What is a massage?

Indications and Procedures

Massage is used in both wellness and treatment models of health care. Wellness implies the achievement of an optimal state of well-being. The health enhancing effects of massage such as relaxation, stress reduction, and increased body conditioning or awareness contribute to general wellness. In the treatment model, massage is considered a modality indicated to alleviate the symptoms and/or pain of a specific condition. A particular massage technique may be more or less effective for each illness or injury. The treatment model includes the subspecialty of sports massage, a beneficial intervention for athletes and people engaged in strenuous physical activity.

Two men were instrumental in the development of classic Western massage: Pehr Henrik Ling (1776–1839) and Johann Mezger (1838–1909). Ling developed an approach for treating medical conditions called the "Swedish movement cure" in the nineteenth century. Mezger defined four categories of massage using French terminology: effleurage, petrissage, tapotement, and frictions. The work of these men was further developed by their students and incorporated into both regular and alternative medicine. Other common techniques of massage are deep-tissue massage and trigger-point massage.

The physical effects of massage include healthy skin, relaxation, increased blood circulation and immune system functioning, metabolic balance in the muscles, connective tissue pliability, increased joint mobility and flexibility, and pain reduction. The mental and emotional benefits include increased mental clarity, reduced anxiety, and emotional release.

Uses and Complications

Massage has proven benefits for mind and body health. Research in the twentieth century showed a positive relationship between the reduction of pain and stress after massage. Other studies revealed that massage promoted weight gain in premature infants and reduced anxiety in adolescents hospitalized for psychiatric conditions. It may help slow the aging process among older adults and bring comfort to the terminally ill.

A basic tenet of massage practice is “Do no harm.” Massage practitioners are trained to identify “endangerment sites.” These are areas of the body that are less protected and more vulnerable to damage. “Contraindications” are conditions under which receiving massages are not advisable, such as when it could worsen a condition or spread infection. Health history information is essential for a safe massage session.

Perspective and Prospects

Massage has been used for centuries in native and folk cultures all over the world. It has periodically lost and regained popularity in the Western world. After a decline in the 1950s, it experienced a revival of credibility and value during the human potential movement of the late 1960s. Since then, it has been increasingly incorporated into medical treatment and prevention programs.

Bibliography

American Massage Therapy Association. http://www.amtamassage.org.

Beck, Mark F. Theory and Practice of Therapeutic Massage. 5th ed. Clifton Park, N.Y.: Milady, 2010.

Fritz, Sandy. Mosby’s Fundamentals of Therapeutic Massage. 5th ed. Maryland Heights, Mo.: Mosby/Elsevier, 2012.

"Massage: Get in Touch with Its Many Benefits." Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, January 30, 2013.

"Massage Therapy." Health Library, March 26, 2013.

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. "Massage Therapy: An Introduction." National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, August, 2010.

Salvo, Susan G., and Maureen Pfeiffer, eds. Massage Therapy: Principles and Practice. 4th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Saunders/Elsevier, 2011.

Trivieri, Larry, Jr., and John W. Anderson, eds. Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide. 2d ed. Berkeley, Calif.: Ten Speed Press, 2002.

Werner, Ruth. A Massage Therapist’s Guide to Pathology. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2009.

Compare the education levels of Scout, Walter Cunningham, and Burris Ewell. How do these comparisons emphasize the relationship between class and...

Scout is more educated than Walter Cunningham. Walter has received more of an education than Burris Ewell. Their levels of education reveal their places in Maycomb society.

Before Scout even starts school, she knows how to read well. She gets in trouble with her teacher, Miss Caroline, because of this. Nightly, Scout reads with her father. She is intellectually advanced for her age. Atticus is a respected figure in Maycomb. He has a college education and professional career. Education is promoted in the Finch household.

Walter Cunningham is from a poor, less-respected family in Maycomb. The Cunninghams are hard workers and do not believe in owing anyone anything. They have a sense of dignity. Aunt Alexandra considers them trash, but many people in town do not. Atticus respects the Cunninghams. Walter is intelligent, but he often has to miss school to help on the farm. He enjoys going to school when he can. He is behind because of missing so much school. Education is valued somewhat in the Cunningham home.

Burris Ewell is still in first grade, though he is much older than the other students in the class. His family does not value education. As one student in his class explains to Miss Caroline,

"He's one of the Ewells. . . Whole school's full of 'em. They come first day every year and then leave. The truant lady gets 'em here 'cause she threatens 'em with the sheriff, but she's give up tryin' to hold 'em. She reckons she's carried out the law just gettin' their names on the roll and runnin' 'em here the first day. You're supposed to mark ’em absent the rest of the year" (Chapter 3).

The Ewells are not respected in Maycomb. They are considered the lowest of the low in Maycomb society. Burris has no desire to be in school, and he is several years behind.

What are wound infections?

Definition

Wound infections involve injury marked by the division of tissue or the rupture of membranes. These injuries develop infections caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. For surgical cases, wound infections are specific to the surgical site.

Introduction

Wounds caused by trauma or obtained during surgical procedures (invasive and noninvasive surgery) can become breeding grounds for infections. The majority of wound infections are caused by bacteria such as staphylococci and streptococci. Many surgical infections are caused by Staphylococcus aureus or S. epidermis. Symptoms of wound infection include pain, swelling, and redness, and drainage from the wound area. An accompanying fever means the infection has spread through the body.

Specific types of wounds are more likely to be susceptible to tetanus
(Clostridium tetani) infection, including puncture wounds,
burns, and frostbite. Tetanus results from bacteria spores present in soil. These
spores invade the wound, resulting in neurologic conditions, particularly spasms,
and fever. Gas gangrene is a tissue-destroying infection caused by
Clostridium species and can result in septic
shock.

Types of wound infection of special concern are methicillin-resistant
S. aureus (MRSA) infection and vancomycin-resistant
Enterococcus (VRE) infection, which are prevalent in hospitals
and are resistant to treatment with antibiotics. Hospitalized persons are
especially susceptible because they may already have a compromised
immune
system and are sometimes exposed to germs from other sick
patients. MRSA and VRE are common in community spaces, especially day-care
centers, dormitories, and athletic facilities. Skin
infections can occur in a rash or wound. Wounds exposed to
fresh water or sea water are often susceptible to waterborne organisms such as
Aeromonas, Pseudomonas, and Vibrio
vulnificus.

Risk Factors

Some studies have demonstrated that certain characteristics render persons more
susceptible to wound infections, compared with persons who do not have these
factors. Obesity and diabetes have high wound infection rates. Specific
surgical-infection risk factors include diabetes, obesity, the
receipt of a blood transfusion during surgery, older age,
hypertension, hyperlipidemia, length of surgery, and
smoking.

Prevention

Tetanus infection is completely preventable with vaccine, which is effective
for ten to twelve years. MRSA, VRE, and other infections occurring commonly in
clinics and hospitals can be reduced by practicing universal precautions, which
are instrumental in preventing infection when treating the wounded. Universal
precautions involve treating biologic fluids as though they were infected with the
human
immunodeficiency virus or another pathogen, treating each
patient cautiously to avoid exposing oneself and others, thorough handwashing,
sterilizing instruments, wearing protective gear, and properly disposing of
medical waste.

Instrument sterilization, however, can be less effective than one might think. At any step of the sterilization process, it is possible to reintroduce bacteria. Some hospitals are opting to use new, unused instruments for each surgery. Debate continues about whether wearing face masks during surgery protects patients; however, it does protect medical staff from blood spatter to the face. Prophylactic antibiotics before, during, and after surgery are often helpful in reducing infection rate, such as for knee or hip replacement.

Treatment

Depending on the type of infection, a lack of treatment may result in blood
poisoning, gangrene (tissue death), or death. According to the
World Health
Organization, one should never close up an infected wound. A
protocol of washing, debridement (removing any dirt and dead tissue), and saline
irrigation should be followed and the wound should be left open but covered with
dressing; the dressing should be changed a minimum of once per day. If the wound
is not open but it does have pus under the surface, it is critical to drain the
subcutaneous pus. Intravenous antibiotics should be used to treat bacterial
infection, preferably tailored to the type of infection (if
testing is available at the site) to reduce unnecessary overexposure to
antibiotics.

Impact

Infected wounds affect millions worldwide and can result in debilitation or death. Appropriate preventive measures and effective treatments are essential in reducing the widespread effects of wound infection.

Bibliography

Al-Buhairan, B., D. Hind, and A. Hutchinson. “Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Wound Infections in Total Joint Arthroplasty.” Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery 90-B (2007): 915-919. A review of the evidence from twenty-six studies, reporting on the effectiveness of prophylactic antibiotics in reducing infections in persons having total knee or total hip replacement.

Downie, Fiona, et al. “Barrier Dressings in Surgical Site Infection Prevention Strategies.” British Journal of Nursing 19 (2010): S42-S46. This clinical article provides a multifaceted model for preventing surgical infections. Focuses largely on vapor-permeable dressings postsurgery.

Matros, Evan, et al. “Reduction in Incidence of Deep Sternal Wound Infections: Random or Real?” Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 139 (2010): 680-685. Analyzes trends in the risk factors associated with deep sternal wound infections.

Olsen, Margaret A., et al. “Risk Factors for Surgical Site Infection Following Orthopaedic Spinal Operations.” Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery 90 (2008): 62-69. Discusses a retrospective, case-control study of risk factors associated with spinal surgery.

Perry, Christine, ed. Infection Prevention and Control. Malden, Mass.: Blackwell, 2007. An evidence-based guide that describes in detail areas such as urinary catheter care, pediatric care, and wound prevention and management.

How does the use of repetition in the play Waiting for Godot help in bringing out the elements of absurdist theatre?

Before answering how repetition brings out qualities of absurdist theatre in Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot, it helps to get a better understanding of what absurdist theatre entails. Absurdist theatre has many qualities, but the ones that will serve us the most here are the ideas that, 1) there is an inherent futility in human being's efforts on Earth and, 2) nothing meaningful can happen, so nothing much happens in the play. 

Now, let's see how these qualities apply to repetition in Godot. The play has two acts that mirror one another. Both acts begin with Vladimir and Estragon engaging in nonsensical conversation, and then Pozzo and Lucky arrive, and then, after Lucky and Pozzo leave, a young boy arrives and informs Vladimir and Estragon that Godot won't be coming by on that particular day, but should be arriving soon. Both acts end with Vladimir and Estragon vowing to "go" and then not moving. Basically, though there are of course differences between the two parts of the play, the first and second acts share the same overarching structure. This repetitive nature gradually gives the audience the feeling that nothing is happening, i.e., nothing is being accomplished. We end up right where we started. This quality in turn gives rise to a feeling of futility, as if there isn't much point in acting at all. In other words, Beckett's use of repetition in structure is one of the primary ways that he constructs a feeling of futility and lack of inherent meaning, which are two fundamental aspects of absurdist theatre. 

What task does Athena give Telemachus and what is its purpose?

At the very beginning of The Odyssey, Athena visits Telemachus and gives him a major task: the goddess asks Telemachus to venture out and search for information about Odysseus, his father.

Athena encourages Telemachus for two major reasons. First of all, she functions as Odysseus' major patron on Mount Olympus, and so she is particularly concerned with helping the beleaguered king return home. Sending Telemachus off in search of his father can do nothing but good for the wandering Odysseus. More important, however, is Athena's desire to bolster Telemachus' reputation and self-esteem. The goddess wants to help Telemachus gain fame and greatness, just like his father. In that case, by urging the young man to set forth on his own journey, she is also subtly urging him to step into adulthood and ready himself to fight for his kingdom. In that sense, Telemachus' quest serves as a trial run that will embolden the prince to help Odysseus fight off the suitors near the end of the poem.   

How does a nucleus function like a mayor?

If we were to think of a cell as a city, we can think of various organelles as components of the city. In such a scenario, we can think of the cell's nucleus as the mayor of the city. A nucleus controls all the activities of the cell and can be thought of as the boss of the cell (since it regulates all the activities). Similarly, a mayor of a city controls all the activities of the city and regulates them, as and when needed. The nucleus uses DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), which houses genetic information, to direct the protein synthesis and thus control cell's activities. Similarly, the mayor uses the city's blueprint to help him decide on what needs to be done.  

We can also think of other roles for cell's organelle; cell membrane can be thought of as the city limits or borders, ribosomes can be thought of as workers, DNA can be thought of as the city's blueprints, etc.

Hope this helps. 

What is the book Reconstructing Amelia about?

On the surface, Kimberly McCreight's Reconstructing Amelia tells the story of Kate, who is trying to make sense of her daughter's sudden suicide. It begins when Kate receives a call to come down to Amelia's school, though they refuse to say why her daughter is being suspended. When Kate arrives, she finds out why Amelia is being suspended, but that's not all-- Kate has jumped off the school roof and fallen to her death. Amelia had been caught cheating and seemingly could not bear the shame of her actions. Kate receives a chilling text message from a number she doesn't recognize stating that Amelia didn't actually jump... so what happened?

Kate must wade through her dead daughter's emails, text messages, and social media accounts to figure out what really happened to her daughter. Kate's whole world is rocked, not just from grief, but for feeling like she had been so deceived about their relationship. Kate is a single mom, and she and Amelia had always depended on each other. There were no secrets between them, or so she thought. What she finds in Amelia's texts and emails reveals that she was living an entire life, full of stress and even joy, outside of her mother's knowledge.

Major themes in the book are death and grieving, as well as parent-child relationships and the coming-of-age. Being a teenager is tough for everyone, but for Amelia, with just her stressed out mom to depend on, the torments of high school became too much for her. This book prompts both parents and kids alike to question how well they know each other, and what lives our counterparts live outside of our relationships.