Abdominal Massage; Not just a tummy rub!

Abdominal massage is a hugely beneficial therapy and can be used to support many conditions such as digestive issues, gynaecological disorders, conditions affecting fertility, abdominal tension and pelvic girdle pain and pelvic floor.

Digestive Issues

Whether you suffer from conditions such as Irritable Bowel Disorder, Chrohn's, Ulcerative Colitis, food intolerances, chronic inflammatory conditions or constipation, regular abdominal massage can really help to alleviate symptoms, reduce swelling and bloating, aid peristalsis and bowel movements. It literally gets things moving in the right direction.

Period Pain

Period pain, cramping and associated back and pelvic pain, occur when the uterus contracts to shed it's lining during menstruation. Pain and cramping can also occur secondary to other conditions such as endometriosis or fibroids (see below and this blog post for more detail). Period pain can be successfully treated with pain relief, hot and cold application and massage and/or self-massage in the days leading up to your period and during your period.

Endometriosis and Adenomyosis

Endometriosis is a painful condition where the cells that usually line the uterus, end up in places they shouldn't be, such as the fallopian tubes or elsewhere in the abdomin. Those uterine cells still behave as if they were still inside the uterus, so grow and shed in a cyclical fashion according to your usual menstrual cycle. This can lead to painful and heavy periods, pelvic inflammation, painful sex and fertility problems. Endometriosis can also affect organs and areas it is attached to such as the bowel creating symptoms such as painful bowel movements.

Adenomyosis is where the same cells infiltrate the muscle of the uterine wall. More information can be found on the NHS Website - Endometriosis, Adenomyosis. Massage of the abdomin and low back and pelvis can really help reduce pain, improve blood flow which in turn promotes healing, increases quality of sleep and relaxation which also helps reduce inflammation and our perception of pain by reducing stress.

Fertility

Fertility massage includes abdominal massage as a means of increasing blood flow, improving lymphatic flow, mobilising organs and reducing adhesions (particularly after abdominal surgery). Massage can also help reduce stress, promoting the parasympathetic nervous system ("Rest and Digest") to take over from the sympathetic nervous system ("Fight, Flight or Freeze") which helps balance hormones that regulate menstrual cycles. Abdominal massage can help optimise conditions holistically to support conception. We hold a lot of emotional tension in our tummies, and stress can often result in digestive discomfort such as indigestion, so fertility massage can help alleviate some of these digestive issues by providing a safe and relaxing therapy to release tension.

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and Abdominal Tension

Unfortunately, society has conditioned us to hold in our tummies, leading to chronic tension in our abdomin. Chest breathing, as apposed to abdominal breathing, can result and increased strain on our pelvic floor. This imbalance of tension and pressure throughout our abdominal cavity can also be a contributing factor to back pain through the fascial planes that link our bodies together.

Think of the abdomin as a barrel, with a lid (diaphragm), base (pelvic floor) and sides (abdomin and back muscles). We need them all to work in harmony to equalise pressure within that barrel whilst we perform activities such as jumping, moving, sneezing, pooing, breathing etc. If we have too much tension in any area of that barrel, then this throws the other parts of the barrel out of whack, which can cause issues such as pelvic floor dysfunction and incontinence. Abdominal massage and abdominal fascial release, become an essential treatment tool in the management of pelvic floor and pelvic girdle conditions and related low back pain and sciatica.

Surgery Recovery and Trauma

Any abdominal surgery (C-sections or investigations and treatment for gynae conditions for example) disrupts the many layers of tissue and fascia that make up the abdominal wall. These tissues heal in a disorganised fashion aka a scar. This can affect the way those tissues move and function leading to tightness, pain, tugging and pulling. Lymph flow can become disrupted too and chronic swelling or puffiness can persist (sometimes contributing to an over-hang). Abdominal massage aims to promote healing of injured tissues, reduce swelling, break down any scar adhesions creating better movement between tissue layers and improve the appearance of scars. Abdominal massage, especially self-massage, can also help you to become more comfortable with your scar and allow you to process and accept the process by which you came to get it. For more information on c-section massage in particular, check out this Blog post.

In summary, abdominal massage is a diverse tool for helping treat and manage many conditions. It can easily be incorporated into a massage routine and can also be easily taught as self-massage for those who would benefit from daily care. For more information of abdominal massage please get in touch.