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New and sore

I recently graduated from massage school and I just started working in a wellness center last week. I have gone from doing 3 massages a week in school to doing 3 and 4 a day and am so sore. Is this a result of bad body mechanics or just from greatly increasing my load? Obviously if it is due to bad mechanics I want to fix it as quickly as possible. How do I determine what exactly I am doing wrong? I am mostly sore in my left glutes and right trap which are areas I generally have trouble with anyway but I am also just sore and achy all over.

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Permalink Reply by elizabeth mount on November 18, 2011 at 9:41pm

in school we worked in a large room and even our student clinic used curtain off rooms, most of the trades i did were in spaces in peoples homes. The main difference for me is the massage treatment room is much smaller then all the other spaces i worked in. I was quite good at looking up and across these larger rooms and useing great body mechanics when i didn't have to worry about where the wall were. Just an observation.

Permalink Reply by Daniel Cohen on November 19, 2011 at 11:16am

Is the table low enough so you are working more over the person than extending yourself out to the person? Did you learn to use forearms? I am large but can work with 1.5 feet spacing from walls. With legs in a lunge alongside the table extend your arms forward up the body. use the table as a support. It isn't easy to explain without demonstrating but I hope you get the idea.

Permalink Reply by Gordon J. Wallis on November 19, 2011 at 2:55pm

Uhm,, if you are uncomfortable during your work. You are doing it wrong...If you are comfortable during your work. You are doing it right.....Its not just posture or body mechanics...I think sometimes my posture is off, just because I can sometimes do a good job for my client while I'm in some weird uncomfortable position... Too me whats more important is self care... Every night, after work. For at least an hour...( I'm stretching, and doing self massage)...Its not just body mechanics...Be comfortable when you work, and the body mechanics is taken care of...Often times we do more work then we are ready for.. You have to be stronger then your job so to speak. And. self maintenance is more important then body mechanics in remaining pain free.. Its been the truth for me anyway.

Permalink Reply by elizabeth mount on November 20, 2011 at 11:42am

I was just trying to share an observation about how different work environments can have an effect on body mechanics. being relaxed in the work makes it easier to do. In my mind that's all part of body mechanics not just posture and lunge. I will jsay posture does have an effect, try working pregant. I still feel some habits of posture I have from working while pregant.

Permalink Reply by David Villafana on November 20, 2011 at 7:39pm

KIM, I am 72 years old and there are days that I work 8 or 9 hours with no pain. Obviously posture has some influence on the soreness, staying physically fit and doing the appropriate stretches can keep you out of pain and allow you to work pain free for many years. I do stretches and specific exercises for 45 to 60 minutes every morning and go to the Gym and workout 90 minutes 3 times per week. Depending on your goals you can (or with some help) devise a program to meet your needs and stay pain free regardless of the work you do. I will be happy to discuss with you some of the options you have available.

Feel free to contact me anytime, David

Permalink Reply by Sean LeeChing on November 21, 2011 at 10:56am

Greeting

I'm sensing your standing more in one place as your forming your massage
sessions with each client. You must move with each massage strokes as if it's a dance. If your left or right gluts are tight that's a sign yout standing in that stance or area while massaging too long.
Move with a flow with each stroke and place a chairs at the clients head and feet always inso take time to seat and do a little Indian head pressure points and Reflexology foot work in each session.
Just slight lite work your clients will love you for it and most of all you can be seat as you do this work a much added rest and conscious massage focuse to your clients.

Happy Massaging

Sean
LMT
New York City

Permalink Reply by mary saunders on November 21, 2011 at 11:55am

Teachers would say bad body mechanics ofcourse, to visualise what you may be doing wrong if you have a spouse or partner that would agree to have you record your treatment with video camera that may help you to see just how your are holding your body or have your supervisor spot check you during treatment.

The increase work load does take some getting use to, make sure you are doing your stretching excersises prior to massage and drink inbetween each body as much as possible. Expecially if you notice you are experiencing the same problems as your clients.

Permalink Reply by Jaime Rosario on November 21, 2011 at 1:51pm

Hello Kim and welcome to the world of bodywork. Yes, "body" work"...you will definitely work your body especially after doing hours of deep tissue work, or even working with athletes and sports massage. What I have done in the 20+ years of bodywork is first and foremost, "take care of me". I work out before going to work, or after work on some occasions depending on what type of workload I have for that particular day, but I do work out!!! Where I work at we do three massages a shift which consists of 4.5 hours to a shift. Bodywork is not a "full-time" job like the traditional so-called work force of the 8 hour shift. I do cardio work for endurance and strength training...low weight/high reps has worked for me all these years. I'll be 57yrs young at the end of December and going on my 25th year of bodywork. I believe something is working for me if I'm still going strong. Oh, I do pray! LOL Glad to have another bodyworker, the world needs us!!! Take care and good luck.

Sincerely,

Jaime

Permalink Reply by Kim Galliher on November 21, 2011 at 2:04pm

Thanks everyone! The issues for me seemed to be table height and just doing more than I was used to. Since becoming accustomed to doing 4-6 massages a day my body no longer hurts like it did. I also trained my son in doing some deep cross fiber with the flat of his elbow to work around my scapula where I tend to be tight and have a hard time stretching after a long day. It is now part of his chores, lol! I am going back to the gym and taking up yoga again. Taking care of me must be a priority if I want to take care of others. Thanks so much for all the wonderful input, I appreciate it.

Permalink Reply by Robert Garrison on November 23, 2011 at 7:12pm

Hello Kim, congrats on being busy always good. The mechanics o

Hello Kim, its good that your busy, sounds as though your not keeping your body even with gravity, knees bent, glutes down and belly button pointing towards movement. Make sure table is not too high and that your breathing, I try not to talk so much, because when I do, my breathing and movement gets all scewed up.

I use my thumbs way too much so thats where my pain is. I also teach boxing and train through boxing so to help with comfort I may either lay my hands in ice water and squeeze tennis balls. Keep busy and take care.

Permalink Reply by Cristi Adams on November 27, 2011 at 9:30pm

i second this reply- stay in shape and get lots of sleep - you are a massage theapist in training, always. And yoga is essential

i have been practicing for 12 yrs (20massages a week) i am pain free and very grateful, because i take care of myself.

i am honored to be able to help others feel better

Lucianna Johnston said:

Everyone has already given you great advice on body mechanics so I'm going to give you another important factor. Your own health and fitness.....I recommend (from personal experience) that you start working out. Doing cardio exercise 2 - 3 times per week and taking a yoga class will help you tons. Take baby steps and build up your stamina slowly so you don't create more soreness in your body. When I go to the gym I will do 20 - 30 minutes on the elliptical and then 20 minutes or so on the treadmill walking. Following that 30 minutes of yoga (or stretching if you aren't familiar with yoga) with deep breathing. Since I have been doing this I can bust out 6 massages with no muscle pain or strain..yes, I'm wiped at the end of the day but not in pain. Once you bring fitness to your world massages are easy breezy. If you are already fit and doing everything I just said then I would say it is 100% body mechanics and the natural evolution of building up your stamina as a massage therapist. Congrats on your new job!!

Permalink Reply by stephnie hansen on November 30, 2011 at 3:18pm

i experienced the same when i first started, and in time my body got used to what i was doing and now i am rarely sore or achy. Try soaking in a hot tub after work. Most of us do what we tell or patients not to do. We don't stretch before and after work and we normally go from working hard all day long to somewhat sedentary at home. Without seeing your body mechanics hard to tell if that is a contributing factor. Hang in there your body will adjust.