Western and Eastern medicines have traditionally been at odds – however, Bangkok Hospital is now combining the best of both worlds to provide improved health outcomes for patients.
Dec. 24, 2008, Bangkok, Thailand — In addition to providing a full complement of surgical, oncological and other medical services, Bangkok Hospital is now using massage therapy to improve both patient’s physical, mental and emotional health outcomes.
Bangkok Hospital’s new massage services can be provided either in a resident patient’s room, or at a specialized massage clinic. A one-hour Thai body massage costs 350THB, or around $10 at current exchange rates. A one-hour therapeutic massage, administered by a qualified physical therapist, costs 600THB, or around $17, for outpatients and 1000THB, around $28, for in-room service.
Following several large studies of the therapeutic benefits of massage, it has come to be widely regarded as a useful complement to Western-style medicine. A benchmark study, Outcomes of Therapeutic Massage for Hospitalized Cancer Patients, showed statistically significant differences in patients’ sleep quality, pain experienced, and symptom distress when massage was offered in combination with traditional medicine for cancer patients. Anxiety was also reduced.
A second study of the effects of massage on cancer patients showed an average of 50% improvement in symptom measurement scores. Massage is also known to be effective for common conditions such as low back pain. It is estimated that low back pain will affect up to 80% of adults at some stage in their life.
Dr. Pravit Chamroontaneskul, a physical rehabilitation specialist at Bangkok Hospital, has seen some dramatic improvements for patients who make use of the massage facilities. “Our massage patients seem, anecdotally, to be able to go home after shorter periods of time. They also seem more positive in general, and we often notice a significant mood difference after a treatment.”
He further adds that “Massage has been shown to reduce blood pressure, heart rate, anxiety and depression. How could we ignore such an effective, low-cost therapy as part of our treatment options?”.
Massage is also recognized to influence respiration quality, quicken the elimination of poisons and toxins from the body, and assist nervous system functioning.
About Bangkok Hospital Medical Center:
Bangkok Hospital Medical Center (BMC) is one of the most technologically sophisticated hospitals in the world today. Located in Bangkok, Thailand, BMC is an expansive state-of-the-art medical campus providing comprehensive medical care through multidisciplinary teams of highly trained specialists. With its four hospitals and broad range of specialized clinics, BMC is equipped with all of the diagnostic and treatment facilities not generally available at local hospitals. The center has received Joint Commission International accreditation and is known throughout the world for delivering world-class, award-winning healthcare.
For more information contact Chris E-Marketing Manager, Bangkok Hospital Medical Center.
Email: info@bangkokhospital.com