Massage & Bodywork

March | April 2014

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I t p a y s t o b e A B M P C e r t i f i e d : w w w. a b m p . c o m / g o / c e r t i f i e d c e n t r a l 49 CHANGE YOUR TECHNIQUE If you have tried all of the above options and you still feel uncomfortable in your body, the next step is to change your technique. For example, if you feel uncomfortable while applying deep pressure to facilitate muscle release, try switching to a passive or active range of motion. The bottom line is: don't become a victim to your pain or discomfort; rather, be self-reliant and use your knowledge and creativity to find the best solution. Finally, one last but important point: using your entire body to support and facilitate the movements of your hands will reduce effort in your back, neck, shoulders, arms, wrist joints, and hands—in other words, you will prevent overuse. You will also dramatically increase your quality of touch and your effectiveness. Keep in mind that when your lower body (pelvis, legs, and feet) is moving to support your work, and your upper body (head, shoulders, rib cage, and arms) is moving to facilitate it, your entire body moves in synchrony, becoming your greatest tool. Barb Frye has been a massage educator and therapist since 1990. She coordinated IBM's body mechanics program and authored Body Mechanics for Manual Therapists: A Functional Approach to Self-Care (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2010), now in its third edition. She has a massage and Feldenkrais practice at the Pluspunkt Center for Therapy and Advanced Studies near Zurich, Switzerland. Contact her at barbfrye@hotmail.com. CHANGE YOUR CLIENT'S POSITION Expanding your options for client positioning will greatly improve your comfort level when working. Often therapists opt to work in pain rather than ask a client to change his or her position. This is counterproductive; never compromise your body mechanics. Remember: prone, supine, side- lying, and sitting are all viable options. If you find that your table is too low when working with a client in a supine or prone position, and you do not have an electric lift table, turn your client onto his or her side. Think about your work from an ergonomic standpoint and ask yourself, "How can I bring my work to me, rather than conforming myself to the work?" CHANGE YOUR TOOL If you are using a certain part of your hand and it starts to feel uncomfortable, change to a different part. For example, discomfort commonly arises when fingers and thumbs are used to apply deep pressure. If this happens, immediately change to your knuckles, fist, or elbow. If you lack confidence, you might be tempted to work with the discomfort rather than change to another option. Don't let yourself fall into this pattern. Any time you feel uncomfortable, no matter the level, find a way to change your working tool. This will better serve not only you, but also your client.

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