A man has a stroke at age 35. He fully recovers, but is put on a lifelong prescription of anticoagulants. What is going on, and will he ever be able to receive the deep massage he wants?

In this episode of “I Have a Client Who …” we look at a common anomaly called patent foramen ovale. We discuss its connection to cryptogenic stroke (and we even dive into migraine for a hot second). Finally, we talk about some variables that inform the safety of massage therapy for clients taking anticoagulant drugs.

Links:

YouTube animation of PFO repair

YouTube animation of PFO repair

From the Cardiovascular Research Foundation: Complete PFO Closure May be Key for Migraine Reduction

From the American Headache Society: PFO Closure for Migraine Prevention

From Stroke: “Frequency of Patent Foramen Ovale and Migraine in Patients with Cryptogenic Stroke”

“And Now for Something Completely Different: Patent Foramen Ovale,” Massage & Bodywork magazine, October/November 2007

Ep 24 – Patent Foramen Ovale - “I Have a Client Who …” with Ruth Werner

The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession

Ep 24 – Patent Foramen Ovale - “I Have a Client Who …” with Ruth Werner