Is there a bad body-mechanics position when doing massage?
I used to think so. But the answer to me now is more nuanced.
Instead of “good” and “bad” or “correct” and “incorrect”, I view body mechanics positions as “short term” and “long term” positions.
A “short term” body position will cause you pain sooner than later. That means you don’t want to hang out in this position for too long. For example, if you are hunching over to work an area, you will want to change that position before it starts hurting your back.
You probably see where I am going here: A “short term” body position is okay to do as long as you don’t stay in the position to the point of pain.
Ultimately, you want to be in “long term” body positions. Long term body positions are supported positions where there is minimal strain to keep your body upright and minimal strain for you to do your work. Examples of support while massaging are sitting while you’re working or leaning into the massage table while you’re standing. The picture below shows a long-term body position.
I’m sitting; so there is less strain in my back. My working arm is resting on my knee which translates into less strain in my neck, shoulders and arm.
Below I’m standing and leaning my body weight into the client and the massage table. Notice the front of my legs which are in contact with the massage table. This position is very easy on my body.
Are there body positions that you should never be in?
Yes. Those are the body positions that hurt you immediately or you can feel the negative effects of being in them while you massage or after you massage.
Time for New Thinking
Body mechanics happen in the massage room, not in the text book.
“Correct” and “Incorrect” body positions don’t accurately reflect what goes on in the massage room. Thinking about your body positions as non-starter (hurts you immediately), short term (can stay in the position for a short period of time) and long term (can stay in the position indefinitely) allows you to have an arsenal of body positions so that you’re not in any one position too long.
In the video below, I show you my long term body positions (forever positions). Let me know what you think:-)
The Pain-Free Massage Therapist
Check out my book about how to massage pain-free here.
I have online classes, too:
(1) Delivering Pressure Without Hurting Yourself
And the Pain-Free Massage Therapist Package (all 3 classes).
Comments on this entry are closed.
Great Article Mark! Thank You for writing it… Sort term/ long term…good way to look at it…
Thanks, Leslie! I think we all have this idea that we have to have “perfect” body mechanics every second in the massage room. The reality is we never do–and we shouldn’t try because it’s impossible to do. We naturally move in and out of bad, good and best positions for our body as we do a massage. The trick is to be in the good and best positions much more often than the bad ones. Okay, now I’ll get off my soapbox now. Lol.