Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

‘Perfect Touch’ for senior citizens



Most senior citizens benefit from the touch of a massage
therapist, said Gail Bergstrom of Howard Lake.

Bergstrom, who is from Howard Lake, has been working as
a massage therapist for over a year.

Her business, Perfect Touch, is located in the Shape and
Style Salon in Howard Lake, owned by Donna Christensen.

Bergstrom got interested in massage because she had migraine
headaches. She went to a massage therapist and hasn’t had the headaches
in a couple of years, she said.

“I thought I would have to lay on a table, naked,”
she said.

What she learned is that she only had to undress to her
comfort level.

As with her own clients, only the part of the body that
is being worked on is uncovered.

Clients have to fill out a little paper work, and anyone
with cancer or diabetes has to have approval from his/her doctor.

Then, they talk a bit about what parts of their body are
in pain, and Bergstrom can focus more energy on those parts.

For older people in particular, massage helps with circulation
and relaxation.

“I worked in a nursing home for years and really enjoy
older people,” Bergstrom said.

Many of them are stressed just from the lack of physical
touching, she said.

A massage can help with the stress, Bergstrom explained.

Reflexology of the hands and feet is also something Bergstrom
can offer seniors.

For example, massaging a particular part of the foot can
relieve stress or pain in the shoulders or neck, she said.

Sometimes seniors can’t get up on a table, but they can
sit in a chair and have a hand or foot massage, she said.

This type of massage works on the principal that every
part of the hand or foot corresponds to another part of the body.

Bergstrom offers upper body, full body, or reflexology
massage.

She learned the techniques at the Touch of Life school
in Eden Prairie.

Evening classes, many tests, and an internship completed
the course.

The instructors make sure students know what they are doing
before they leave the school, Bergstrom said.

More schooling is in the future for Bergstrom. She wants
to learn more about pressure point therapy and sports massage, she said.

Daily stresses for seniors because they can no longer do
some of the things they used to do, pain in joints and muscles, high blood
pressure, circulation, improved kidney function, and improved muscle tone
are all things that benefit a senior citizen who has a soothing massage,
Bergstrom said.

David W. Maher, D.P.M. serves Cokato, Hutchinson, Dassel, and Litchfield
Professional podiatry available near you. Call Hutchinson Medical Center at (800) 944-2690 to schedule an appointment today!
www.herald-journal.com/profiles/hutchinson-medical-center/maher/

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