Healthy Massage Event

Healthy Massage Day

Venue: Seventh Day Adventist Church

15 March 2009

The focus of this event was on the benefits of healthy massage for all members of the family. Patricia Ndhlovu, Healthy family/eating champion, who welcomed everyone to event and went through the prgramme of the day, opened the event.

Events included:

• Free health screening
• Weight Checks
• Diabetic Checks
• Blood pressure checks
• BMI Calculations

Maria Sinclair demonstrated on the benefits of healthy massage and how this is gaining increased recognition for its powerful healing abilities. Patient’s education and self-care is growing in popularity and has many rewarding possibilities. Maria demonstrated the benefit of simple hand massage that can be helpful to release tension and stress from the hands.

Simple Hand Massage

1. Stroke the back of your hand, pushing firmly up toward the wrist and gliding back gently. Squeeze the hand all over, pressing between the palm and fingers.
2. Individually squeeze each fingerand make circular pressure around the joints with your thumb. Hold your finger at the base and pull gently to stretch it. Continue to grip up the finger and off the tip. 
3. Stroke between the tendons on the back of the hand with your thumb. Complete four strokes in each furrow continuing to the wrist.
4. Turn your hand over and support the back with your fingers. Complete circular pressure with the thumb and continue throughout your palm and end at the wrist.
5. Finish by gently stroking the palm of your hand from the tips of your fingers to your wrists.

Mara Sinclair

For more information on the benefits of healthy holistic massage call Maria on 07951 305 537

The event also focused on Bowel Cancer Screening and Jo Zhou from B&D NHS Bowel Cancer Screening was there to demonstrate the importance of bowel cancer screening. Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK, and normally affects people aged 60+. Free bowel cancer screening kits are available for people aged 70+ by calling 0800 707 60 60. For more information on bowel cancer screening contact Jo Zhou on 07917554352, or email jozhou@nhs.net

Statistical Information

There were a high percentage of people from BME backgrounds especially Afro Caribbean ethnicity. The average age group that completed the monitoring information ranged from 50+. There percentage of female people was 91% and 93% of the people who attended the event were Christian with 4% from Muslim and Hindu.

Feedback report

Comments from feedback sheet under additional comments include:

• Would like to attend more events like this
• Very happy with the event, but felt it needed bigger advertising of the event
• Event well organised
• Liked the health checks, really important aspect
• The event was really good
• You are doing a good job It was a very enjoyable day and I have learnt so much in one day about bowel cancer and I enjoyed the massage demonstration.

Under how can we improve?

• Advertise to other boroughs and distribute leaflets to local and neighbourhoods
• Needs to be more widely publicised and promoted
• More events like this one and more time allocated to the event.
• An event aimed at male health