Massage Body Mechanics - Massage Therapist Injury Prevention and Recovery

Massage therapy is a profession that requires proper self-care and body mechanics in order to prevent musculoskeletal injury from overuse. Recovery from overuse injuries requires time and patience, but with the proper care and reassessment of technique and body mechanics, full recovery is often possible.

Overuse injuries often sneak up subtly over time. The damage begins long before you experience any symptoms, so even if you feel strong and healthy now, your body mechanics may cause pain and discomfort down the road. Don't wait for the first sign of pain to reevaluate your massage techniques.

The key to injury recovery is to work smarter, not harder. You may need complete rest from labor-intensive work for a period of time in order for the injured body part to fully heal. Taking advantage of the healing power of bodywork as part of your massage self-care may help speed your recovery.

As frustrating as an injury can be, it's also an opportunity to rethink your whole approach to massage therapy. You may discover through this process of reflection a new vision and energy for bodywork that drives you to improve your massage techniques or shift into a new form of bodywork.

Improving your body mechanics includes reassessing the foundation of your approach to massage. Focus on the basics of ergonomics and body awareness. As you relearn massage techniques, open yourself up to change, even minor changes. Even if you think your technique is flawless, there may be a subtle change you can make that reduces the stress on your body and prevents reinjury.

Fine-tune your technique by studying your body movement in front of a mirror. Practice on a friend or family member with a mirror across from the massage table until you feel comfortable with the new technique. Watching your massage techniques in the mirror promotes self-awareness and constructs a more objective framework for self-assessment.

Adjust the height of the massage table to your own height, your client's needs, and your modality. If you use a pneumatic rolling stool, adjust the height for proper body alignment. A healthy mix of sitting on a massage stool and standing prevents you from working in the same position all day and helps to balance stress throughout the body.

Working in two or three modalities or types of bodywork also balances out the stress load of your body. Consider diversifying your bodywork practice to include less demanding modalities, such as Hawaiian lomi lomi, barefoot massage, shiatsu, Thai massage, hot stone massage, and energy work.

If you choose to specialize largely in one massage modality, expand your technique by massaging with your forearms, fists, elbows, and knuckles to alleviate undue stress on your wrists, thumbs, and fingers. If you place excessive demands on any one body part, you are opening the door to reinjury.

When you are ready to ease back into massage therapy, make the transition a gradual one. Start with one massage per week and increase your number of massage sessions very gradually. Learn your limits and respect them. It's better to increase the intensity of your massage routine too slowly than to risk reinjury.

Neglecting self-care and proper body mechanics as a massage therapist may threaten your ability to provide your clients with the quality of treatment they deserve. The more self-care and self-awareness you practice, the better your chances of a long and healthy career in massage therapy.

Physical Therapy Aide Salary

A physical therapy aide's job can be demanding as well as challenging. They carry out important duties such as assisting patients when needed to walk with crutches as well as other needed equipment. Responsibilities can include helping a physical therapist and assistants prepare the equipment needed for the days sessions. They will work directly under a physical therapist as well as the medical doctors. They are also responsible for at times keeping records as well as checking on the progress of patients. Depending on experience as well as which state you reside in will depend on a physical therapy aide salary.

Physical therapy aides help a therapist achieve their patient goals as well as help to make a session with a patient productive. Aides are under the supervision of the physical therapist in most settings. Statistics have shown that in 2008 there were around sixty thousand physical therapy assistant jobs available and around forty thousand vacancies for physical therapy aides.

In order to work as a physical therapy aide a student is not required to have completed an accredited program. This career does not require an associate's degree but there are many certification courses available, as well as experience that can help with employment. In order to be able to participate in a program a student generally must have obtained a high school diploma. Many of the employers provide in-house training. This profession does not require a license nor do they have to sit a board exam in order to work.

The US Bureau of Labor statistics have shown that job opportunities are excellent and more and more opportunities are presenting themselves and have rapidly grown over the recent years as opposed to other similar occupations. A P.T. aide salary potential is between $24,000 annually or $11.49 per hour, whereas a physical therapy assistant will earn around $49,000 annually and around $23.00 per hour.

In order to find out how much one earns in the various different states you can make use of the salary calculator at salary.com which will define the salary scale in each city in the US.

Overall the main job description for this rehabilitation profession is to keep the treatment area of a physical therapists practice organized and clean, as well as prepare the treatment room for each patient's therapy and treatment. Often the P.T. Aide will also make sure that a patient goes to and from the treatment area safely.

A physical therapy aide salary will be influenced by factors such as their education level as well as the city of employment as well as experience. The more experience a aide has the better the salary scale will be and they can earn around $10 to $15 an hour to begin with and after around fifteen years experience they can earn $20 to $25 an hour. For more information a student can contact the Bureau of Labor Statistics and request their occupational outlook handbook which will give the salary scales for all 50 states.

How to Use Massage Therapy For Sciatica Pain Relief

Touch is the most vital sensation in the human body. In fact, its use as a medical device extends to almost the most ancient periods in human history. This means that massage therapy for sciatica is indeed possible, but it has to be administered with the full knowledge of the correct points on the human body that would be useful to in alleviating the nerve pain due to this condition.

Sciatica pain relief is often something that people only dream about. For one, only about twenty percent of people suffering from the condition know that they are actually suffering from a medical condition with definite causes and definite treatment. Many people just wait it out until they outgrow the condition, or some just get used to it, as if pain was nothing and one could simply ignore throbbing pain in regular intervals.

Sciatica pain is often linked with poor posture and the poorer condition of the lower lumbar area of the whole human spinal cord and column. Back pain treatment seems to be a wonderful way to take care of sciatica pain relief, and we simply have to take into consideration the safe ways that pressure may be applied to an area as vital and as sensitive as the human back.

Lower back muscle pain is often associated with poor posture, which means that you really have to improve the way you walk, you sit and the way you rise after sitting. Inappropriate posture means you are setting yourself up for problems, since back pain, when it is there; it remains embedded in your cellular memory already.

Sciatica physical therapy often involves the use of wonderful stretching positions and flexibility programs to ease the pressure off the lower back. In the final analysis, physical therapy provides that one beacon of hope where one need not be tied to taking pills on a daily basis just to control the pain. What happens is that the gas that builds up between the gaps in the human tissue are able to dissipate with the proper physical therapy.

Exercise for sciatic pain is often not that difficult, you just have to follow certain guidelines so that the exercises themselves target the most vital parts of the body that are affected by the different factors involved. The treatment itself is an ongoing thing that should always be pegged on continuous and progressive improvement. Do not limit yourself simply because you are experiencing some relief now.

The best way to go about it is to train your body from thereon to walk and position itself without causing too much strain on the back. Do this and you are already setting yourself up for so many victories.

Exercise can bring you that much needed sciatica pain relief - but only and only if you can promise yourself that you would be taking much better care of your whole body in the future. This is the best way to go about things.

Satisfy Your Need For Touch When There's No One to Touch You

If you are single, you know the feeling of wanting to be held, touched, cherished; that need for passionate touch, comforting touch, any kind of touch - and the suffering that results from having no one to give you that touch.

It's not so well-known that many married people and people in relationships also suffer from the unfulfilled need for touch, physical comfort and passion. Their story is different from that of singles, and the reasons for the absence of touch in their relationship may be varied, from a good relationship gone bad to health issues involving one of the spouses.

Most of us crave touch and can't live well without it. Having to live without can be excruciating. So what does a person do when there is nobody to meet the need for touch? You learn to satisfy some of your craving for touch for and by yourself.

The truth is, until you are in a loving, long-term, touchy-feely, intimate relationship, your need for touch will not be completely satisfied. If that is not motivation to get your fanny out of your chair and resolve the relationship issues that are keeping you from having a loving, touchy-feely, long-term relationship, I don't know what is.

The need for touch is very much like the need for food. You may satiate yourself for today, but tomorrow the need will arise again. Be prepared when the need arises daily. Pick a few suggestions below and practice them daily to keep your craving for touch at bay. Reducing your craving for touch will make it easier for you to make better relationship choices.

Speaking of cravings, here are things NOT to do to get your need for touch met:

* Do not hook up with an unavailable, married or otherwise involved person just because you need to be touched.

* Do not settle for a relationship or a partner you don't really want just to have someone who will touch you.

* Do not cheat to get your need for touch met.

If you do any of these, you will end up with a little fun and a little touch, and then a whole lot of headaches and love trouble. When the love trouble starts the touch will go away and you will be brokenhearted and without touch again.

Healthy ways to satisfy your need for touch:

1. Stimulate your skin

One of the things you are missing when you don't get enough touch is sensory stimulation of the skin. Help yourself to get more sensory stimulation by deliberately choosing the softest sheets, blankets and pillows, and very soft and even silky clothing. Pay attention to the objects that surround you throughout the day and see if you can make them specifically pleasing to touch.

2. Give yourself comfort and pleasure

Touch provides us with comfort and pleasure, and not just sexual pleasure. When you are not touched, it is hard to feel comforted and hard not to crave pleasure. To help, find ways to comfort yourself. Try a soothing cup of tea, a heart-centered meditation, listening to sweet music or reading poetry. Try going for a brisk walk to feel the pleasure of the sun or wind on your skin. Go for a swim to feel the pleasure of water on your skin. Walk barefoot in the grass to feel the softness of grass on your toes. You get the idea.

3. Get hugs and cuddles

Even when you don't have a lover to touch you, you still need to be hugged and cuddled - get a pet for this. Studies show that people with pets experience less stress. The act of petting an animal brings pleasure and provides a way to physically connect with a being that loves you. You could even take your pet to bed with you and cuddle it, especially if it's a puppy or a kitten.

4. Pay someone to touch you

No, not like that! Find a loving and safe masseur or masseuse and get a weekly massage. Many people resist going this route, as they feel uneasy having a stranger touch them. But if you find the right person, he or she will be able to comfort and nurture you in a respectful and fulfilling way. If money is an issue, call your local massage school and schedule an appointment at their clinic. At a school clinic you can get a great massage for about $25. If you like the person and help him or her build a practice, you may be able to get massages at that price for a very long time.

5. Give and get hugs

Hug and ask to be hugged by the people in your life. Hugs will help you get your need for touch met. Ask friends and family for hugs and give lots of hugs to your kids. Everyone will appreciate the extra touch, and everyone involved will be better off. (Needless to say, do not give hugs to folks who have not given you some level of permission to do so, and do not hug children you are not related to unless that child's parent explicitly approves.)

6. Touch yourself

Yes, that way too. But primarily give yourself a foot massage, a neck rub or a hand massage. Or climb into a bath and rub yourself all over with a loofa or a soft cloth.

7. Move your body

Exercise, dance, walk. Moving your body will heighten your endorphins, make you fit and help you feel good about your body. And moving simply feels good to the body. In the absence of touch, body pleasure is what you want to get more of.

8. Controversial ways to get your need for touch met

I have read about cuddle parties, where you meet with others to cuddle only, and where boundaries concerning other physical behaviors are specifically verbalized and respected. If that interests you, Google "cuddle parties" on your computer. Alternatively, you can get a cuddle buddy. A cuddle buddy would be someone with whom you would cuddle only. If you do find a cuddle buddy, be sure that both of you are very clear on what is and is not going to happen and how the two of you feel about each other.

Your need for touch is natural and normal. It will be great when you have someone wonderful in your life to hold, touch and love. Until that day, take care of your own need for physical touch using the suggestions above, and you will find yourself happier and less hungry for touch.

5 Rules Physical Therapy Practices Need to Learn About Surviving the Recession

I believe it is fair for me to say that many of the practices I work with are now feeling some effects from this recession. This is not unexpected as this recession has affected every type of business and every size of business.

I often find that the most important factor affecting physical therapy practices during these economic times is the attitude of the practice owner. I see some practice owners waiting for it all to go away while others are fighting for every bit of business they can create. This last group of practice owner is still doing well. I believe it is all about attitude. The key choice for you as a practice owner is to be upbeat, positive and confident so that you can attract new clients and keep your existing clients. When this attitude exists throughout an entire team, I find that client numbers are stable and even growing.

I would like to share with you today the 5 rules professional services businesses need to learn about surviving this recession, as I see them.

The five rules:

Rule 1: Identify Where the Opportunities Lie

Look to where the opportunities lie for retaining your existing clients and winning new ones.

Here are examples of potential opportunities for both of these scenarios.

For retaining existing clients, you need to give them the best services you can offer and do this consistently. Look for times and places in your practice where this may not be the case. Make changes in these areas immediately. Your loyal clients deserve this.

One way to succeed in getting new clients is to make sure your loyal customers know how to pass the word along to their friends and families. Make it easy for them by giving them referral cards to use for this purpose. And just as important, show your appreciation when they do give you a referral.

Rule 2: Target Your Marketing to Segments of Your Community Which are Underserved

To do more business, identify who in your community could significantly benefit from physical therapy services and is currently underserved. Next look to partner with other businesses who serve these same people but with other services than yours. This is a great way to reach a new market quickly and easily.

The keys here are seeking out new markets and then partnering with other businesses to attract them to your services.

Here is an example to demonstrate this rule. Let's say you uncover that young adults in your community are underserved, particularly those involved in competitive sports. You also truly love working with young athletes. You decide to contact some sport associations and sport coaches to determine how together you can better meet the needs of young athletes. You decide that you could do some combined programming, attend some special events, and sponsor an event. Do you see how this works, and how truly magical it can be to partner with others?

Rule 3: Close the Gap Between What Your Customers Need and What You Offer

I think you would be surprised if you asked your clients what they need from you. To do more business, it is critical to ask what more they want from you and what they need from you to get back to living their lives as they want.

Your expertise lies in knowing what they need in the way of clinical services. This is only a part of what your clients need. Ask them and find out what they say.

Let's say that you hear from your customers that they really would like to get involved in a swim program to stay limber after their therapy plan is completed. You had never thought of this before! So you decide to start one yourself or partner with an existing pool program. Now you are meeting the needs of more clients and you have another revenue source.

Rule 4: Go After Bad Costs

Remember that not all costs are the same. It is important to distinguish between "good" costs and costs that are not helping you grow your practice. You also need to identify what I call "hidden" costs, those that may not be so obvious to you.

An example of a good costs is one that helps you create a customer journey that your clients value. It will pay off many times over. An example of hidden costs is when one of your team members is not a peak performer and may be affecting the morale of others. This person is costing you money, literally!

Put your focus on dealing with the bad and hidden costs.

Rule 5: Revamp Your Processes

Consider revamping these four core processes in order to attract new clients, retain existing ones, and reduce bad costs:

• The customer journey in and through your practice to make it world class.


• Customer research and communications to establish how they perceive your services.


• Performance management for improved performance of your employees.


• Business Planning: having a plan!

When you are confident these processes are the best they can be, meaning that each process meets the needs of your customers very, very well, then you will keep the customers you have, they will tell others about their great experience with you and you will be bringing new people into your clinic. 

Act now on these 5 rules for surviving the recession!

Massage Therapy

The ancient civilizations of the Chinese, Egyptians, Hindus and Persians used massage therapy as a principal treatment for many an ailment. Now, the fact that Americans spend 6 billion dollars annually on massage therapy gives an idea of its popularity in treating a wide range of disorders.

It is important to clearly differentiate massage therapy from sensual massage, as the word 'massage' calls to mind massage parlors, which were used to peddle sex. Today, health professionals who are well trained, certified and insured give the therapy in a clinical and comfortable atmosphere.

Massage is part art and part science. Hands manipulate the skin, muscles, soft tissues, joints, tendons and ligaments. The therapist strokes, kneads, squeezes, presses or taps to achieve the aim of treatment. The patient is made comfortable, and some lubricants like oil, cream, jelly or lotion are applied. The therapist keeps the patient covered and exposes only the area that he is working on. A typical massage session lasts about an hour.

The massage relaxes the muscles and soft tissues, improves circulation, stimulates the lymphatic system and calms the nerves. There are a wide range of mental and physical disorders for which massage therapy is very beneficial. It eases tension, knots, cramps and spasms in the muscles. Massage therapy is a prime component of most relaxation therapies and stress management. As stress is perceived to be the root cause of many problems like cardiac diseases, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorder and hypertension, stress management via massage therapy is an excellent supporting treatment for these disorders. There are quite a variety of massages - some for general purpose and some others targeting a specific problem. Some of the popular ones are Swedish massage, sports massage, shiatsu, acupressure, aromatherapy, neuromuscular therapy and prenatal pregnancy massage.

Today's therapists are trained in professional schools, both in theory and practice. They need to pass a board examination and many states have certification standards. Therapists are registered with their professional associations. These associations like the National Certified Board for Therapeutic Massage and Body Work (NCTMB), Associated Massage and Body Work Professional (AMBP) and American massage therapy Association (AMTA) set a high standard of professional ethics and competency.

This is a treatment well suited to hectic modern lifestyles even without any illness, and has no comparative competition in relaxing the body and mind, and relieving stress.

Massage Therapy Techniques Improve Blood Flow And Relieve Tension

Are you suffering from back aches, variable blood pressure? You should consult with a massage therapist. Simple massage can give you relieve not only from chronic back pain but also from pain caused by wounds or injuries. If you take regular massage therapy session, it will help you in better sleep and relaxation.

More than 100 different types of massage therapy techniques are available and it may not be possible for you to select the best suited massage for you. Either you can try different techniques or you it is better to consult with a licensed massage therapist. Acupressure, Swedish massage, Deep tissue massage, and Shiatsu massage are the most popular medical massage therapy techniques.

Swedish massage is very popular in USA for relaxation after stressful daily routine. Therapist recommends this technique because it improves blood circulation in your body and thus helps your body to relax. Therapist first massages your body lightly with good oil and the flowing strokes of Swedish massage helps to relieve the tension from within the muscles.

In Acupressure massage therapist uses his finger to apply pressure on key points on the skin. This pressure promotes better blood circulation and relieves the tension built up in the body to let fresh energy course through the body once again. Ancient Chinese methods acupuncture and acupressure make use of the same key points on the skin, acupuncture involves the use of needles but acupressure uses fingers to restore the balance of the body and also relieves the mind from headaches, and relieves the receiver from menstrual cramps and constipation.

Deep Tissue Massage is another popular variant of massage. This massage helps to improve the human body in moving better and more freely. During therapy, you may feel pain but eventually it gives you relive from chronic pains and aches that includes pain caused by inflammation such as tendonitis.

Shiatsu massage is Japanese form of finger pressure. Massage therapist uses her fingers, palms, elbows, thumb, knees, and may even sometime walk on the receiver's body in order to pressurize the acupuncture healing points. This massage improves blood circulation and also lymphatic flow