We all know how important movement is, but what about the quality of movement? Well, there are a few things to look at in this regard, and Greg Lehman has some arguments around pain, movement and quality of movement. 

“Why I Put Strength On Dysfunction” – Greg Lehman

How good are you at listening to your patients? There are times where a patients recovery could be held up because they are blaming the scenario that put them in pain. But if a person feels they have been heard, they may have less of a reason to hang on to that blame. 

“The Blame Game” – Alison Sim

As humans, we have many different behaviours. Did you know we also have pain behaviours? These behaviours can influence your patients response to pain, so there may be a way for us to help them if we understand this better.

“One Way Of Using A Biopshychosocial Framework In Pain Management – II” – Bronnie Thompson

I’m sure we’ve all heard (and some of us have preached) about not letting your knee go past your toes with certain exercises, in an effort to have great form. But what about when the intent of any given exercise changes? Here’s a great article looking at the mechanics of a split squat and how its intent and thus form can change. 

“The Split Squat And The Knee Over Toe Conundrum” – Michael Gouldon

This one is important, not just for our loved ones, but also for our patients. There may be cues you pick up on with your patients, where their loved ones may not. Its important for all of us to be able to recognize warning signs of dementia, so this article should help. 

“5 Early Signs Of Dementia (And Why Everyone Should Know Them)” – Jamie Wiles

 

Great article about pain and why we experience it. One of the great things about this article is that while we are becoming more aware of pain science in massage therapy, not all industries are as aware of the new research. So Elie Somers is bringing it to the strength training industry.

“What Is Pain And Why Do We Experience It” – Elie Somers

As we all heard about the Massage Envy stuff last week, there were blogs everywhere writing about it. But I found this one especially interesting. Is it possible that the Massage Envy debacle is our fault?

“An Open Letter To The Massage Therapy Profession: Massage Envy Is Our Fault” – Lauren Cates

There are many facets to our massage therapy and business. One facet is our massage schools and education. Apparently, some organizations expect schools to show up and have their students provide free work. But is this right, or should everyone have to pay for students to provide massage?

“Free Student Chair Massage? Nope!”  – Jill Berkana

I liked this one because there is a lot we can liken to being massage therapists. While our scope is different, there is a lot Paul is saying in this post we could look at as well. There is so much massage therapy can do to be part of healthcare, but WE have to evolve and develop in order to be looked at that way.

“Physiotherapy, Come Forward! (It’s Time To Step Out From Behind The Curtain)”  – Paul Lagerman

How is the culture in your clinic? Is it an open and psychologically safe place where comments and new ideas are easily presented? While it’s intended for companies with employees, this is something that could be applied in our clinics as well to create a culture of psychological safety.

“How To Create A Culture of Psychological Safety” – Jake Herway

 

*This post was originally posted on Laura’s blog on June 28, 2016

This morning I saw a FB post from a practitioner mentioning all the things he throws into a massage…Reiki, toning, spiritual healing, and Qi Gong. When I questioned him, he assured me that his clients know before getting on his table what they’re in for. This is the only way of working with integrity. 

My questions about those things, and anything else other than massage that you include in sessions:

1. Did the client ask for it?

I was attending classes in energy work for five years before attending massage school almost 17 years ago. I was taught that you should never impose it on clients who have not asked for it, as many may have religious objections to it or just not believe in it–or just be intent on getting the full hour of massage that they have paid for without other things they aren’t expecting being thrown in. I always adhered to that policy in the interest of being client-centred.

2. Was the client informed before getting on the table that this is the way you conduct all your sessions, and given the opportunity to refuse in the event they just want a massage and nothing more?

If a client books a massage, they are expecting a massage. Particularly in the case of a client who has never had a massage, they are not expecting you to delve into their private spiritual beliefs or perform rituals that they know nothing about.  If you are an “integrative” practitioner and you throw in other things during your session, that needs to be made clear at the very first contact.

It is the same principle as putting nut oil on a client without asking them if they have a nut allergy, or putting essential oils on someone who may have allergies or just object to the fragrance. Just because you love to use peppermint oil during a massage doesn’t mean the client is going to enjoy it.

People have the idea that I am against energy work. I am not against it. I believe anytime you place your hands on people in a compassionate, non-sexual, non-threatening, non-judgmental way, with the intention of soothing their pain, relieving their stress, easing their passing, or whatever, that’s a good thing, and you can do the work without needing some supernatural  narrative that violates the physical laws of the universe to go along with it. A good explanation from Keith Eric Grant, who might be the only physicist in the US who is also a massage therapist of many years, can be found here.

I taught Reiki for ten years myself. One day it struck me that my drawing a few symbols in the air and blowing a puff of my breath on someone is never going to turn anyone into a healer, and I tore up my master certificate. I came to the conclusion that I can lay my hands on someone without needing a story to go along with it, outside of “I just want to comfort you.”

3. Do you wait until they are on the table to spring your plans for the session on them when they are already relaxed and possibly in an altered state of consciousness?

There is an inherent power differential in the therapeutic relationship that is in our favour, and that clients look at us as the authority figure who knows what they’re doing, and who is supposed to have their best interests at heart.

4. Are you client-centred, or is it all about you?

If a client has booked a relaxation massage, and you start digging in because you have decided they need a deep tissue massage, it’s all about you.

I gained numerous clients over the years from massage therapists who thought it was all about them. I’ve heard many comments such as “She was just sitting there with her hands on me not doing anything. I thought she went to sleep.” And “He walked around the table banging a little gong and said he was clearing my negative energy.” And “I kept asking him to lighten up because he was hurting me, but he said he couldn’t because this is what I need.” And “I just can’t stand strong fragrances of any kind. Before I knew what was happening, she had doused me with some kind of oil and I thought I was going to choke.”

A therapist who is client-centred is a successful therapist. A therapist who is not client-centred is going to crash and burn a year or two in and wonder why they just couldn’t make a living doing massage. Being client-centred isn’t optional; it’s our obligation.