[libribook.com] Traumatic Scar Tissue Management 1st Edition

CHAPTER 10
Client and therapist self care
Self care is health care
Health is a dynamic, subjective process that is experienced uniquely among
individuals. Self care is defined as a process of maintaining health through
health promoting practices and managing illness or injury (Riegel et al. 2012).
General self care (e.g. personal hygiene and nutritional practices) and illness or
injury-specific self care differ. General self care measures are typically
influenced by age, gender, culture, education and socioeconomic status. When in
association with illness or injury, self care measures are often influenced by the
healthcare provider.
In the massage therapy (MT) practice context, client self care includes an array
of activities, such as therapist-recommended post-treatment homecare (e.g. heat
application and stretch exercise). The trauma experienced by individuals varies
greatly, as do issues that arise during acute care, rehabilitation, and throughout
the remainder of life. And so, client self/homecare measures will not be the same
for all clients and will likely not be consistent over time (Dahl et al. 2012, Riegel
et al. 2012).
The practice and performance of activities by the client, on their own behalf, to
support and maintain life, health and wellbeing is an essential part of the posttrauma
recovery process (Orem 1991, Riegel et al. 2012). Client self-investment
is crucial, as self care is considered essential in the management of chronic
presentations, such as mature traumatic scar tissue.
As professional healthcare providers, when we interact with clients, our intention
is that the partnership we form will serve to motivate them to engage in self care