Massage and the Original Swedish Movements | ||
TABES
Apply massage of the back in connection with pressing. Massage of the abdomen, with pressing above the bladder and pressing and shaking of the extremities, are frequently used. Some authors recommend extension of the legs, pulling of the legs and beating of the sacrum. The movements should be refreshing and invigorating and great care should be taken not to overexert the patient.
A rest in bed for six weeks with intelligently applied massage and inunctions, if indicated, have
Of all movements recommended by the authors on mechanotherapeutics in the treatment of locomotor ataxia none equals the pulling of the legs. Place the patient perfectly flat on his back without head-rest; grasp with one hand around the ankle, with the other firmly above the knee—pulling downward slowly without jerking. Carefully and properly applied, this simple movement will often relieve the most agonizing ataxic pains.
As trained nurses are often requested by the attending physician to inunct a patient with blue ointment in this affection, and as the author has seen several cases in which the "inunction'' consisted of merely placing the prescribed quantity in the groin or axilla, he considers it proper to here give the correct method of inunction as recommended by Dr. Sigmund. The patient should, if possible, take a hot bath as a preparation. If that, for some reason, be impossible, it becomes the operator's duty to wash the part inuncted, either with soap and warm water or with alcohol and water, to dissolve the fat in the pores. The ointment should be worked in with moderate friction by the palm of the hand: on the first day on the inside of the legs; on the second day on the outside of the thighs; on the third day on the sides of the trunk; on the fourth day on the back; on the fifth day on the inside of the arms; on the sixth day commence a new series. In twenty to
The new preparation "Mercury-Vasogen'' is now generally used for inunction and it is far superior to the blue ointment as it works in so much quicker and does not leave a disagreeable odor. Besides it has been the author's experience that it does not produce any skin-affections, while the blue ointment is very apt to cause not only local irritations of the parts inuncted, but also eczema and erythema.
Massage and the Original Swedish Movements | ||