Geriatric massage is a modality that focuses on seniors ages 65 and older.

Touch is so very important for the health and well being of us all, but it is especially needed late in lives. Unfortunately, the senior population can be neglected when it comes to touch especially if they are living alone or are in an assisted/nursing facility.   

Geriatric massage is effective in relieving muscle pain, joint stiffness, poor blood circulation, mental stress, and sleeplessness.  These are all problems so very prevalent among the senior population. By kneading sore muscles and by gently moving arthritic joints massage can literally “rub out” the pain that you may experience from living a long life.  This massage can accommodate a variety of people in this population including people that are wheelchair bound, in a bed, or very mobile.

At the Pittsburgh Center for Complementary Health and Healing we travel to seniors in home, assisted living, rehabilitation or nursing homes.

Some of the conditions for which massage has shown to be successful are in:

• Stroke rehabilitation
• Edema
• Blood circulation in the legs
• Parkinson’s disease
• MS
• Arthritis
• Chronic pain
• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Depression

When the cognitive organs are not working correctly, the sense of touch is so very important because the skin is our largest organ and is still very much alive.