Using Your Thumbs Wisely

"Our thumbs are often the massage tool that we value most; our thumbs are also what get us into the most trouble. Our thumbs make it possible for us to do deep, specific work. Our thumbs make our clients happy. And yet our thumbs are one of the most oft-injured parts of the massage therapist’s body. In this course, you will review the most common use patterns for our thumbs when we massage–the things we do that lead to pain and strain and injury. Then you will explore an alternative way of using the thumbs. In the process, you will learn to rely on our thumbs less, and rely on the easy use of your whole body more. And as we do that, we will learn how to use the thumbs more effectively when they are the best option for a given stroke, how to support our thumbs and keep them in line with the rest of the body, thus creating a way of using the thumbs (and the body as a whole) that is both safe and effective. Course Objectives List common body-use patterns that lead to overuse and injury of the thumbs. Describe an alternate means of using the thumbs that causes less strain and promotes better body mechanics. Assess body mechanics and identify specific ways in which thumbs are being overused or misused while massaging. Develop the ability to assess one's body mechanics while working to identify early when problems are developing. Utilize a more beneficial approach to using their thumbs, while massaging the client both in prone and supine. Implement the three steps of this more beneficial approach: 1. use the thumbs only when necessary; 2. use the whole body more; and 3. support the thumbs and keep them in line."

This course is hosted online.