Hand saving tools.

[TheDarkFox]

Does anyone have any recommendations for good tools designed to save your hands when doing deep work?

I was considering those thumb savers since I've had a recent thumb injury. I'm hesitant to try any tool that I have to grip since gripping anything is difficult right now and may be just as hard on my hands. I've also been concerned that I won't be able to feel the muscle and tissue with a tool?

What do you think of massage "tools" and do you have any good recommendations? I'm interested in knowing what works for you, even the grippy type tools!

 

[Paul]

Hand saving tools.

I haven't really used many tools that I like, but with all of them, once you get used to them a little bit you can learn how to 'feel' with them. However, I just remembered about a course I took a few years ago that used 'rain sticks' for the massage (the ones that have beans or rice or what have you inside them and sound like rain when you turn them on end). It felt amazing, and if you keep your body mechanics in mind, you can go quite deep with little effort. You don't grip them very much and mostly use your body weight for the pressure, and they had small corners on the ends of them so even getting right into knots and trigger points was very easy. I've seen something similar in catalogs/magazines called Bamboo Fusion massage. Might be worth looking into.

 

[dancingdilemma]

Hand saving tools.

This is the only tool that I've found that actually works without you having to change how you do your massage. Thumbsavers

I have a friend who was having issues with her thumb and she gave me a massage and I did not have a clue that she was using a tool. I am normally against using tools as with most you cannot feel what is happening with the tissue but this one seems to offer some sensation.

Angie

 

[Audioslave FTW =]]

Hand saving tools.

If you hurt so much that you feel the need to use a tool, it is time to change how you do massage. You are already equipped with many alternative tools: thenar eminences, knuckles, wrists, forearms, feet, etc. Your thumbs don't have to take a beating if you are using your whole body efficiently.

Consider the possibility that you are simply working way too hard and need to sophisticate how you approach doing massage. This is something I've done several times, and I have revised my whole approach several times over the past few years. Two years ago I basically never used my elbows, but then I learned some interesting (and fun) ways to use them... so now I do. Last October I learned some good connective tissue massage methods that have changed how I treat upper back pain so that I no longer need to work rhomboid trigger points (ever). Today I finished a 5-day seminar with James Waslaski, and some things I learned will change my massage sessions, AIS sessions, and even some of the personal training I do. I will achieve greater results more consistently with less effort or physical strain on my part. :grin:

Hand saving tools are like orthotics for flat feet: they help mask the problem, and by enabling the user to continue bad habits, they contribute to the long-term nature of related problems.

 

[PBM seeking RWW]

Hand saving tools.

I agree Jason. And I know I have been working too hard. I started my career that way and created a monster, attracting clients that like that type of work. I really want to make some changes to my practice and my technique so that I can continue for many more years. I have this thumb issues that I have to deal with right now. Its a non-massage related injury (actually a goat related injury!) and it really just needs time to heal. I can't take off work for the length of time it needs, and its been really difficult for me finding alternative methods that don't use my thumbs. Its not even TP therapy the is troublesome, its simple kneading of the muscle and any sort of grasping that is painful. The more I work, the worse it gets. *$#@ goat! :irked:

 

[nisha]

Hand saving tools.

Since you already desire to change your style of work towards something easier to sustain, this thumb injury has created a perfect opportunity for you to do so now. Your regular clients will want you to get better, and are more likely to be understanding of changes you make in response to this type of injury. Those that MUST have the work that hurts you will move one, creating room for new clients that will prefer the new version of your work.

It's possible that the goat has done you an unexpected favor. Seize the opportunity!

 

[not a top con & proud]

Hand saving tools.

It's possible that the goat has done you an unexpected favor. Seize the opportunity!

Ellie,

I agree that it is possible the goat has done you a favor. I love goats. We had pygmies and a Spanish for years. Show the goat some love!

*hug*

 

[Tifa]

Hand saving tools.

I just bought a tool a few weeks ago called Therapist's Thumb. It is molded to fit in your hand and lay your thumb over the molded thumb. I should the chiropractor I work for and after using it for a few seconds he told me he wants one too.

 

[lovelove11]

Hand saving tools.

I just bought a tool a few weeks ago called Therapist's Thumb. It is molded to fit in your hand and lay your thumb over the molded thumb. I should the chiropractor I work for and after using it for a few seconds he told me he wants one too.

How does the tissue feel through the material of that product? Can you feel subtle texture changes as they occur?

 

[Prianka]

Hand saving tools.

The Forearm Dance video! It will give you techniques for petrissage and grapsing using your forearms, elbows, and even your tricep. Even though I already knew how to use those parts of me to give deep tissue and fascial work, I did not know how to use them to do yummy/swedish/kneading techniques. The video is expensive ($75) and I think it was worth it.

 

[B Vijay Chandran]

Hand saving tools.

The Forearm Dance video! It will give you techniques for petrissage and grapsing using your forearms, elbows, and even your tricep. Even though I already knew how to use those parts of me to give deep tissue and fascial work, I did not know how to use them to do yummy/swedish/kneading techniques. The video is expensive ($75) and I think it was worth it.

I'm interested to see how it affects one's shoulder girdle since I assume you have to incorporate a lot more rotation. Do you feel that's a potential risk for over-use of the rotator cuff?

 

[samAnThA]

Hand saving tools.

You know, that's a very good question, one that has been in the back of my mind. I've never experienced any irritation with it, but I have used it as "another tool" so that I can alternate between elbows, forearms, hands, etc. I've never tried to use only forearms for a full-time schedule for weeks at a time. But, from my experience giving several massages in a row with forearms only, I do not experience the "afmassageplanet.neturn" in the shoulders that I do feel in my forearms after doing several massages in a row of petrissage with the hands. For what that's worth.

 

[Q u i n t]

Hand saving tools.

Do you feel that's a potential risk for over-use of the rotator cuff?

Quite simply, yes. That potential is there. Moreso the muscles involved in abduction, external rotation, and extension in the shoulder.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Hand saving tools.

Forearms are like any other tool: overuse can lead to injury. Mix up the techniques you use and don't let yourself get into a routine.

 

[insider]

Hand saving tools.

Forearms are like any other tool: overuse can lead to injury. Mix up the techniques you use and don't let yourself get into a routine.

I don't know much about this Forearm Dance thing (obviously have never seen it), but the impression that I get is that it's opposite of what you say. Doing an entire massage with ONE tool..

Maybe it's meant as something to be used on days your hands hurt? I don't know : but like you say, if you keep a variety to give your fingers/thumbs/wrists/forearms/shoulders a rest after using them, you shouldn't be hurting that much unless there's something else wrong.

 

[Quicksand]

Hand saving tools.

Forearms are like any other tool: overuse can lead to injury.

That is so true. I was using elbows quite a bit thinking I was saving my hands, I ended up screwing up my shoulder instead!

 

[Thang Nguyen]

Hand saving tools.

I have bought a few massage tools some of which are: Bongerswhich you can get a set of 2 for 15$, they can be used to do many diff types of massage (even cellulite massage) on many different areas of the body. Another tool is Massage Star you can get it for 20$. It is a solid tool that fits in your palm and has 3 different tips for different types of treatment. It has a little bit of weight to it which helps limit the amount of pressure you need to apply [uThumb Savers][/u]are a good tool also 9.50$- 15$, You can still feel the muscle through the material. You can find all of these at MassageWarehouse.com. MassageElements.com has thumb savers on sale for 9.50$ right now, good luck!