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Massage is a physically demanding profession. Massage practitioners often use repetitive movements, hand force, static loading and awkward postures in their work, all recognized risk factors for developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The therapist's age, general health, previous injuries and other personal physical and emotional factors are additional risk factors. It is not surprising to learn that a 2006 study of massage therapists and bodyworkers showed that 77 percent had experienced pain or other musculoskeletal symptoms related to their massage work, and 41 percent were diagnosed with an MSD.1

Before you start thinking about putting your treatment table up for sale, it's important to understand that injury is NOT inevitable. Many professions have inherent risks, and many people in these professions have successful, long-term, healthy careers. There is a great deal you can do to prevent injuries from occurring in the first place, and to minimize their effects if they do occur. The key to managing your risk of injury is to reduce your exposure to risk factors as much as possible. Taking the necessary steps to prevent injury is much easier and less disruptive to your career than dealing with an injury once it has occurred.

Developing Your Multifaceted, Holistic Injury Prevention Strategy

Decades of research have shown that the most effective strategy for preventing MSDs is a holistic and multifaceted one, including five primary steps:

Maintaining awareness of the risk of injury in your work

Understanding how risk factors cause injury

Reducing risk factors through ergonomics

Developing good body mechanics and work practices

Taking care of your general physical and emotional health, including physical conditioning.

Using the principles of ergonomics, you need to design your massage space to fit your body and the type of work you do. You can't use good mechanics in a poorly-designed workspace. You'll need enough space to move freely around your table to avoid static positioning and awkward postures. Your table needs to be adjustable so you can work comfortably and efficiently as you change techniques and clients (a power-adjustable table is ideal). Raise equipment to waist level so you can avoid bending to reach them or having to lift them in awkward postures. Design your work schedule so you have a consistent, manageable workload from day to day and week to week, to avoid any sudden increases in workload that could lead to injury.

Strive to develop "good" body mechanics, not "perfect" body mechanics. The idea is to continue to use your body in a natural and efficient way, while maintaining an approach that maximizes your strength and avoids overloading the most vulnerable parts of your body. Modify or eliminate any technique that causes you pain or discomfort; if it hurts, don't do it.

Take care of your general health. Maintaining good physical conditioning, getting enough sleep, eating well and avoiding unhealthy habits like smoking can have a direct effect on your ability to heal tissue damage before it progresses to the point of injury.

Sometimes, despite your best efforts to avoid injury, you may find yourself developing symptoms. Recognizing symptoms and getting early, appropriate treatment is the best way to minimize interruption to your work and get you back on the road to health as quickly as possible.

Learning to give your own physical and emotional needs the same care and consideration that you give to your clients is critical to preventing injury. Be good to yourself, and a long, healthy career will be within your grasp.

1 Lauriann Greene and Richard W. Goggins, "Musculoskeletal Symptoms and Injuries among Experienced Massage and Bodywork Professionals," Massage & Bodywork, 2006; Dec-Jan: 48-58.

Portions of this article reprinted from Save Your Hands! The Complete Guide to Injury Prevention and Ergonomics for Manual Therapists, 2nd Edition, Copyright © 2008 Gilded Age Press, Inc. All rights reserved.