Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/465652
As a 20-year-old experiencing back pain, I asked a chiropractor to tell me the one thing I could do to help me avoid back problems in the future. He said, "Move and work in a balanced way. For example, if you always turn to the left to reach for the shampoo in the shower, start turning to your right, too." I can't say for sure to what extent taking his advice allowed me to maintain a decades-long massage career without being sidelined by back pain. However, I do know his advice made me more aware of my back while I was working. Therefore, I was less likely to put my back in compromising positions. Now, as a massage therapist for 20-plus years and an educator for 10, I've observed many massage therapists teetering on the verge of injury because of poor form and/or decision making. In response, I've developed a list of some common and not-so- common suggestions to avoid massage injuries. By Mark Liskey