A client wants to know if massage will help with their uterine fibroids?

How can we answer this question?

What does “help” mean?

What are their goals?

What does the research say?

Spoiler: the research, while thin, holds some surprises.

Sponsors: 

Books of Discovery: www.booksofdiscovery.com  

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.   

Recent Articles by Ruth:       

“Working with Invisible Pain,” Massage & Bodywork magazine, November/December 2022, page 36, http://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1481961-november-december-2022/38

“Unpacking the Long Haul,” Massage & Bodywork magazine, January/February 2022, page 35, www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1439667-january-february-2022/36.

“Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy and Massage Therapy,” Massage & Bodywork magazine, September/October 2021, page 33, http://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1402696-september-october-2021/34. 

“Pharmacology Basics for Massage Therapists,” Massage & Bodywork magazine, July/August 2021, page 32, www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1384577-july-august-2021/34.   

Resources: 

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

Massage Today (no date) Massage Today. Available at: https://www.massagetoday.com/articles/14184/Uterine-Fibroids (Accessed: 29 November 2023).

Maya Abdominal Massage for Women: Northeast Rehab (no date) Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital. Available at: https://www.northeastrehab.com/services/maya-massage/ (Accessed: 29 November 2023).

Mehl-Madrona, L. (2002) ‘Complementary medicine treatment of uterine fibroids: a pilot study’, Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 8(2), pp. 34–36, 38–40, 42, 44–46.

Rubio, E.M. et al. (2023) ‘Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among Women with Symptomatic Uterine Fibroids’, Journal of Women’s Health (2002), 32(5), pp. 546–552. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2022.0094.

The Dos and Don’ts of Managing Fibroids – Taking Control Of Your Health : Midwest Institute for Non-Surgical Therapy: Vascular and Interventional Radiologists (no date). Available at: https://www.mintstl.com/blog/the-dos-and-donts-of-managing-fibroids-taking-control-of-your-health (Accessed: 29 November 2023).

Ep 401 – Fibroid Tumors: “I Have a Client Who . . .” Pathology Conversations with Ruth Werner

The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession

Ep 401 – Fibroid Tumors: “I Have a Client Who . . .” Pathology Conversations with Ruth Werner