How to Avoid Injuries When You Practice the Art of Massage

 

It’s one of our favorite weeks of the year—EveryBody Deserves a Massage Week! And it’s true—everyone deserves to take an hour or two and just relax. Of course, we can’t forget about the ones giving the massages. Massage therapists, you deserve one too! You’re busy taking care of your clients and helping them de-stress, but what about you? Take some time this week to treat yourself.

In the meantime, we know that massage therapists spend their days working out knots and tension in their clients’ backs, shoulders, and other body parts, and those repetitive motions can take a toll on the hands and wrists. We’ve found some great ways for massage therapists to prevent injuries and protect their hands, while still practicing the art of massage and bringing relief to their clients. 

Overuse injuries are very common among massage therapists. With these injuries often come a slow onset of achiness, tightness, and/or soreness in the hands, wrists, elbows, or arms. Unfortunately, the repetitive motions and strain on the hands and wrists can cause prolonged damage to the tissue over time, leading to pain and injuries. Taking preventative measures to avoid injuries can help ensure that you can continue practicing your craft for years to come, pain-free! Here are some of the best tips we’ve found.

Practice Self-Massage

De Quervain’s tenosynovitis and carpal tunnel syndrome are two common injuries that massage therapists often face. One way to prevent these injuries from occurring is to make sure to stretch and massage the tendons used after each massage. Conditioning is key in preventing injuries!

Take Breaks

It might be tempting to schedule back-to-back massage sessions, but your hands need a break! Take time to rest your hands and upper extremities in between appointments. Additionally, if you have sustained an injury, whether from massage or another activity, seek treatment from a doctor and give yourself ample time to heal before returning to your massage appointments.

Use Massage Tools

Many common massage techniques, like using the palm or thumb for deeper pressure, can set you up for injuries in the long run. There are plenty of massage tools available, so take advantage of them and implement them into your massage routine (if allowed by your employer, or if you’re an independent massage therapist) to prevent any unnecessary strain on your hands.

All of the tips we’ve gone over are important in preventing injuries when you practice the art of massage. One point we can’t stress enough is that if you find yourself nursing an injury, don’t try to push through the pain. Doing so can cause even more damage, which can result in longer healing times and potentially more aggressive treatments. If you’re dealing with any type of hand, wrist, or elbow pain, schedule an appointment today so we can help get you back on track and back to your massage clients.

Schedule an appointment online or over the phone at any of our four convenient Houston-area locations. To stay up-to-date on everything happening at HSST, make sure to follow us on Facebook! Our hands heal yours!

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The Hand Surgery Specialists of Texas offers diagnosis and treatment for hand, wrist, and elbow problems in Houston, using the most advanced and minimally invasive medical techniques. Our orthopedic hand specialists and hand and finger surgeons are waiting to provide you with excellent care at one of our hand care centers in River Oaks, Webster, North Houston, Katy/Sugarland, or Baytown

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