Chapter 4: Pharmacology for Therapists: Common Gastrointestinal and Pain Conditions 4 CE Hours
By: Claudia Phillips, LMT Learning outcomes
After completing this course, the learner will be able to: Recall common gastrointestinal and pain conditions. Review the common medications utilized for patients experiencing GI and pain conditions. Course overview This course will review the interactions between therapeutic massage and certain medications, taking a closer look at common gastrointestinal (GI) and pain pathologies and the medications used to treat them. This course will help manual therapists develop a safe and effective treatment plan by identifying which medications are used to treat these professionals perceive and make treatment decisions, ultimately resulting in disparities in health outcomes. These biases, often unconscious and unintentional, can shape behavior and produce differences in medical care along various lines, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, and socioeconomic status. Healthcare disparities stemming from implicit bias can manifest in several ways. For example, a healthcare provider might unconsciously give less attention to a patient or make assumptions about their medical needs based on race, gender, or age. The unconscious assumptions can lead to delayed or inadequate care, misdiagnoses, or inappropriate treatments, all of which can adversely impact Implicit bias in healthcare Implicit bias significantly affects how healthcare
Discuss the common side effects and contraindications for common GI and pain medications. Discuss the relationship of therapeutic massage with common GI and pain conditions and their associated medications. common pathologies. Having a broader understanding of common symptoms and side effects of these medications will help therapists provide a more informed and effective treatment session. The goal of this course is to give therapists the confidence and knowledge particularly surrounding common GI and pain medications. health outcomes. Addressing implicit bias in healthcare is crucial for achieving equity in medical treatment. Strategies to combat these biases involve education and awareness programs for healthcare professionals. These programs help individuals recognize and acknowledge their biases, fostering a more empathetic and unbiased approach to patient care. Additionally, implementing policies and procedures prioritizing equitable treatment for all patients can play a pivotal role in reducing healthcare disparities. Ultimately, confronting implicit bias in healthcare is essential to creating a more just and equitable healthcare system where everyone receives fair and equal treatment regardless of their background or characteristics.
INTRODUCTION
For example, a common nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) is acetaminophen, or paracetamol, which has the commonly used name Tylenol ® . The FDA has categorized medications from antacids to antianxiety medications, hypertensives, and cold cures, to corticosteroids and many more. The point is that medications are categorized based upon what specific purpose they serve. Are they pain relievers? Mood stabilizers? Hormone balancers? In general, the medication is classified by its function, and less by its actual chemical makeup. For example, acetaminophen and diclofenac are both categorized as anti-inflammatory even though they are different drugs because they both accomplish the same goal. Medication interactions with manual therapy treatments can be subdued by changing pressures, positioning, and techniques or modalities. It is important that you as a clinician are aware of all the medications your patient is taking as many medications increase the potential incidence for negative side effects. Optimal timing around the medication and session may be critical, ensuring that symptoms are managed effectively.
Therapeutic massage and certain medications can have interactions that may contraindicate the intervention altogether or may require that you take steps to alter the massage. Common interactions between therapeutic massage and medications can produce dizziness, light headedness, nausea, hypotension, or bruising. In this course we will look specifically at gastrointestinal and pain conditions and associated medications in greater depth. Additionally, we will review how they interact with therapeutic massage and what you can do as a therapist to prevent adverse reactions and identify when therapeutic massage would be contraindicated all together. Having a better understanding of the drugs themselves and the pathologies that they treat can help you create a more informed treatment plan and overall give a more effective manual treatment. Most drugs are listed by their common scientific name and a proprietary (brand) name. An asterisk (*) denotes over-the-counter formulations, while a capitalized name in parenthesis usually refers to the proprietary name of the drug. Drug companies give their products brand names. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves the generic, shortened names by which drugs are usually known.
EliteLearning.com/ Massage-Therapy
Book Code: MTX1325
Page 80
Powered by FlippingBook