Toque: ferramenta terapêutica no tratamento geriátrico e gerontológico

Abstract

ResumoTrata-se de um estudo bibliográfico de caráter descritivo, realizado por meio de revisão de literatura. Foram utilizados como fontes artigos e resumos das bases de dados de bibliotecas virtuais, com os objetivos de apresentar os benefícios do toque como ferramenta eficaz para promoção do bem-estar em idosos e valorizar o toque no tratamento geriátrico e gerontológico. Os estudos analisados revelaram que o toque tem se mostrado uma ferramenta eficaz no tratamento de idosos, principalmente, naqueles que apresentam síndromes demenciais como alzheimer, e ainda, nas patologias como o câncer e outras. Segundo as pesquisas, alguns idosos relataram sensação de relaxamento e redução da ansiedade, produzindo bem-estar e conforto. No entanto, é necessário que os profissionais de saúde tenham interesse em conhecer os aspectos multifatoriais que envolvem os idosos, para que o toque seja uma "atitude solidária", realizado com afetividade, comprometimento, ética e profissionalismo, que garanta a promoção do bem-estar e um atendimento de qualidade aos idosos. Sugere-se, assim, a inserção do toque de forma mais ampla no contexto de pesquisa e na prática baseada em evidências, criando a possibilidade de desenvolver uma metodologia à sua aplicação na promoção da saúde e melhora da qualidade de vida dos idosos.Palavras-chave: Toque terapêutico. Idosos. Programas de bem-estar. Profissional de saúde.

Implications of therapeutic touch and relaxation massage on aging

“…Unreleased tensions become chronic and could be responsible for creating a stiffness in the body promoting the accumulation of toxins and cellular waste, which consequently could cause bodily and emotional problems. (19) According to Lopes et al (2009) all subjects need touch, from children to build their identity to the elderly who can minimize the feeling of loneliness. As mentioned, touch can be a powerful and effective tool available to all health professionals (20) , since it involves commitment and affection, and thus could act as a therapeutic technique for the elderly, contributing to the maintenance of psychoaffective and social aspects in the life of the elderly, who were often compromised by life circumstances.…”

“…However, initially some aspects when touching the elderly must be observed as: prior authorization, body region in which the elderly person will be touched, intensity of touch, constant monitoring of the elderly's condition to observe which reactions caused by touch are favorable or not. (5) Among the alternative methodologies that use touch, relaxation massage tends to be the most described for bringing benefits to the elderly, such as: relaxation; strengthening of muscles and elastic fibers; decrease in pain; increased blood and lymphatic circulation; sleep benefit; decreased stress and increased tissue oxygenation, thus providing more energy to the cells and favoring muscle strengthening; increased collagen synthesis; stretching of the connective tissue of the joints, helping to improve functionality. Together, it promotes the improvement of body movements that consequently triggers greater willingness to perform activity, both physical and daily activities, which provides an increase in self-esteem and improvement in quality of life.…”

“…Together, it promotes the improvement of body movements that consequently triggers greater willingness to perform activity, both physical and daily activities, which provides an increase in self-esteem and improvement in quality of life. (5) Several studies also highlight the importance of knowing the correct technical procedures to achieve the benefits of massage aimed at the health of the elderly, in order to promote greater relaxation with diaphragmatic breathing and biopsychosocial wellbeing. (22)(23)(24)(25)(26) In addition, the use of relaxing massage through the Integrative and Complementary Health Practices has also been described, promoting an improvement in the quality of sleep, reduction of the negative effects of tension, usually caused by high anxiety.…”

“…(4) The search for alternative therapeutic techniques to improve the quality of life of the elderly has increased in recent years, so several health professionals have offered strategies to reduce the complications of the aging process such as chronic pain, fatigue, changes in sleep quality, stress, anxiety and depression. (5) According to Carvalho (2007), tactile stimulation can be an effective action strategy capable of alleviating some physical changes in the aging process, and also, a way to meet neglected needs, such as: gestures of affection, hugs, handshakes, among others, that act as significant and important tactile experiences for the one wellbeing. Touch is described as one of the most significant ways of establishing contact between subjects, especially when verbalizations to express emotions and feelings are not effective.…”

“…This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium provided article is properly cited This well-being and balance are related to the positive and negative feelings that keep, for example, the elderly calm and confident enough to perform their daily tasks, thus improving their quality of life. (5) The probable mechanism of action of alternative therapies based on touch is based on the hypothesis of the exchange of energies between practitioners and the patient, promoted by the existence of a bioenergetic field around subjects that can be modulated by various forms of touch. (7) However, in the medical literature this hypothesis has been refuted by some authors, who through experiments with rigorous tests were unable to prove the existence of such bioenergetic field.…”