Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/72093
PATHOLOGY PERSPECTIVES 8. Clean laundry must be packaged to keep it clean until its next use. It should be wrapped in plastic, or stored in a clean, closed container (and never dumped on the floor). SESSION ROOM 1. For cleaning high-touch surfaces like massage tables and face cradles, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a freshly mixed 10 percent bleach solution; this is inexpensive and easily available. Bleach-infused wipes can be useful in this application, but it is important to read the labels for best results: some of them require at least 10 minutes of uninterrupted exposure to be effective. 2. Bleach solutions lose their potency quickly. It is important to store them in opaque (not translucent) containers, or away from the light, and to replace them about once a month. 3. Alcohol and alcohol-soaked towelettes are specifically not recommended for cleaning surfaces, because alcohol evaporates quickly; it works best with prolonged contact against targeted pathogens. 4. Stacking sheets and face cradle covers is simply a bad idea. Clients sweat, they drool, they may use strong-smelling soap or scents, and sometimes they have open and uncovered sores or cuts that may ooze and contaminate the sheets below. Think about being the sixth or seventh client of the day— what company might you have on the sheet you're lying on? 5. Myrtle was smart to realize that the doorknob and light switch plate in her office should be regularly cleaned, but the alcohol wipe wasn't a good choice—again, because alcohol evaporates before it can be effective, and because she used it previously on the face cradle. Further, the most contaminated surface in a massage room may not be the most obvious. Computer keyboards are veritable breeding grounds for pathogens, and it can be difficult to clean them thoroughly. PERSONAL HYGIENE 1. Myrtle needs to take better care of her cuticles. Tiny lesions are potential microbial portals of entry, even if no visible scab or cut is open on the skin. Bacteria that are harmless on a client's skin may not be harmless if they are able to enter a massage therapist's system through a hangnail, paper cut, or other minor lesion. 2. Hand washing has been extensively studied. Washing hands in warm running water with plain soap for 10–30 seconds is still considered the best hand-washing option. Alcohol- based gels are more effective than wipes, because they keep alcohol close to the skin for a longer period of time if they are used as directed: that means rubbing the recommended amount over the hands, between the fingers, into the cuticles and so on, and continuing to rub until the skin is dry—not wiping hands on a towel or clothing. 3. Myrtle uses a uniform shirt, but she might consider investing in several of them so she can change with each new client. This prevents one client whose arm or leg might brush against her uniform from encountering the same surface as the previous client. WHAT'S PRACTICAL? The hygienic practice guidelines provided here are drawn from recommendations by the CDC and other resources for health-care professionals in hospital, dental, and home-care settings. Individual states may also have specific guidelines for massage therapists. These recommendations may be more strict or stringent than many people find practical, but our job as professionals is to be more careful than is absolutely necessary. The goal of this article is to promote the creation of a setting in which the surfaces that one client touches are cleaned or replaced before the next client comes in. This means sheets are removed and replaced, and bolster covers, face cradle covers, uniforms, and other fabrics are also refreshed. Non-fabric surfaces like the table, doorknob, and switch plates are also cleaned regularly. If a therapist uses thermal packs, stones, or other massage tools, these must also be disinfected between clients. Taking care of our equipment, our working environment, and ourselves takes time, energy, and investment in good cleaners. But it can give us the good health and longevity to more effectively take care of our clients. Now go wash your hands! Ruth Werner is a writer and educator approved by the NCBTMB as a provider of continuing education. She wrote A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2012), now in its fifth edition, which is used in massage schools worldwide. Werner is available at www. ruthwerner.com or wernerworkshops@ ruthwerner.com. Celebrate ABMP's 25th anniversary and you may win a refund on your membership. ABMP.com. 39