It is the job of massage therapists to bring relaxation and healing to their patients' bodies. However, therapists must pay close attention to the positioning of their own bodies during treatment to avoid career-shortening injuries to themselves. Rick Goggins, LMT and ergonomist with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, explains that it is very advantageous to learn how to employ the laws of gravity to maximize force when deep tissue work is needed and it is important to understand the balance needed to provide a steady platform from which to work.
Finding the Core
One of the key elements of body position for therapists to master is the knowledge of where their core of balance should be and how to recognize when their body is out of alignment. This core can be imagined as a plumb line dropping straight down from the top of the therapist's head. The rest of the therapist's body must be arranged in a balanced manner around this core in order to permit the therapist to maintain a sense of balance and steadiness during the massage. If core balance is ignored, the therapist will struggle to keep upright by hanging onto the patient for balance or will be unable to provide smooth, steady movements in the massage--neither of which enhance the massage experience.
Finding the Source for Pressure
Good massage does not arise from brute strength. Due to the nature of therapeutic massage treatment, even the strongest practitioner will begin to break down in the face of the strain of repetitive movements conducted frequently in each session, day in and day out. Joint, muscle and nerve damage to the therapist is an unfortunately common result of therapists who seek to create their pressure from within their own bodies rather than using the benefits of gravity, proper tools and correct body positioning to gain strength effortlessly.
Obey the Law - Gravity
One of the best tools in the therapist's collection when it comes to pressure is to let the law of gravity work for him instead of against him. A person's upper body often accounts for nearly half of his total weight, and if positioned correctly, all of that weight can be brought directly to bear, creating abundant pressure from gravity, not personal strength. The therapist who bends at the waist, using the arms stiffly like props, can produce 50 to 100 pounds of pressure easily and effortlessly to generate the same intensity at the end of the day as at the beginning.
Use the Right Tool for the Job
Broad, flat contact surfaces distribute force over a larger area than smaller, more pointed surfaces. According to Sandy Fritz, LMT, another key to producing effortless pressure while maintaining proper body mechanics is to be sure to select the proper contact surface to accomplish the task at hand. Therapists will find it easy to compress large areas of tissue easily by combining the proper use of gravity with a flat, open palm. Bracing a single hand with the other hand will help to add more stability and control to the motion.
When pinpoint accuracy needs to be combined with deep pressure, narrower, more pointed tools will bring the same amount of pressure to a more concentrated, specific area. Again, bracing with other fingers of the same hand or with the other hand will provide additional stability and control.
Selecting the Right Joints
Each time the direct line of force must cross a weakened joint in the therapist's body, an additional bit of that force is dissipated. To maximize the pressure that is ultimately delivered, it is critical to immobilize the therapist's joints to a large degree. Less force is lost when crossing a locked joint that is functioning more in a straight line than a flexible curve. However, it is important to remember that excessive force will degrade joint surfaces, especially if they are allowed to move during the application of pressure.
Relax the Back
Therapists who train themselves to seek body positions that are balanced and comfortable will be able to maintain those positions for long periods. Unfortunately, those who lack this self awareness often find themselves in extremely tiring positions that are difficult to maintain throughout even one massage session, let alone a full day's work. Focus on relaxing the torso of the body will often force the practitioner to rearrange the head and extremities to facilitate this relaxation, which will have benefits for the whole body.
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