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Get a Grip....Working dry

For those therapists who work dry:

At each seminar I teach, I bring along my chalk ball. A therapist told me about this a few years ago and I think it has been one of the biggest assets to me as a therapist in quite a long time.

Early on in each class, I mention the chalk ball and I see mostly uninterested faces. I invite students to give it a try, but most stay away. But one by one, each one gives it a try, finally the most
reluctant giving in. As someone said at my last seminar “It’s great for Mediterranean skin like mine”.

I’ve found that the chalk dries my hands and gives me a solid contact with my patient’s skin. Unlike massage, myofascial release must be done on dry skin. For those clients who wear lotion by accident, the chalk
lessens the slide. I’ve become a bit of an addict, but I think it is a
healthy addiction.

Why a post reverently devoted entirely to a chalk ball? Try it and you’ll understand. You can find it at outdoor stores like Eastern Mountain Sports or on Amazon.

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Comment by Walt Fritz, PT on November 21, 2010 at 7:02am: Stephen,
Not a problem thus far, but a decent air cleaner might do the trick.

Comment by Stephen Jeffrey on November 21, 2010 at 3:58am: Hi Walt
I very much like the idea of using the chalk but is there not some way of avoiding clouding the room.....just cocerned about coughing astma ?

Comment by Deborah Bruce on November 16, 2010 at 3:15pm: Thanks Walt: I've heard of corn flour but chalk sounds great. Deborah

Comment by Walt Fritz, PT on November 15, 2010 at 1:25pm: Marilyn,
I'll sometimes need to "chalk them up" by patting the ball directly over the area needing treatment, especially areas with a great deal of lotion or oil present. Makes the room a bit cloudy for a bit, but quite effective!

Comment by Marilyn St.John on November 15, 2010 at 9:24am: Thanks for the great tip!! Got one, tried it, love it. Sometimes I have occasion to incorporate a bit of MFR technique as I cover certain areas when appropriate, and there's that dang lotion residue inhibiting the process..the chalk lets me take care of that without missing a stroke.