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Poll - Self-Care for Therapists

What kind of self-care do you use to prevent overuse and/or strain of your tools?

I personally do contrast therapy after performing a session to bring in fresh blood and encourage circulation in my hands and forearm. I also make sure to have at least 5 minutes to perform stretching of my flexors and extensors, as well as some squats to reinforce my core muscles.

Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Choice Kinchen on November 30, 2009 at 11:13pm

I work out....hard. I use weights for strength and I stretch. I also hike the mountains of Utah in the summer and snowshoe and ski in the winter. And I'm a cyclist when I feel like it. By staying in great shape outside of my work, my work seems almost effortless. I can knock out 6 hours of chair massage or 3-4 table massages with hardly any of the fatigue or pain I would have otherwise. I also pay close attention to my techniques. When working...between sessions, I stretch, maybe ice a little, stay hydrated.

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Permalink Reply by Teresa Parrish on December 2, 2009 at 6:48am

My fav - epsom salt soak which I recommend to my clients as well. I stay hyper aware of body mechanics during massage and incorporate my yoga training into my breathing and posturing during massage. Because I am a deep tissue worker I also think about where my strength is coming from during the massage and try my best to recruit from my core. I like to do Alexander Technique to myself after a long day.

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Permalink Reply by Crystal Dawn Suovanen on December 2, 2009 at 1:46pm

I use self-massage where I need it between clients, then if I'm really hurting I'll do a trade with a fellow MT.