May 12th was National Fibromyalgia Day
Becky Leetch, LMT #6337

National Fibromyalgia Day is May 12, 2010. As a massage therapist with fibromyalgia, it’s important to me that clients and LMTs become aware of this sometimes invisible, but real, condition. I have received pain relief and release through massage. In fact, that’s what led me to become a massage therapist.

During the week of May10-15th, I tried to raise awareness about Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) by placing posters and brochures about FMS awareness and the benefits of massage around my office. I also encourage you to learn more about FMS. A good resource for information about FMS is the National Fibromyalgia Association website, www.fmaware.org. Many certified instructors throughout Oregon teach classes about massage for FMS.

Here is an excerpt from a National AMTA MTJ article about this subject*:

Easing the Constant Pain - Research is showing that massage therapy can help relieve some of the pain fibromyalgia sufferers feel every day.

BY KARTA PURKH SINGH KHALSA

The Face of Fibromyalgia
About 2 percent of Americans have fibromyalgia now. That’s 4.8 million tired, sore people. Only osteoarthritis is more common among joint diseases. FMS makes up more than 5 percent of the patients in general medical practice, and accounts for 10 to 30 percent of all rheumatology consultations.

FMS occurs in women of childbearing age at a rate of 7 to 10 times more frequently than men. Signs point to FMS being a disease of aging, as well, with only 1 percent of 20-year-old women suffering and more than 7 percent developing the disease by age 70. The median age of onset is 29 to 37 years old, with the median age of diagnosis falling between 34 and 53. During the 5 to 15 year gap between onset and diagnosis, sufferers are often confused, frantic and desperate.

The typical patient is a 40-year-old female with a history of insomnia and a recent physical or emotional traumatic episode. Clinicians also observe that she is dry, thin of frame and cold, with a lifetime tendency toward constipation.

Unfortunately, the difficulty of getting a diagnosis is often matched by the difficulty of being treated. “I met the criteria for a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, but my doctor and physical therapist didn’t really think the official diagnosis was all that critical,” explains Mary Shomon, a Washington, D.C.-based journalist and FMS sufferer. Whatever they called her condition, however, Shomon understood the chances for progress with conventional medicine were pretty slim.

John Combe, LMT, NCTMB and past president of AMTA’s Oregon chapter, tells us, “As a provider, a big obstacle is that clients have been told that they have fibromyalgia, but their doctor offers them no treatment plan—they have turned off the hope switch.”

Cynthia Van Keuren, PsyD, says FMS may benefit from an interdisciplinary approach that includes medication, exercise and relaxation. Van Keuren’s team evaluated 178 patients with chronic low back pain, neuropathic pain or fibromyalgia. Regarding self-perceived disability, patients with FMS showed a greater response to treatment.

“Mind is the most important part of the healing process,” explains Dr. Peter Abaci, medical director of the Bay Area Pain and Wellness Center in Los Gatos, California . “Use massage and other therapies to help develop a healthy life and lifestyle management. Set a path to be as healthy as you can be as you go through the stages of your life. As massage therapists, think ‘My touch will help you feel better immediately—that’s the goal—and then we can do more on the path to keep it that way.’

A Massage Therapist with Fibromyalgia
The notion that massage therapy is a demanding profession might escape some of the consumers who benefit from your work, but this fact is seldom, if ever, lost on a massage therapist. Though a diagnosis of fibromyalgia (FMS) might seem like a career-ending moment for a massage therapist, Heather Harris, in private practice near Portland, Oregon, proves it doesn’t have to be.

Harris, a 39-year-old massage therapist and mother of two, began experiencing symptoms of FMS five years ago. “I had two small children and had just been in two car accidents,” she explains. “I received my massage license a year earlier, was working to build my practice, staying up late doing marketing—the stress was just building up.”

Her main symptoms were muscle pain, fatigue, fibro fog and headache. “When I wasn’t getting any better,” she explains, “my problem was identified as fibromyalgia.”

Once she was diagnosed, Harris went straight to work on doing everything she could to control her symptoms, starting with making sure she got eight to nine hours of sleep every night. “I would move to a quiet room to sleep alone,” she explains. “My husband was on baby duty at night.” In three weeks, getting a good amount of quality sleep helped her feel better. Harris also limited her schedule. “I took a maximum of four appointments each day,” she says, “even if that meant I needed to work more days each week.” Letting herself get depleted, Harris found, took three times longer than a normal person to recover from, so she never allowed herself to get run down.

“I find that moderate, regular exercise helps a lot,” Harris adds. “Exercise makes a huge difference in my not having muscle pain.” If she doesn’t exercise for a while, she finds she has an increase in pain when she starts again. So, keeping a routine is important for managing her pain.

Bodywork is also key, but the pressure used is critical
“I live to receive massage, and I like it deep,” Harris explains. “But deep massage will flare my symptoms, so I have to have my massage lighter than I used to prefer.” She’s found that hot rock massage works best, and she uses this technique with her clients who have fibromyalgia, as well.

So, has fibromyalgia had an impact on her massage career? Yes. Has the diagnosis ended her career? Most definitely not. Harris has to be diligent about taking care of herself, and has made some lifestyle changes, but she hasn’t stopped practicing. “I’ve been symptom-free for three years,” Harris says. “I still stick to my four sessions per day rule, but it’s definitely possible for me to have an active massage practice.”

*by permission AMTA. Read the full article at http://amtamassage.org/journal/spring10_journal/spring10_art6-1.html

AMTA-OR Summer Fun! August 15th
By Carol Ann Carnese, LMT#12504

If you love baseball and hanging out with other LMT’s, join us August 15th at 2:00 for a Portland Beavers game! The chapter has purchased 75 tickets and food for AMTA-OR members. The tickets will be issued on a first come first served basis, with a limit of 2 tickets per person.

There will be a $20 deposit, checks preferable, to ensure usage of the tickets. All deposits will be returned the day of the game. This deposit is to make sure all tickets get used. Last year about 30 tickets were spoken for, sent out, but never used.

Last year we had a wonderful time, with other AMTA-OR members and guests, cheering for our home team. Please join us this year!

Please contact me via email for the tickets or information (IceLady67@hotmail.com) and you MUST put the word "baseball" in the subject so the emails do not go into my spam folder.

African American Health Coalition Wellness Walk - Save The Date! 8th Annual Wellness Walk 8/21/2010 8:00 AM
Join us again this year to give massage to the walkers of the 8th Annual Wellness Walk!

This event is where the African American community comes together to celebrate, raise awareness of health disparities, and raise funds to sustain the free physical activity program. There are two routes (a 5K and 1.5K), food, music, dancing, and massage.

Summer is a busy time, so please put this Volunteer event on your calendars. We can never have too many LMT's at this event.

More information will be on our chapter website as we get closer to the event.

Leslie Giese LMT OBMT #5975
Immediate Past President

Oregon’s own Glenath Moyle of Portland has been elected to the national American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) Presidency beginning in March 2011.

Moyle, who has been active in and around the massage community in Oregon for more than 20 years, has been AMTA-Oregon Chapter Secretary, 3rd Vice President, President, Newsletter Editor from 1997-2004, and to those of us active at the board level, “Mama Glen”, a supportive and knowledgeable presence and voice willing to share and help when asked.

Also in Oregon, she has served in a variety of capacities for the Oregon Board of Massage Therapists (OBMT), including Board Member (1990-97) Chair (1992-94), and several committees throughout the years. While currently running a massage practice in the Portland area, Moyle continues to remain active with

OBMT, including ongoing duties as an examiner at the board. At the National level, Moyle became a Member at Large on the National AMTA Board of Directors in 2004, serving until 2009 when she became National Vice President. She has been National Membership Chair (1999-2003), National Convention Co-Chair (2004), and she has been AMTA Representative to the Massage Therapy Foundation Board of Trustees since 2004.

Beginning this March, Moyle assumes the AMTA National President-Elect position, which she will hold until next March, when she assumes the Presidency. “I embrace the chance to serve as a leader in this great, diverse profession,” she says, “and honor the opportunities presented to our community to promote love, kindness and healing to humanity,” when asked about the focus of her presidency." AMTA promotes the core ideology of professionalism as we continue to evolve within the healthcare field”.

A native of New Zealand, Glenath and her husband Gordon moved to the Portland area in 1977, where they have raised four children. Two of their children were born in America. Glenath had been a Registered Nurse and Gordon an Engineer in New Zealand. Between New Zealand and the United States, the Moyle’s had lived for a time in Australia, where Gordon worked for NASA and as a Professor at RMC Duntroon (Australia’s West Point) and Glenath a geriatric nurse. In the United States, Glenath became a homemaker and a Girl Scout Leader, Trainer and Day Camp director.

Glenath entered the massage world by attending Notre Coeur College in Portland, graduating in 1988. She was licensed, and joined AMTA in 1989. She maintains a NCBTMB certification which she first earned in 1994. She was Oregon Chapter Meritorious Award winner in 1999, National Meritorious Award winner in 2004.

“For twenty years I have volunteered my time to advancing the profession, and supporting the massage therapy professional,” she notes. “I offer continuity of leadership, knowledge, dedication, enthusiasm, listening skills, and time,” she concludes. Moyle will be AMTA President when Portland hosts the 2011 AMTA National Convention that October.