Rianne Chavez

A client was prescribed oral birth control to help manage symptoms of perimenopause. The medication caused a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which then caused a pulmonary embolism (PE). Altogether this forms a potentially deadly phenomenon called venous thromboembolism (VTE).

She survived, and she’s fine. But here’s the thing: her PE was just two weeks ago, and she wants to receive deep massage to her neck, back, and shoulders. Yikes, right? Or maybe not? Listen in for some key decision points about this question.

Full show notes and resources available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-531-dvt-pe-vte-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner

Teresa Matthews is a nationally accredited massage therapy continuing education provider, a massage school owner, an athlete and personal trainer, and now… a published author. 

Her new book, Self Defense for Massage Therapists is now available and—in my opinion—should be considered a required topic in massage therapy beginning education. In this interview Teresa shares how this project developed, and her priorities for teaching massage therapists to be safe at all times. 

What to do?

Full show notes and resources available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-525-self-defense-massage-therapists-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner

A seasoned massage therapist has just started working at a prestigious facility where client intakes are only conducted on the fly, and nothing is documented. Almost immediately, two clients present with complex situations that could be made substantially worse by thoughtless massage. 

What to do?

In this episode we explore this complex question. I have some thoughts from the massage side of the equation, and I also turned to an industry expert, Sherrie Tennessee, PhD, to help understand this from the point of view of the businesses.

I also speculate on what it would be like if I were Queen of the World, but that’s a bit beside the point.

Full show notes and resources available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-520-facility-policies-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner

A client has a recently placed stent in their left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery. The therapist isn’t clear about safety. What to do—get permission to work? Or get information to work safely? (You get two guesses, and one of them doesn’t count.)

This episode explores a helpful communication to establish client safety—and an example to us all!

Full show notes and resources available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-514-lad-stent-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner

A massage therapist wonders about the communicability of herpes from lesions on the sacrum: how might this infection spread from one person to another? And Ruth leaps on the opportunity to talk about herpes epidemiology, communicability, and asymptomatic viral shedding. You won’t want to miss this one!

Full show notes and resources available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-506-genital-herpes-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner

A 70-year-old client fills in an online intake form, saying she has myasthenia gravis, hypertension, and hypothyroidism. She only takes Synthroid, and says her hypothyroidism and hypertension are well controlled. She has low back pain and muscle soreness.

At first glance, this seems fairly simple. MG does not appear to be a major factor for her, because she is not controlling it with medication. But a closer look reveals some possible tangles between MG, hypothyroidism, and some cautions about hypertension drugs. 

Join me as I completely overthink this situation, it will be fun!

Full show notes and resources available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-500-myasthenia-gravis-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner