Kidney Disease
Definition: Many types of diseases; impaired kidney function
Causes: exposure to drugs, toxins, chemicals, poisons
Signs/Symptoms: edema, excess protein in urine, chills, fever, abdominal pain, back pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, groin pain
Indications: Massage for stress reduction
Contraindications: Work with physician
Kidney Stone
Definition: accumulation of mineral salts that may lodge in the urinary tract
Causes: high intake of foods with oxalic acid (eggs, fish), high intake of fatty foods, dehydration, high intake of calcium or calcium absorption problem.
Signs/Symptoms: pain radiating from the upper back to the lower abdomen and groin, frequent urination, blood in urine, absence of urine formation, flulike symptoms
Indications: Massage for increase in circulation and detoxification
Contraindications: Refer to appropriate health care practitioner
The knee is the largest joint in the body. It is made up of the lower end of the thighbone (or femur), which rotates on the upper end of the shinbone (tibia), and the kneecap, which slides in a grove on the end of the femur. The knee joint also contains several muscles, which straighten the leg and bend the leg at the knee; tendons, which attach the muscles to the bones; ligaments, which help control motion by connecting bones; and cartilage, which serves to cushion the knee or help it absorb shock during motion.
Because of its size, and because it is such a complex structure, it is also one of the most frequently injured joints. Knee injuries can be caused by several factors. Most complaints of knee pain result from some form of trauma, such as a torn or ruptured ligament; a broken or fractured kneecap; torn cartilage; or an accident that causes damage to the area or strains the knee beyond its normal range of motion. Being overweight can also contribute to knee problems by causing excess strain on ligaments and cartilage.
The main structures that can be injured are the meniscus, anterior cruciate ligament, patella tendon and the medial cruciate ligament.
Knee pain and injuries are usually a result of an imbalance in the muscles of the leg and hip. This can lead to pronation or supination of the foot. When the knee is out of alignment, wear and tear occur in the knee joint and surrounding ligaments and tendons.
The Iliotibial band (IT band) is a common cause of knee pain especially in runners. The IT band acts as a shock absorber for the knee and keeps the knee straight in walking/running.
Articles:
by Ben Benjamin
Deep Pain in the Knee
Sharp Anterior Medial Knee Pain
Knee Pain in Children
Torn Meniscus
The Stretching Hanbook – IT Band Syndrome
Massage For Orthopedic conditions (Google Books) Thomas Hendrickson
8 tests for anterior knee pain
Massage Therapy for your Quads – Paul Ingram
Kyphosis
Definition: abnormal increased convexity of the thoracic spine; rounded shoulders, rounded upper back
Causes: weakness in psoas, tightness in pecs and abdominals, weakness in rhomboids, poor self image, poor posture, shortness in SCM and Scalenes
Indications: Massage to realign posture. Be sure to look at whole body and how it is affected or is affecting posture.
Contraindications: Removing kyphosis too quickly may cause more pain.
Basic Clinical Massage Therapy: Integrating Anatomy and Treatment (Lww Massage Therapy & Bodywork Series) (Hardcover)
by James H. Clay, David M. Pounds
Clinical Massage Therapy: Understanding, Assessing and Treating Over 70 Conditions (Paperback)
by Fiona Rattray (Author), Linda Ludwig (Author)
Travell & Simons’ Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual (2-Volume Set) (Hardcover)
by David G. Simons, Janet G. Travell, Lois S. Simons, Barbara D. Cummings
L
Lactic Acid Build Up – Fact or Myth
Lactose Intolerance
Definition: inability to digest milk sugar
Causes: lack of or deficiency of lactase (enzyme that digests lactose); we are not designed to digest
cow’s milk. May be due o other gastrointestinal disorder that damages digestive tract.
Signs/Symptoms: retain fluid, gas, diarrhea, abdominal cramps
Indications: Massage OK.
Contraindications: N/A
Lipoma
Definition: fatty tumor
Causes: toxins, excess fat
Signs/Symptoms: lumpy feeling tissue, may be painful or tender
Indications: Massage around area.
Contraindications: Refer to physician to rule out other tumors
Lordosis
Definition: abnormal increased concavity in the curvature of the lumbar spine; sway backed
Causes: malfunctioning psoas (weakness, shortness, inability to activate), tightness in adductors, quadriceps, too many sit ups
Signs/Symptoms: sway back, tightness in low back, may have pain
Indications: Deep tissue, structural realignment; release psoas, rectus abdominis, adductors and rebalance pelvis; movement re-education
Contraindications: N/A
Basic Clinical Massage Therapy: Integrating Anatomy and Treatment (Lww Massage Therapy & Bodywork Series) (Hardcover)
by James H. Clay, David M. Pounds
Clinical Massage Therapy: Understanding, Assessing and Treating Over 70 Conditions (Paperback)
by Fiona Rattray (Author), Linda Ludwig (Author)
Travell & Simons’ Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual (2-Volume Set) (Hardcover)
by David G. Simons, Janet G. Travell, Lois S. Simons, Barbara D. Cummings
Lupus (DLE,SLE)
Definition: chronic inflammatory disease affecting the body’s organs
SLE- systemic lupus erythematosus; affects many parts of body including lungs, kidneys, spleen heart
DLE- discoid lupus erythematosus; less serious affecting skin mainly
Causes: autoimmune inflammatory disease, viral, hereditary, sex hormones, drug reactions, faulty genes, triggered by medications such as penicillin, sulfa or tetracycline, excessive sunlight, injury, stress, infection
Signs/Symptoms: butterfly shaped rash on face that gives person the appearance of a wolf; abnormal cells in urine, arthritis, sun sensitivity, mouth sores, seizures and psychosis, low white blood cell count, low platelet count or hemolytic anemia, low grade fever, aches, hair loss, weight loss
Indications: Massage for stress reduction, reduce inflammation, increase circulation
Contraindications: May have complications of the liver, kidneys, spleen, heart, central nervous
system. Work with physician referral. Hot hydrotherapy contraindicated. Florescent lights and heat lamps may aggravate condition.
Lymphangitis
Definition: inflammation of the lymphatics system
Causes: bacterial
Signs/Symptoms: fever and chills, swelling and pain
Indications: Massage ok as per physician.
Contraindications: Physician referral