Massage therapist self-care: Thumb pain
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 พ.ค. 2024
- My new book is out! It's called Massage Is Weird: massagesloth.com/book/
Are you a massage therapist with thumb pain? That's not too unusual. We tend to find many creative ways to injure our thumbs, often repeatedly over the course of our careers. When you get thumb pain, don't just accept it. It's an injury, so treat it that way!
When I injure myself (thumb-related or not), there are three phases:
0:00 Introduction
2:29 Phase 1: Rest
6:47 Phase 2: Self-massage and Stretching
9:26 Phase 3: Strengthening and Reintroduction
Take this slowly, be gentle with your rehabilitation, and make sure to consult a doctor if you have any pain that's sudden, unusual, or that doesn't get better with rest. Let me know if you have any comments, suggestions, or tips of your own!
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I wish this had been part of the curriculum in massage school. We definitely needed more self-care. Thank you so much!
Part of the curriculum now, we aren’t missing out anymore :O
Came here from the link from school :D
I am completely grateful for this Ian. You know I follow a lot of your content and think you’re an amazing instructor. Thanks for this video and teaching.
Thank you! This helps me with my arthritis. It’s not just for a young massage therapists.
Thanks for this video, I tell you with months of thumb pain, this really took away my thumb pain! Instant relief and rang of motion! Thank you again!!!
Thank you, Ian. A very useful video and well presented. It's helped with the thumb problems in my massage, which often feel quite stressed.
thank you so much for your videos. binging them all right now and doing the massages. i feel soooo much better just 10 mins in. i cannot thank you enough for uploading these!! i will do these every day omg
Wow! I had my first major flare-up of what I'm reasonably sure is arthritis at the base of my thumb and everything you suggest here makes perfect sense to me (and I've watched several other videos, too, that weren't as clear and concise). I'm out of ice cubes but I'm on my way to get the bag of peas out of the freezer! Thanks!!
I had just went to a hand specialist . we discussed cortisone shot, and surgery. I didn't want to do either one so he told me to keep wearing the brace I bought and doing the hot and cold presses that I had been doing. He said I may feel better by Jan. I did this treatment and a couple hours later had almost full range of motion. A couple more times and no pain at all. Thank you so much. So glad I found this video.
What a incredible useful video; I have recently finished a Thai Massage course and one of my thumbs start to feel so much pain and of course, travelling travelling around the city I was which I didn’t get the change to see a Doc. Your video Ian, came to me as from heaven. 😊
Very helpful video. That whispering quote is stuck forever in my brain "be nice to your thumbs". 😊👍
As a new massage therapist that just started working with clients, this video is a God send. Going to give my thumbs a vacation 👍 thank you!
very insightful, thanks Ian!
Excellent explanation and video. Thank you soo much. Most helpful!
amazing video!
I am not experiencing any pain but it I will do this for maintenance and prevention.
thanks I love all your videos!
Fantastic video thank you for this. As a practice owner I'm always looking for ways to facilitate my therapists to look after themselves. I've added this to part of our induction and annual training. Thank you very much.
thanks for the uploading ,Ian; i'm a masseur of 13 years and have had ongoing pain in my thenar muscles and joints creeping up on me slowly,recently. I was worried about getting thenar muscle atrophy as those muscles are not as developed as they were. i stretch my hands everyday and use essential oils to warm and soothe muscles at the end of each day, which helps but its less effetive now than say 6 months ago. I'll take your advice here and start to implement these ice techniques, and see my GP, too.
Thank you for the knowledge you share, very helpful for brand new LMT😊 like me.
I'm s
o glad I found you. It took 9 days to realize why I had/have terrible pain in my lower thumb areas and down my non dominant arm. I walked a wheel chair bound stroke patient up and down gradual hills just once to and from the library maybe a mile in toto. Now you showed me exactly what I had done wrong. Two weeks later still pretty bad and will begin your ice bowl treatment and wrap the worst hand/arm. In my early 40's this was a piece of cake with my parents at 69 not wheel chair pushing any longer. Youpresented your techniques wonderfully for us. Thank you.
Awesome! Thank you so much. I'm a pianist, and I've been struggling with the base thumb joint. This is very helpful. Blessings to you.
Jim, I am new to learning piano, my Thumb is veey painful. Always wondering if I did something wrong?
Outstanding video. My thumb pain is fading to zero. Thank you!
Thank you from a non-therapist for this video. I started this and the pointers appear to be helpful. Also, thank you for your calm, relaxing manner without the testosterone-infused gym scene with obligatory head-banger heavy metal anthems! Your voice and manner are very soothing.
Excellent video and instruction!!!
i totally needed this. I am in massage school right now half way done and my right thumb is hurting and feels tight. thanks so much. I need all the tips I can get!
Excellent video! I like, “treat yourself like you would a client” - very true. I just had my first pain from a massage I must have been lazy about.
I' ve got a ligament thumb, this is very helpful, thank you very much. you are very kind to upload this video. thanx again.
Good explanation with demos that show clearly what you are explaining about the thumb therapy.
I'm not a massage therapist but am in architecture school and am finding a lot of thumb pain from drawing and modeling. I think this could be really useful. Unfortunately I can't take a thumb vacation yet as I have drawings due in 4 days! Thanks for the video
So glad to have this video and You! Thank you! Starting out in Massage Therapy and have overworked my thumb (tsk tsk)...submerging my hand as we speak! Looking forward to your other videos!
Thank you for the great tips. I just had trigger fingers surgery and can't move my fingers but this is great tips for me to exercise. Thank you so much for take time out of your life to help people.. God bless...
So much better! Thank you for your videos, especially this one
Ian Harvey you are a genius! thank you
Massage Sloth, your vids are the greatest. Never stop making them. I've been an LMT for less than a year and your videos have been a Godsend. I appreciate your chill (and appropriately goofy) demeanor, and you clearly know what you're talking about. Thank you so much (and my thumbs thank you too).
Thanks Stephanie :) It's comments like these that keep me going, so thanks for taking the time. Let me know if there are any topics you'd like to see me cover!
Massage Sloth Wow super impressed that you replied, Ian. You're adorable, thank you 🤗
Fantastic explanation. Thank you!! They help me heal my insured thumbs. I clean houses and use repetitive motions to now have insured my thumbs.
thank you, this is well said and helpful
Thank you SO much! You're the best!
Brilliant vid 👍🏽 very helpful
This is awesome clip
Thank you for reminding me! I love you!
Thank you very much. I have been suffering from hands pain for more than 6 months now. I have a little bunny who puts his head under my hand most of the day, furthermore I believe I have been overusing the keyboard. I already used ice for some weeks but I
never put my finger " on vacation " as you said, I will do what you suggest because I have incredible pain in all my fingers, soft tissues and even tendons.
Thankyou this is brilliant! Very helpful as are all your videos👍
thank you, it's working for my piano playing, messaging overworked thumb!
Great advise. THANK YOU
wow this video is so helpful and that makes it unique. thank you!
Love your humor. :) Great explanation, thank you. I do not use my thumb overly, but it still does get tired from trigger point work. Will follow your instructions!
Same here will be putting them to work today shift 9 to 7
Like Neil N. I too play guitar and have recently started having thumb plain. Between playing and holding dishes as I wash them, can you guess what will win? Haha. Thanks a lot for the help. Ice here I come.
Hey Ian Thank you for your awesome videos. I have so much difficulty building solid clients as a male therapist. Could you please make a video about that and how to do a perfect treatment plan. Thank you again
Powerful treatment!
Thnq!
So helpful. Thank you!
Thank you do much this is helpful. I feel better already 👍🏿
Thank you very much for this useful information.
wow this is so logical and helpful to me already! thanks!
thank you for your advice 🙏 from Trinidad 🇹🇹
Dude, that was banger!!! Thanks for the content!!
Great video! Very helpful
Great video!
Was so happy to see this video. A hand doctor has told me I have bone on bone CMC osteoarthritis and may need surgery in my right hand, which sounds like such a pain in the rear. I've always been the family massage person and have had very strong hands; not having a strong thumb is really affecting my negatively. I guess these techniques won't recreate cartilage, right - ha. Still, they will help. Thank you.
Thankyou for all the tips. I have just started getting the pain in my thumb and now its getting worst and i feel less grip . Hope the video helps me
Thanks for this info. Helpful for my wife who is an LMT. She loves your channel! Keep up the great work and thanks again!
+Leandro Di Lorenzo That's great to hear!
Thank you! Great info!
Thank you, this video is helpful. This marks 11 years in practice and the first day of an official thumb vacation! In 3 weeks I'll watch it again and begin the stretching.
I appreciate your candid approach to admitting injury, declaring the break, and really rehabilitating. Your advice is right on in this video, thanks again.
YES, YES, Ian Harvey, You are the BEST, the BEST INSTRUCTOR that I have reviewed yet. I had a serious horrible fall and fractured my right wrist (doctor) said in 5 places. I tripped & hit the concrete ground (HARD) walking outside & it felt like I was going 20-30 miles an hr. when I hit that ground & also cracked my front tooth. I refused operation, then later on I did get the operation & Doc placed a titanium plate & 8 screws inside by my wrist. Had therapy session. (Hand/Fingers were swollen like crazy) It's been 3 months now & I'm able to move fingers around abit but thumb and pinky fingers -- not too much. HOWEVER, I want to get these screws & plate out ASAP. BECAUSE now I'm feeling sharp, quick, striking pain like a huge shock which hurts like HELL ONLY around my wrist. The pain comes every now & then and even when I'm not doing any movements either. My surgeon refuses to take out the plate & screws. She said give it 2-3 more months. BUT I truly believe its the hardware that's giving me this pain & want it taken OUT. (My job calls for typing & writing all day). Your tips are excellent and I am trying out everyone of them. As I said this pain is horrible. BUT, BUT, BUT not as bad as DeQueven's pain. Because I did have DeQueven's about 30 yrs. ago -- & I think no no no Pain is more painful then DeQuevens. OMG ! However, I do not think what I have now is DeQuevens now, but your exercise is helping me. But I still want this hardware taken out of me & I'm sure that pain will stop. I'M GOING TO CHECK OUT & FIND ALL YOUR VIDEOS AND PUT THEM TO THE TEST. Do u think the plates & screws should be removed ? ? ? Thank you for your Helpful advise.
very soothing voice, no crazy music, thanks for sharing your ideas♥
Thanks for guiding me I have pain in my both thumbs
Great tips, thank you!
Thank you so much. God richly bless you.
Thank you, that was awesome.
When I had Skier's thumb on my right hand I had my thumb inmovilised and I had to keep working. I learned to use my index finger as a thumb for many things, and I could hold light things and even use my right hand to eat with a fork. It hurted though when I forced it to hold heavier stuff, but it saved me from getting economically broke. I also had to learn how to hold a pick for playing guitar again, which I did by holding it between the nail of my index and the rest of my finger tips,
Hi Ian. Thought I would have to retire. Thank you so very much for this! See you in Orlando next n March. I have so much to learn!🙌❤️
This video is great for my thumb pain.
I have a trigger thumb at the moment. Will try the massage and ice soak. Thank you for unselfishly sharing. God bless you.
I work for starbucks and, after some research, feel like I've injured the flexor pollicis longus some where. I've had a lot of forearm pain that's mostly subsided after about a week. Initially I thought it was tennis/golf elbow and used compression and heat along with stretching, but my thumb still feels tight, occasionally painful, and a little numb. Going to try icing and wrapping the hand next, thank you for the good info!
I just love your videos! Thank u for all of your helpful tips. U have helped me to become a much better massage therapist w not only the techniques, but how to work smarter not harder. Thank u so much for all of your videos. They r VERY much appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lisa Calabrese That's fantastic, thanks Lisa!
Lisa Calabrese ya
So profesional… thank you so much for the help ! :)
Thank you so much so much for your videos. !!!Awesome!
I love your videos . Thank you so much!
Thank you so much man you have no idea how much this helped me.
I love it! Thank you.
👏👌👏 thanks a lot, for your clever and effective tipps and tricks !!
Super video for those non-professionals who want to understand their injury. Calm, methodical, explanatory approach helped me stay tuned throughout the video and even rewind through some parts. Thanks Doc!
Definitely not a doc, but glad to help! :)
Love your sense of humor. I'm not a MT, but this was great advice for the layperson. I have developed MCP and CMC pain in both thumbs, as well as pain in the muscles of the thenar eminence by just living my non-MT life. LOL Your techniques will be really useful for me! Thank you for sharing your wisdom.
Thank you!!! ❤
Thank you good job!
VERY helpful. I've been caring more about my clients pain than my own but it's gotten to the point that I'm turning people away. The whole reason I do my job is to heal others. If I'm down I can't do that!
Thank you for sharing. I’m currently a martial arts instructor and I’m going back to school for massage therapy. I found after massage my clients today, I had this subtle pain in my thumb and unsure of how to encourage it to heal. My hands are very vital for my work and school. I will take this information and let my thumb heal and help prevent injury re-occuring.
Right on Becca, I hope it's been going well! If you'd like to troubleshoot this going forward, join us on the forum by searching "Massage Sloth Clubhouse" on Facebook.
Excellent video. I have a trigger thumb since two months. Can you suggest it is good for me. What should i do initially
Thank u so much Sir. Its a big help
I am a relatively new therapist and have been trying to pick up good tips and techniques from reputable instructors. I have to say that you are one of the best sites that I visit. Thank you for the down to earth approach to what we do!
Kelly Jacobus Truly appreciated, Kelly, and glad I can help! Let me know if there are any topics you'd like to see me cover in the future. Thanks!
Massage Sloth Your massage videos are by far the best on youtube. Will there be any chance of seeing any videos on pre natal massage?
Hydroxoid Hey, thanks so much! I definitely plan to make one in the not-too-distant future.
dye
Awesome thank you!!
Thank you for this video! I just did my first two days of sports massage and my thumbs badly needed the help. 👍🏻
Thank you. My thumb has been killing me. No idea why. You helped. Thanks.
Thank you Mr Sloth.
I suffered from Trigger Thumb when I started in massage many years ago and had to send the suckers on a vacation. I managed to evolve a technique similar to the one you show here. They came back tanned and nice and strong and have been better ever since. (Don't know where they went) I use a myofascial stretching technique every day and the old Ice Pack (no towel though) wrapped around the base does the trick.
Thanks again for your professionally presented video.
Gene
(from Adelaide South Australia)
Thanks so much Gene, glad to hear you've had success with a similar strategy!
im an adelaideian too and my thumbs buggered, help me out bro ahahaha
Massage Sloth
Massage Sloth Hi Ian thanks so much for your awesome videos,, just discovered them,and loving them,your voice so soothing,and love your hands,from Cape Town,South Africa
Very Informative
Thanks for all the point express their thank you so much
very helpful!!
Thank you for helping with soreness of my thumbs
this video helps a lot.
Seriously, thank you.
first ive watched this ,briliant 4dec 22 im in sheer agony as have osteoarthritis severe in both hands but my left thumb was pushed back to my wrist yrs ago and is now deformed ,seen surgeon last yr but just after lung surgery so said dont want surgery,but as yr has went on its much much worse ,finally got apt for 21st of dec 22 ,all stuff given n apt by physio waste of time n energy gp gives me movelat regular n last got ibuprofen ,sanctuary heat balm helps better ,but ive done little exercises with you n helped ,so thanks this surgeon said he couldnt do all fingers but maybe the thumb n said complications after it ,,i dont know if i can last till 21st of dec so much agony n pins needles , so thank very much from scotland ...
Super useful for my partially torn UCL
wonderful! thanks so much!
I was so depressed, thought my massage career was over. Really suffering with my hand. Your video has been wonderful and thanks for the advice.
Thank you