A client had a complex surgical procedure on her heart two weeks prior, but it was conducted by way of a catheter threaded up her femoral artery and aorta. Now, she wants to receive massage again. A quick Google search suggests that it would be OK. Her MT is skeptical and wants to be more conservative. Who is right?

Listen on for information about transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) surgery, using AI to make clinical decisions, and how to get to “yes” for people who have recently had surgery.

Host Bio:        

Ruth Werner is a former massage therapist, a writer, and an NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider. She wrote A Massage Therapist’s Guide to Pathology, now in its seventh edition, which is used in massage schools worldwide. Werner is also a long-time Massage & Bodywork columnist, most notably of the Pathology Perspectives column. Werner is also ABMP’s partner on Pocket Pathology, a web-based app and quick reference program that puts key information for nearly 200 common pathologies at your fingertips. Werner’s books are available at www.booksofdiscovery.com. And more information about her is available at www.ruthwerner.com.   

Resources: 

Pocket Pathology: https://www.abmp.com/abmp-pocket-pathology-app

Braun, L.A. et al. (2012) ‘Massage therapy for cardiac surgery patients--a randomized trial’, The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 144(6), pp. 1453–1459, 1459.e1. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2012.04.027.

Grafton-Clarke, C. et al. (2019) ‘Can postoperative massage therapy reduce pain and anxiety in cardiac surgery patients?’, Interactive Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, 28(5), pp. 716–721. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/icvts/ivy310.

Patients Who Stay in Hospital Less Than 3 Days After TAVR Fare Better (no date) American College of Cardiology. Available at: https://www.acc.org/about-acc/press-releases/2019/03/04/13/53/http%3a%2f%2fwww.acc.org%2fabout-acc%2fpress-releases%2f2019%2f03%2f04%2f13%2f53%2fpatients-who-stay-in-hospital-less-than-3-days-after-tavr-fare-better (Accessed: 26 September 2024).

Pressler, A. et al. (2018) ‘Long-term effect of exercise training in patients after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: Follow-up of the SPORT:TAVI randomised pilot study’, European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 25(8), pp. 794–801. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/2047487318765233.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) (no date). Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17570-transcatheter-aortic-valve-replacement-tavr (Accessed: 25 September 2024).

Wang, A.T. et al. (2010) ‘Massage therapy after cardiac surgery’, Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 22(3), pp. 225–229. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1053/j.semtcvs.2010.10.005.

What recovery looks like 6 months after an aortic valve replacement (2023). Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/6-months-after-aortic-valve-replacements (Accessed: 25 September 2024).

Sponsors:

Anatomy Trains: www.anatomytrains.com 

Elements Massage: www.elementsmassage.com/abmp

MassageBook: www.massagebook.com

Books of Discovery: www.booksofdiscovery.com

The American Massage Conference: www.massagetherapymedia.com/conferences

Ep 465 – TAVR Surgery: “I Have a Client Who . . .” Pathology Conversations with Ruth Werner

The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession