A massage therapist who has thumb and wrist pain asked me whether I had any suggestions. Hoo boy! I almost always have suggestions! 🙂
How could this have happened?
Well, all massage schools are not the same. Some teach relaxation type massage and some teach therapeutic massage. Some give good instruction to students about using their bodies safely and ergonomically. Some don’t. 🙁
And sometimes a practitioner just doesn’t pay attention to how she or he works. I know there have been times when
I looked down at the position of my hands and thought: “Why am I doing this and who told me it was a good idea?”
You can’t work “wrong” for long. Your body will complain.
So, here is her question and my answer. And, always remember, I am not a doctor and I cannot diagnose.
Question:
I have had to stop practicing massage because whenever I attempt to massage I get sharp thumb and wrist pain. I’ve checked my body mechanics (how she works) and I’ve noticed that I overextend (bend backward) my thumbs. I tried using the plastic thumbs but one loses the important sensitivity one needs to feel the muscles. Lately I have also been experiencing dull headaches and pain that shoots from my shoulder to my neck like it is pulling on the clavical (collar bone) only on the right side. I’m not looking for a diagnosis but only some possible suggestions of what I may be doing wrong or should I get a some x-rays or test for carpal tunnel.
Answer:
If I was guessing how many massage therapists end up quitting due to pain caused by improper body mechanics, I’d guess it’s really quite high! Especially for folks who have a full schedule but I’ve also heard of people who do only two massages a day hurting their arms or neck or back in short order. You are not the only one.
Perhaps you can continue to use your thumb if you use it as an “extension of your arm.” If you can hold your thumb straight as though you are pointing in a straight line with your arm, that may help.
I don’t care for the “fake thumbs” either but I will use them to get into tight areas along the spine. Again, you have to hold them comfortably with a straight wrist. Practice helps!
Your elbow is much more sensitive than a tool. With practice, you will discover that you can feel a lot and work very specifically with your elbow. But you don’t want to “poke” people. You have a lot more power and weight behind your elbow when used properly.
Using your forearm to apply pressure lets you apply broad pressure or sweeping strokes. But again…you have to keep your back straight and your head in line with your body. You must use good body mechanics. And again, you have to use appropriate pressure.
Also, when you do massage, you do NOT need to look at your client. That strains muscles in your neck and upper back. 🙁
Remember, massage is a good career for a blind person.
I’m thinking that you probably use your right hand the most? The muscles in front of your right shoulder and chest probably have shortened and need release. You can do it yourself or have a colleague release them for you along with the muscles in your lower arms. (Those muscles get aggravated from the over-extension of your thumb.)
There isn’t much sense (in my opinion) in having x-rays or tests. Why? Because muscles are at the root of almost all of our pain and treating the muscles can get rid of the pain and dysfunction. Most doctors don’t know this but you and I do.
When it’s your own body, however, sometimes we forget.
Pain always happens for reasons. When you figure out the causes of your symptoms and get rid of the causes, you can get rid of the pain in your hand and wrist (the carpal tunnel area)!
A massage therapist who’s working with good body mechanics, and who understands the causes of pain, shouldn’t have a problem with carpal tunnel symptoms in her own hands.