I travel and teach a lot, and there has never been a class where at least a few people don’t complain of chronic pain in some part of their musculoskeletal body. I am constantly correcting postures that place hands and backs in the most vulnerable of positions. I cringe when I think that, without awareness and correction of their body mechanics, compassionate and well-intentioned people will leave the profession they love and trained for because of injury – and it’s all preventable!
Save Your Hands! The Complete Guide to Injury Prevention and Ergonomics for Manual Therapists® 2nd edition is a lifesaver for reflexologists and massage therapists. I almost want to say that it should be required reading for all current and student bodyworkers. The concise, evidence-based stats in this comprehensive text should convince you of that, if I don’t. Authors Lauriann Greene and Richard Goggins, both bodyworkers themselves and certified ergonomists, have spent many years researching and teaching injury prevention to student therapists and professionals alike.
The data presented in this book includes an unbelievable 77% of manual therapists reporting musculoskeletal pain and discomfort in the body – all of which is preventable and correctable through good ergonomics, proper body mechanics and self-care.
From this must-have research-based book you will learn the serious risk of applying sustained pressure with the fingertips & how to prevent it, the body’s weakest links (the first two on this short list are a reflexologist’s primary tools!), and the four risk factors most strongly associated with injury.
Do you know what factors increase your risk of injury? (They’re not all found in the clinic room either.) Save Your Hands! provides a risk factor worksheet as an appendix. How about specific foods that actually help protect your tissue? What symptoms actually require immediate medical attention? There’s even proper and dangerous ways when it comes to transporting foot basins full of water for soaking clients’ feet!
Reading this book, I was reminded of how physical our profession is, and like an elite athlete, the importance of caring for our precious bodies! I really liked the practical suggestions and self-care in this book, along with the great illustrations, photos and easy-to-read charts. Even a 27-year veteran like myself learned a lot!
Your hands are the essential tools of your trade. Don’t risk injuring them (or any other part of yourself). Learn how to listen to your body, replace poor body mechanics with proven ergonomic ones, set boundaries according to your own limitations and even how emotions play a role in injury causation. By making a small investment of time and money now, you won’t end up one of the 77%!
If you’re interested, here are two options for putting the valuable information in Save Your Hands! The Complete Guide to Injury Prevention and Ergonomics for Manual Therapists® 2nd into action:
1. Go to Amazon, purchase the book and read on your own. A link is provided at the bottom of this page. OR
2. If you also want to earn 10 national and/or Florida massage continuing education credits, you can purchase the book from and take the online quiz at yourCEplace.
Thank-you so much for reminding us of the importance of this subject. I have had so much trouble with my hands and forearms I have had to seriously consider quitting. I hope that this book can help.
Stacie:
It’s such a challenge for us in the healing professions to remember to take care of ourselves first, isn’t it? I’m glad you found this article helpful and are inspired to learn more from the book. Recalling your beautiful work in the classroom, I would hate to see you leave the profession.