Jennifer M. Dexheimer

Bio: Jennifer M. Dexheimer is an academic researcher from National University of Health Sciences. The author has contributed to research in topics: Chiropractic & Randomized controlled trial. The author has an hindex of 9, co-authored 12 publications receiving 267 citations.

Changes in Blood Pressure After Various Forms of Therapeutic Massage: A Preliminary Study

Abstract: Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the change in blood pressure (BP) in normotensive and prehypertensive adults resulting from a therapeutic massage, and the factors associated with such changes, including demographic and massage characteristics. Design: settings/location: National University of Health Sciences Massage Therapy Clinic, Lombard, IL. Subjects: The subjects were 150 current adult massage therapy clients with BP lower than 150/95. Interventions: BP was measured before and after a therapeutic massage Outcome measures: Change in BP and potential associated factors such as type of massage, duration of massage, specific body area massaged, amount of massage pressure, and demographic characteristics were studied. Results: Overall, systolic BP decreased by 1.8 mm Hg and diastolic BP increased by 0.1 mm Hg. Demographic factors associated with BP decrease included younger age (p = 0.01) and taller stature (p = 0.09). Type of massage was associated with change in BP: Swedish massa...

Side-Effects of Massage Therapy: A Cross-Sectional Study of 100 Clients

Abstract: Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the amount and type of negative side-effects and positive (unexpected) effects experienced after a massage session. Study design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Massage clinic at a health sciences university. Subjects: Of the 100 new and returning massage therapy clients who agreed to participate, 91 completed all survey questions. Outcome measures: Telephone survey and medical chart review 2–7 days postmassage. Results: Overall, 10% of the massage clients experienced some minor discomfort after the massage session; however, 23% experienced unexpected, nonmusculoskeletal positive side-effects. The majority of negative symptoms started less than 12 hours after the massage and lasted for 36 hours or less. The majority of positive benefits began immediately after massage and lasted more than 48 hours. No major side-effects occurred during this study. Conclusions: This the first known study to define the rate of side-effects after massage therapy treatment. The...

Influence of a "warm touch" support enhancement intervention among married couples on ambulatory blood pressure, oxytocin, alpha amylase, and cortisol.

Abstract: Objective To investigate whether a support intervention (warm touch enhancement) influences physiological stress systems that are linked to important health outcomes. Growing evidence points to a protective effect of social and emotional support on both morbidity and mortality. Methods In this study, 34 healthy married couples (n = 68), aged 20 to 39 years (mean = 25.2 years), were randomly assigned to a "behavior monitoring" control group or participated in a 4-week intervention study in which clinic levels of plasma oxytocin, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure, and salivary cortisol and alpha amylase were obtained pre and post intervention, at the same time salivary oxytocin was taken at home during weeks 1 and 4. Results Salivary oxytocin was enhanced both early and late in the intervention group and alpha amylase was reduced at post treatment in intervention group husbands and wives relative to controls. Husbands in the intervention group had significantly lower post treatment 24-hour systolic blood pressure than the control group. Conclusion Increasing warm touch among couples has a beneficial influence on multiple stress-sensitive systems.

Management of lumbar spinal stenosis

Abstract: Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) affects more than 200 000 adults in the United States, resulting in substantial pain and disability. It is the most common reason for spinal surgery in patients over 65 years. Lumbar spinal stenosis is a clinical syndrome of pain in the buttocks or lower extremities, with or without back pain. It is associated with reduced space available for the neural and vascular elements of the lumbar spine. The condition is often exacerbated by standing, walking, or lumbar extension and relieved by forward flexion, sitting, or recumbency. Clinical care and research into lumbar spinal stenosis is complicated by the heterogeneity of the condition, the lack of standard criteria for diagnosis and inclusion in studies, and high rates of anatomic stenosis on imaging studies in older people who are completely asymptomatic. The options for non-surgical management include drugs, physiotherapy, spinal injections, lifestyle modification, and multidisciplinary rehabilitation. However, few high quality randomized trials have looked at conservative management. A systematic review concluded that there is insufficient evidence to recommend any specific type of non-surgical treatment. Several different surgical procedures are used to treat patients who do not improve with non-operative therapies. Given that rapid deterioration is rare and that symptoms often wax and wane or gradually improve, surgery is almost always elective and considered only if sufficiently bothersome symptoms persist despite trials of less invasive interventions. Outcomes (leg pain and disability) seem to be better for surgery than for non-operative treatment, but the evidence is heterogeneous and often of limited quality.

Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines for Integrative Oncology: Complementary Therapies and Botanicals

Abstract: In recent years, the term integrative medicine has gained acceptance in medical academia. The Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine defi nes this term as “the practice of medicine that reaffi rms the importance of the relationship between practitioner and patient, focuses on the whole person, is informed by evidence, and makes use of all appropriate therapeutic approaches, healthcare professionals, and disciplines to achieve optimal health and healing.” 1 Integrative oncology has been specifi cally described as both a science and a philosophy that focuses on the complex health of people with cancer and proposes an array of approaches to accompany the conventional therapies of surgery, chemotherapy, molecular therapeutics, and radiotherapy to facilitate health. 2 The SIO and its Medline -indexed journal ( Journal of the Society of Integrative Oncology ), founded by leading oncologists and oncology professionals from major cancer centers and organizations, promote quality research and appropriate application of useful, adjunctive complementary modalities T he Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) is an international organization dedicated to encouraging scientifi c evaluation, dissemination of evidence-based information, and appropriate clinical integration of complementary therapies. Practice guidelines have been developed by the authors and endorsed by the Executive Committee of the SIO. Guidelines are a work in progress; they will be updated as needed and are available on the SIO Web site ().

Dry needling: a literature review with implications for clinical practice guidelines.

Abstract: Background:Wet needling uses hollow-bore needles to deliver corticosteroids, anesthetics, sclerosants, botulinum toxins, or other agents. In contrast, dry needling requires the insertion of thin mo...

The role of massage in sports performance and rehabilitation: current evidence and future direction.

Abstract: Background. Massage is a popular treatment choice of athletes, coaches, and sports physical therapists. Despite its purported benefits and frequent use, evidence demonstrating its efficacy is scarce. Purpose. To identify current literature relating to sports massage and its role in effecting an athlete’s psychological readiness, in enhancing sports performance, in recovery from exercise and competition, and in the treatment of sports related musculoskeletal injuries. Methods. Electronic databases were used to identify papers relevant to this review. The following keywords were searched: massage, sports injuries, athletic injuries, physical therapy, rehabilitation, delayed onset muscle soreness, sports psychology, sports performance, sports massage, sports recovery, soft tissue mobilization, deep transverse friction massage, pre-event, and post exercise.