Integrating Complementary Therapies Into Your Health Care
A growing body of scientific research reveals a strong connection between the mind and the body. Saint Mary’s augments traditional medical treatment with complementary therapies to facilitate healing and contribute to overall wellness and an enhanced quality of life.
Services are offered through The Wege Institute at Saint Mary’s. As a leading center for complementary therapies, The Wege Institute is the only hospital-based program of its kind in West Michigan.
We offer a holistic approach to health care that is based on sophisticated medical practices; supplemented with complementary therapies; and customized to the individual needs of each patient.
A new dimension of care
For patients with a wide variety of conditions, complementary therapies provide significant results. Read how complementary therapies offers benefits to people with various neurological conditions.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Epilepsy
Parkinson’s Disease
Psychiatry
Sleep Disorders
Spine
Stroke
Surgery
Tumors
Learn more about The Wege Institute at Saint Mary’s (Link to www.wegeinstitute.org)
Alzheimer’s Disease
Acupuncture
A pilot study presented at the World Alzheimer’s Conference in 2000 showed promising results with the use of acupuncture in Alzheimer’s patients. Improvement was noted not only in mood but also in motor and verbal skills.
Manual therapy
Movement re-education is beneficial to patients and does not require conscious learning.
Massage therapy
Research shows that massage therapy effectively helps relax patients who have dementia.
Music therapy
Patients with Alzheimer’s disease and senile dementia suffer when their memory and language skills fade. Music has the ability to evoke memories and reduce anxiety in these patients. Research shows greater participation in singing and rhythm activities than in simple conversation.
Neurofeedback
Recent studies show promising outcomes for using neurofeedback in the geriatric population for improving attention, concentration and memory.
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Epilepsy
Acupuncture
Research illustrates the efficacy of acupuncture in reducing the strength and frequency of seizures.
Manual therapy
Some cranial sacral therapy techniques may be helpful for epilepsy patients. This neuromuscular form of physical therapy uses gentle movements to unlock tension and relieve pain. Neither deep muscle probing nor rapid adjustments are made.
Massage therapy
Massage therapy can reduce muscular pain and constrictions that remain after seizures and relax the soft tissue in the affected muscle groups.
Music therapy
Scientists call it the “Mozart Effect.” They have found music – and particularly short bursts of the Mozart Sonata K448 – decrease epileptic attacks.
Neurofeedback
The treatment of seizures with EEG conditioning has netted clinical improvements in the large majority of cases.
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Parkinson’s disease
Acupuncture
Numerous studies show Parkinson’s patients tolerate acupuncture well. Most report subjective improvement in symptoms including tremor, walking, depression, handwriting, difficulty sleeping and anxiety.
Manual therapy
Relaxation techniques can assist in the development of new patterns of movement for patients that require less effort and reduce the triggering of tremors.
Massage therapy
Scientific tests reveal that Parkinson’s patients who receive massage therapy experience a reduction in rigidity.
Music therapy
Particular elements of music have specific effects on motor systems. Patients with Parkinson’s disease who receive music therapy show longer strides and improved gait velocity. Music is also used with patients to elicit emotional expression as well as relaxation.
Neurofeedback
In addition to the classic tremors of Parkinson’s disease, other conditions that often accompany the ailment include sleep disorders, depression and anxiety. Research catalogs promising results for using neurofeedback to relieve symptoms of these complications.
Tai Chi
Tai Chi has become popular primarily as a way to improve physical and psychological well-being. Parkinson’s patients have been participating in Tai Chi classes for many years. A study comparing male Tai Chi practitioners with sedentary controls (non-practitioners) found improved balance, flexibility and cardiovascular fitness in the Tai Chi practitioners.
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Psychiatry
Acupuncture
A wide variety of mental disorders have been effectively treated with acupuncture, because it releases neuro-chemicals from spinal fluid and the brain, producing a feeling of well-being.
Art therapy
Art provides an open forum for personal release and increased awareness, which promotes healing. It is effective for patients who have been victims of violence as well as those with depression; grief and loss issues; anxiety; problems with anger; and eating disorders.
Manual therapy
Manual therapy techniques can help calm patients.
Massage therapy
A recent study shows massage may play an important role in the treatment of chronic schizophrenia.
Music therapy
Music therapy is beneficial for many patients with psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and post traumatic stress disorder. Music provides patients an alternative means of communication and an opportunity to express themselves through improvisation, song writing and lyric analysis.
Neurofeedback
A bevy of research documents the benefits of neurofeedback in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. It is an effective mood stabilizer and reduces the negative symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, and dissociative disorders.
Neuropsychological testing
Used most frequently in a psychiatric setting, this testing helps pinpoint the diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other learning disabilities, as well as depression and anxiety due to neurologically-based dysfunction.
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Sleep disorders
Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been shown to be very effective in treating all types of insomnia.
Manual therapy
Manual therapy for patients with sleep disorders consists of a program that identifies beneficial sleeping postures, teaches relaxation techniques, and develops strategies for pacing activities during the day to prevent tension at night.
Music therapy
Studies show that music helps patients relax and fall asleep.
Neurofeedback
Following neurofeedback training, most patients report significant improvement in re-establishing healthy sleep patterns. This holds true for sleep problems that are manifested in other conditions such as depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, seizure disorders and obsessive compulsive disorder.
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Spine
Acupuncture
In a recently published study of 22 patients suffering chronic pain following spinal cord injuries, half reported substantial relief of their discomfort with acupuncture therapy.
Manual therapy
Manual therapy is beneficial for patients with multiple areas of pain, for example discomfort in both arms and legs. It is also employed in cases where patients have guarded motions, an inability to relax, and are not responding to other methods. The therapy focuses on identifying ways to move without effort; finding ways to sit and stand without tension; and learning techniques to use at home for total body relaxation.
Music therapy
Creative movement to music helps improve coordination, strength, balance and gait.
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Stroke
Acupuncture
Numerous articles have been published demonstrating the positive effect of acupuncture on stroke patients. As soon as patients are stabilized, acupuncture is started to assist in the recovery process.
Manual therapy
As with patients suffering from spinal conditions, manual therapy techniques are used when other methods of physical therapy are painful; when patients have guarded motions; and when progress is not sustained with traditional physical therapy practices.
Massage therapy
It is commonly believed that massage can increase local blood flow, even in normal tissues.
Music therapy
Studies show that patients who have brain damage due to stroke or traumatic brain injury exhibit significant improvement with music therapy. Scientists believe it is due to a process called entrainment, which is the synchronization of movement to the rhythm of music. Consistent practice leads to gains in motor skills, efficiency, cognitive processes and language skills. Patients who experience communication and speech disorders following a stroke often retain the ability to sing.
Neurofeedback
There are indications that neurofeedback can be helpful for stroke patients based upon positive study results on patients with traumatic brain injury – most of it minor. Neurofeedback training had a favorable impact on symptoms such as loss of energy; headaches and chronic pain; dizziness and vertigo; memory impairment; difficulty concentrating; anxiety, depression, and mood swings; sleep disturbances; irritability; visual perception problems and dyslexia; and personality changes.
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Surgery
Acupuncture
Both the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine report clear evidence that acupuncture can be effective for post-operative nausea and pain. When used both before and after surgery, researchers note quicker recovery time and a need for less anesthesia.
Art therapy
Medical art therapy uses art expression and imagery with patients who are ill or undergoing aggressive treatment such as surgery and chemotherapy. Using the overall medical treatment as an umbrella, it focuses on patient beliefs and emotions as well as imagery of the illness.
Manual therapy
The varied types of manual therapy techniques at the Wege Institute are beneficial for surgery patients who do not progress well with traditional physical therapy techniques.
Music therapy
Studies show that music therapy helps reduce pre-operative and post-operative anxiety and fear. One study incorporated music in the holding area where patients wait before being taken into the operating room. Researchers say results strongly suggest that most patients would select such an option, and they would be less anxious.
Massage therapy
Massage therapy is useful both before and after surgery. It can reduce anxiety and elicit a general relaxation response – a physical state of deep rest that changes the physical and emotional responses to stress.
Following mastectomies and radiation therapy, lymphedema sometimes develops which is a swelling of tissue due to inadequate drainage of the lymph vessels. In some locales, massage and mechanical compression devices are being used to treat lymphedema instead of diuretics.
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Tumor
Acupuncture
Acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine are used worldwide as adjunctive therapy for tumor patients. The National Institute of Health has validated its use for nausea caused by chemotherapy.
Manual therapy
Physical therapy can assist in relieving pain and promoting a positive body image.
Music therapy
Adult cancer patients benefit in several ways from music therapy. Listening to certain relaxing music can increase a patient’s pain tolerance and decrease heart rate, anxiety level, and depression. When patients listen to or play the type of music they love, they discover an increased sense of well-being.
Learn more about The Wege Institute at Saint Mary’s.
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