Cortiva Students Help Reduce Pre-op Stress with Light Touch Chair Massage

WALL, N.J., May 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Study after medical study continues to demonstrate massage therapy has an overall positive impact on patients with a wide-range of medical problems.

With this in mind, Cortiva Institute School of Massage Therapy is partnering with Raritan Bay Medical Center (RBMC) and its division of integrative medicine to expand the Center's massage therapy services for hospitalized and walk-in patients at RBMC's Perth Amboy location. Cortiva will be providing light touch chair massage therapy for pre-operative patients in order to help alleviate stress and anxiety.

RBMC and Cortiva conducted this program in mid-May for the first time.

"Patients need to wait two-to-three hours between filling out their paper work and getting admitted to surgery and they get anxious and need to relax," said Joan Fuhr, RN. "There was a patient scheduled for a big, frightening surgery and was really anxious. She was so nervous but after her massage, she was sleeping. This is so great."

Adrienne F. Asta, Director of Education for Cortiva Institute Wall, NJ, noted: "Our students, under supervision, will be giving light touch chair massages to those patients as well as family and friends who are anxiously waiting for their loved ones to get out of surgery."

Massages will be available on Thursday June 2 and June 16 starting at 7 a.m. The massages are offered at no cost to patients, family and friends. Massage therapy is also available for extended sessions for a fee. Additional dates may be added.

"Research has shown that massage therapy can help decrease patients' pain, fatigue, stress, anxiety, and nausea," said Paula O'Neill, MS, RN-BC, co-director of RBMC's division of integrative medicine. "We're happy to have supervised students from an exceptional school like Cortiva be able to help our patients and their families through an anxious time," she said.

About Cortiva Institute

Cortiva Institute is a community of Massage Therapy Schools with 12 locations nationwide, offering full and part-time massage therapy instruction, continuing education courses, student clinics that are open to the public, and career services for graduates. Cortiva schools take a holistic and integrated approach to ensure that our graduates are prepared to work in clinics, hospitals, health clubs, spas, resorts, sports therapy clinics or start their own private practices. Go to www.Cortiva.com for more information.

About Raritan Bay Medical Center (RBMC)

A NJ state-designated primary stroke center, RBMC is a recipient of the American Stroke Association and American Heart Association's Get with the Guidelines(SM) - Stroke Silver Performance and Heart Failure Gold Performance achievement awards. RBMC, located in Old Bridge and Perth Amboy, is one of less than two percent of hospitals nationally to achieve re-designation as a Magnet Hospital, recognizing nursing excellence, and is a three time recipient of the New Jersey Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield patient care quality award.  For more information, visit www.rbmc.org.

SOURCE Cortiva Institute

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