02/20/2015    Michael M. Rosenblatt, DPM

PA Podiatrist Discusses Benefits of Foot Massages

I read with interest Dr. Maasi Smith's brief
discussion of massage therapy for patients. I
think this is one area of treatment that has not
been sufficiently explored by podiatrists, who are
more "comfortable" regarding themselves as
surgeons and physicians. Those who "distance"
themselves from their patients are losing a very
good opportunity to re-connect with them.

The "disgruntled" patient with a very swollen
ankle and foot after a rear foot tendon
transplant, or ankle stabilization comes to mind.
The patient is out of their cast (if one was used)
and the swelling and decrease in motion is causing
them pain and disability. They can't walk
comfortably, much less wear their shoes yet.

You could send them to a physical therapist and
perhaps you will. But you are missing an
opportunity to re-connect with the patient
"physically" by performing ROM exercises and deep
tissue massage for them with your own hands. Itis
very difficult for a patient to sue a podiatrist
who is giving them routine massages. The
podiatrist becomes a "member of the family" who is
laying-on hands and giving direct comfort. During
those treatments you have an opportunity to
seriously listen to your patient and they have an
opportunity to express their concerns directly to
you.

You are using your post-op patient time to re-
connect with them. For your own evaluation, you
can also do measurements of their ROMs and use a
tape measure for recording decreases in swelling,
which you record in the patient's chart. You are
helping the patient directly and making a very
human connection with them, which is very deep in
our shared historical evolution.

Michael M. Rosenblatt, DPM, (Retired),
San Jose, CA

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