By Linda Cashdollar

Heritage of Peachtree Retirement & Assisted Living

Massage therapy is a powerful tool in the hands of Certified Massage Therapist Charlie Wooters. Wooters has been visiting the residents at Heritage of Peachtree for the past three years, developing a loyal clientele among the happy seniors. Massage does more than just loosen up tight muscles. A good massage therapist can seemingly work miracles as nimble fingers search out the aches and pains of aging bodies.
Heritage residents line up Monday mornings anxiously waiting for Wooters arrival. Everyone has an appointment and relishes their 15-30 minute time slot.

Wooters rubs aching shoulders, massages arthritic arms or backs. As he deftly uses his hands and fingers, he also talks soothingly to each resident about what is going on in their lives. Aches and pains fall away in his gentle hands and caring attitude.

Massage has a long history. Herodicus, a Greek physician in the 5th century, who professed to have great success in prolonging lives with a combination of massages, herbs and oils. Hippocrates, 460-380 BC is considered the Father of Medicine. He claimed that he could improve joint function and increase muscle tone with massage. He also believed that massage strokes should be carried toward the heart rather than the feet. This was astonishing since there was no knowledge of blood circulation at that time.
Hindu writings in 1800 BC indicate massage was used for weight reduction, sleep aids, relaxation and fatigue. The Hindus were also interested in hygiene, so they combined massage with bathing and shampooing. Chinese Literature in 3000 BC shows that massage, exercise, martial arts and meditation were considered complete health.

Per Henrik Lind, 1776 to 1839, was a physician who formulated Gymnastics, which originated as a combination of massage and exercise.

John Grosvenor, 1742 to 1823, was an English surgeon and professor at Oxford University who demonstrated the benefits of massage therapy in reliving stiff joints, gout and rheumatism. Although he did not include exercise in his treatment, he believed the healing of joints and tissues were by the action of friction and rubbing.

In WWII massage was used in English hospitals to treat injuries.

Some of the many benefits of Massage include: assisting the venous flow of blood, excouraging lymphatic flow, reducing edema, stimulating sensory receptors of the skin and subcutaneous tissues, relaxation, improving self-esteem, improving flexibility, providing gentle stretching of tissues, encouraging endorphin release, stimulating or soothing nerves.
Massage has existed as long as there have been human beings. It is a natural instinct to “rub away pain” which can be considered the simplest form of massage. Residents of Heritage of Peachtree understand the many benefits of massage, and are thankful for Charlie Wooters visits each week.