Meet Diane
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Diane has been able to keep moving after hip and shoulder surgeries.
Diane, 87, and her husband, 94, both find massage therapy essential in keeping up their energy levels and maintaining their mobility and independence as they age.
Diane started massage therapy about 10 years ago after a woman, who was visiting the Heart and Stroke foundation where she volunteered, mentioned how much pain relief she had gotten from massage therapy after a car accident.
At the time, Diane was experiencing constant pain in her right leg so she decided to make an appointment with a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT). After a few sessions, she noticed that the pain went away, and she continued to have massage therapy treatments every six weeks because of the positive effect it had on her body overall.
“I have found that massage therapy has a calming effect on my body in addition to easing muscle pain and stiffness, and this has improved sleep,” she explained.
Massage therapy has been particularly beneficial for Diane in her recovery from two major surgeries. She was a physical education teacher for 46 years, and the wear and tear from her job led to her needing to have both her shoulders replaced five years ago. Her surgeon recommended she keep up massage therapy throughout her recovery to help her muscles heal faster. Thanks in part to massage therapy, she was able to regain full mobility of her shoulders within 3 weeks of surgery.
“[Massage] therapy reduced muscle stiffness and pain, speeding up my recovery [and] allowing me to do menial tasks at home.”
This year, Diane had hip replacement surgery and massage therapy both before and after surgery helped her once again recover more quickly and fully regain her mobility. Her surgeon explained that massage therapy was essential in her recovery.
“Massage therapy before and after hip replacement surgery allowed me to walk WITHOUT a cane or walker within 2 weeks of having surgery,” she said.
As is common with many people as they age, both Diane and her husband suffer from arthritis. They find that regular massage therapy treatments are extremely helpful for that condition.
“We both find that regular massage eases the inflammation and counteracts the stiffness in our joints,” Diane explained.
Diane discovered massage therapy later in her life but as it has allowed her to remain active in her community and maintain her mobility. She plans to continue regular treatments as long as possible.