Do you use massage tools in your therapy practice? Do you feel guilty—like you’re giving your client something less than a “real” massage? You shouldn’t!

Using massage tools is a smart way to save your hands, and the fact is that when you use these tools effectively, your clients won’t even know the difference between the feel of your fingers, your knuckles, and a thumb helper or T-bar tool.

Massage tools help you to work more effectively. You can give a deeper tissue massage and apply firmer pressure to trigger points without working your fingers to the bone.

With practice, you will become more sensitive to the tissue’s response, even through the medium of the massage tool. The more skilled you become in using massage tools, the more they will become simply an extension of your own hands.

Your hands are your greatest asset as a massage therapist. If you work them too hard, you may just work yourself out of a job! Reduce the strain on your hands by using your elbows, knuckles, and massage tools for deeper strokes and trigger point work, or even for traditional Swedish massage techniques.

Full-time massage work places strenuous demands on your hands and body. Massage tools are just one way you can keep up with the pace of your work without compromising the health and strength of your body.

Understanding the various types of massage will help you choose the best style of massage therapy for your needs.

     1.   Swedish massage is the most common type of therapeutic massage. This method involves long, rhythmic strokes, kneading, and a circular flow of movement using massage lotion or oil. The Swedish massage technique focuses on relaxing the superficial layers of muscle. This form of therapeutic massage is gentle and soothing and is an excellent style for those who are receiving a massage for the first time or who prefer a softer touch. Some massage therapists use aromatherapy to complement the physical touch of massage with the pleasing fragrance of essential oils or a reed diffuser. Swedish massage is ideal for use in the home, as it is uses simple techniques that may be practiced without formal training.

           2.   In Deep Tissue massage, the therapist targets the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue, using a slower, deeper stroke technique across the grain of the muscle. The benefits of deep tissue massage are particularly valuable for chronic pain, muscle strain from repetitive use, and treatment or prevention of injury. Deep tissue massage therapy may cause sore muscles for a day or two following treatment.

           3.   Shiatsu massage is a Japanese form of bodywork that focuses pressure on specific points of the body, following the twelve meridians, or channels of energy, defined by Traditional Chinese Medicine. The massage therapist applies steady, gentle pressure on specific areas of the body in order to promote the free flow of energy throughout the body. Shiatsu massage techniques are administered through loose, comfortable clothing without the use of massage oils or lotion.

     4.   Thai massage focuses on the free and balanced flow of energy throughout the body by applying light pressure, following the traditional meridians of Chinese medicine. Thai massage is a passive form of yoga, where the therapist guides the client in focused stretching and movement. Unlike most types of therapeutic massage, Thai massage is performed on a mat on the floor rather than on a massage table.