5^th International Conference on
Palliative Care and Gerontology

Christy Roames is a board-certified massage therapist specializing in hospice and palliative care for adults and pediatrics. Certified through the NCBTMB (The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork) with an MT (Massage Therapy Certification) through AMTA, Christy has an expansive history with massage therapy. After receiving a teaching degree from Barat College of DePaul in 1995, she worked as an elementary-level teacher from 1995 through 2000 in Illinois, Oklahoma, and Nevada. From 2000-2006, Christy worked as a co- pastor in Las Vegas, Nevada and went on to homeschool her two children from 2006-2010. Christy then attended Everest College-Chicago from 2011-2012, in an advanced program for Massage Therapy/Therapeutic Massage. Present day, she works in Illinois as a pediatric

palliative massage therapist for the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital, as a hospice massage therapist for Palos Hospital, and as an independent contractor for rehabilitative and therapeutic massage for cancer and Parkinson’s patients. Along with her work in education and massage therapy, Christy has been involved in a variety of volunteer experiences. She was a project leader for Teen Mania Ministries International from 1996-2007 and a Special Olympics coach (out of Lemont High School in Lemont, Illinois) from 2016-2018. Currently, Christy is a volunteer for the Lemont Medical Reserve Corps Disaster and Humanitarian Relief and the vice president of Hope and Friendship Ministries Disaster and Humanitarian Relief.

Massage is generally considered part of complementary and alternative medicine and is an effective treatment for reducing stress, pain and muscle tension.  Massage is a natural way to release anxiety and fear. When patients can relax, pain is lessened and a sense of well-being has a chance to take over, allowing the patient to experience greater peace and ability to cope with what lies ahead.  Massage involves caring, safe touch — an invitation to relax, if you will.  Relaxation response may also decrease the physical effects of stress and the risks that come with it, such as anxiety, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, insomnia, fatigue, digestive disorders and psychological issues.  

  Patients will armor, a defense mechanism to guard their hearts against anxiety and fear.  When a patient armors, the shoulders contract in, causing the pectorals, serratus anterior, and subclavius to all contract. This involuntary response can increase pain and pressure on a patient affecting his/her breathing.  Massage performed in the pectoralis region, along with the ribcage, arms, shoulders, and hands will allow this to decrease and provide much needed relief from pain and anxiety.

As the patient declines and goes through the transition phase to the actively dying phase, he/she can experience increased levels of terminal agitation. Therapy will decrease the agitation, anxiety, and fear a patient may experience during these times.

 The pain medicines given to patients can cause constipation. Abdominal massage can decrease the discomfort caused by constipation. It can release gas bubbles trapped under the rib cage and in the abdominal region, as well as under the shoulder blades. The therapy used can allow that air to pass and increase the opportunity for a bowel movement.

 Patients affected by Parkinson’s/Huntington’s, dementia/Alzheimer’s, cancer, sickle cell crisis, pulmonary disease, and currently COVID 19 all can benefit from the therapeutic result of massage.  

   Emotional and mental benefits occur as well when a patient is given the opportunity to receive massage. Performing therapeutic massage on a patient takes time and perseverance. Most patients will be hesitant to accept help from a stranger, especially when that stranger is entering into a vulnerable place with the patient.  Hospital patients are already experiencing a roller coaster of emotions and thoughts. The last thing he/she wants to do is be put in a position to trust another medical professional. It takes time to develop a relationship with a patient. The therapist must tread lightly and tap into a psychological aspect with these patients in order to earn trust and be allowed into his/her protective bubble. Once that connection is made, consistency is key in continuing to allow that relationship to flourish and the patient to acquire the rewards from massage.  Overall, massage therapy is crucial and extremely beneficial to a patient facing a chronic illness and/or hospitalization. The combination of physical, emotional, and psychological are imperative to the healing process in an individual.