each year? we can ignore it and state it is not our job as health therapists and hope it goes away or we can tackle it head on and make sure the bodies natural defence is functioning full pelt and if it gets past that we are there to detect it straight away and refer them straight on before it gets to the life threatening stage.

To me as a practicing health therapist there was really only one choice when I considered the options, but it is up to each person to decide what they feel is the right and appropriate treatment for them to offer to the people they look after

 

[ILOVEU]

Fashions have changed in ten years; back in the early 90's we were taught that it was acceptable to uncover the breasts of both women and men in order to massage the pectoral muscles, to apply pettrisage to the rib spaces moving laterally from the sternum, and to work around the breats to massage from the sternum via lower of ribs and up the serratus anterior muscles, which inevitably meant the breasts would unavoidably be touched; but now, as a male, I'd be too fearful of a misunderstanding to offer it, though I'd probably feel okay to work on the area if asked.
Mike G