Head to Toe Relief: Scalp, Hands, and Foot Massage for Fibromyalgia

Episode 16: Head, Hands and Feet! Perfect for Fibromyalgia!

Part 4 of the Massage and Fibromyalgia Series

I recently had a scalp, hand, and foot massage from Eagle's Nest Massage Center in Duluth, Minnesota. This service, "Begins with your choice of aromatherapy. The therapist massages the scalp, hands and feet using your desired pressure, ending with a hot steamy towel to the feet. This session lasts 30 minutes". I thought that this would be a far cry from the effectiveness of my regular hour long session with my massage therapist in the Twin Cities. But, oh how wrong I was. It was not only effective, it was half the cost with the same benefits. Is this a kind of massage that would be good for people living with fibromyalgia? Let's find out.

FIBROMYALGIA: A CENTRAL SENSITIVITY DISORDER

Fibromyalgia is a central sensitivity disorder characterized by all over body pain, fatigue, brain fog, depression and anxiety. Although there is no cure for fibromyalgia, there are a number of well-documented and productive interventions one can do, including massage. But Fibromyalgia can make the body extremely sensitive to touch. Certain massage techniques may not be tolerated by some individuals living with fibromyalgia.

In my last post Is Massage the Poison?, I explained why certain massage techniques are not good options for people living with fibromyalgia. I wrote: "deep tissue massage really has little place in the world of a person living with fibromyalgia and it may feel like poison, like it is toxic. and that it hurts the body". As the Insider explains, "Deep tissue massage targets knots and adhesions deep in the sub-layer of your muscles". In addition, the CDC states "People with fibromyalgia may be more sensitive to pain than people without fibromyalgia". A person with this disorder may find that even the slightest touch is painful. Therefore, people with fibromyalgia may find that certain massage techniques are not appropriate for them.

AROMATHERAPY FOR MASSAGE

My recent hand, foot, and scalp massage started with my choice of aromatherapy for this 30 minute session.

But what about Aromatherapy for fibromyalgia? There are some studies that show that aromatherapy may have some physical and emotional benefits. Massage with essential oil aromatherapy is purported to reduce stress, relieve anxiety, and ease pain.

For my massage, I had a choice of lavender, cypress, peppermint, or orange. I chose orange essential oil. As we began the massage, I was hit immediately with the soft and invigorating scent of orange. Though the evidence is only anecdotal and not backed by science, Orange essential oil is known to help relieve stress, improve the mood, and reduce pain - all the things I am looking for in life. Aromatherapy added to a massage gets the body in direct contact with the healing benefits of essential oils, most notably - aromatherapy makes a person feel good. The National Institute of Health asserts smells enhance your experience and can change your mood. If it smells good, it is likely to make your experience better.

Note: essential oils should be diluted with oils or lotions to minimize irritations to the skin.

THE SCALP

My massage started with my scalp. With gentle pressure, my therapist touched on points that seemed to refer sensations like relief and joy to many other parts of my body. This would be supported by recent research that shows that craniofacial massage improves the

quality of life, mental health, and body image of menopausal women. A scalp massage may reduce stress, relieve headache, improve circulation to the head and neck, and according to Sarah Monreal, a licensed massage therapist, it may, "normalize the flow of your cerebrospinal fluid in the central nervous system". Since fibromyalgia is a central sensitivity disorder meaning: "the central nervous system amplifies sensory input across many organ systems", it would stand to reason that normalizing the flow of the cerebrospinal fluid in the central nervous system is an important factor is health and well-being. All this means, a scalp massage is good for you and makes you feel better.

THE HANDS & FEET

The main benefits of hand massage are stress relief and a reduction in anxiety. Add to that the benefit of human touch and you have an easy and non invasive way to a better sense of well-being.

I was surprised at how much the hand portion of my massage eased tension not only in my hands, but all over my body. Both hands and feet have reflexology points and although I do not understand exactly how reflexology works, I do know that I felt the benefits of this massage the same way I felt a full body massage; I felt a reduction in stress and anxiety, I felt more clear headed, and I had more energy.

What about a foot massage? A foot massage has a long history of stress and pain relief. Mary Magdalene famously gave Jesus a foot bath with her warm tears and massaged his feet with precious oils.

As it felt good then, it still feels good now. And for a person with fibromyalgia, it is not only a massage technique that is well-tolerated, it is good for a number of issues that plague the sufferer. A foot massage provides stress relief and makes you feel good by activating the nervous system and releasing endorphins. Endorphins are a natural defense against pain, anxiety, and depression - some of the main problems associated with fibromyalgia.

Both hand and foot massage equate to a reduction in stress, anxiety, and depression. A foot massage can activate the central nervous system to release endorphins which can provide a natural defense pain.

Many of the same benefits of full body massage can be achieved by a good scalp, hand, and foot massage and these non-invasive techniques can be added tool in the toolbox for people living with fibromyalgia.

IN THE END

For people living with fibromyalgia who have a sensitivity to touch, I would urge you to find a therapist who does scalp, hand, and foot massages. It can have many of the same benefits as a full body massage and potentially cost half the price. A scalp, hands, and feet massage has been shown to provide numerous benefits for people with fibromyalgia. By targeting specific reflexology points and areas of the body, this type of massage can help to alleviate pain, reduce stress and anxiety, and promote relaxation. Additionally, the soothing human touch and gentle pressure of the massage can help to stimulate the production of endorphins, which can provide a natural pain relief. Given these benefits, it is clear that scalp, hands, and feet massage can be a valuable complementary therapy for those of us living with fibromyalgia, helping to improve our overall health and quality of life.

If you enjoyed this post, share it with your friends and colleagues, and consider becoming a subscriber. If you have any tips or suggestions about how to better cope with chronic pain, leave a comment. I would love to hear from you!

Karen Palmen, EdD is a veteran educator in Saint Paul, Mn. She teaches Dance and English at Saint Paul Central High School. She has an active TikTok page that features humorous, political, mental health, and educational content (kickin it with karen). And a a dormant YOUTUBE channel with the same name, featuring fermented foods and other cooking oddities.

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