Thumb Helper Massage Tool

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.

Hand Helper Massage Tool

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.

Wondering how you can accommodate obese clients in your massage practice? Here are a few suggestions for modifying your massage techniques and adjusting your massage table for obese clients.

Save your hands! Use a massage tool for deeper strokes.

1. Set the massage table height lower.
   You probably have your massage table set at a “standard” height that works well for most of your clients. With thicker clients, however, you may need to adjust the massage table a few notches lower.
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   Don’t sacrifice your body mechanics or risk injury with a table height that forces you to stretch beyond your comfort zone or stand on your tiptoes. Stand on a folding massage stool if you need to (not a rolling one!).

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2. Use side arm extenders.
   Massage table side extensions are a lifesaver for therapists. They increase the comfort of wider clients without sacrificing the width of the table required for safe ergonomics. Side extenders can easily be added when you need them and removed when you don’t need them.
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3. Use massage tools for deeper access.
   The extra effort needed to massage thicker clients can easily fatigue your thumbs and fingers. Use your elbows and forearms as much as possible to take the strain off of your hands. Massage tools, such as a thumb helper, hand helper, or T-bar, also help you massage deeper without straining your hands. Don’t be afraid to use them as needed. Most clients can’t tell the difference between the touch of your fingers and the touch of a massage tool.
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4. Consider floor work.
   Don’t exceed the static weight capacity or working weight capacity of your massage table. If a client exceeds the weight capacity of your table, suggest Thai massage or other form of floor massage. Both you and your client can fully relax without any nagging fears that the massage table will collapse, and working on the floor will give you better leverage and more options for positioning.

Promote your own self-care and increase the efficiency of your massage sessions with these 3 helpful accessories for massage therapists.

As a massage therapist, you’re on the go all day at your practice, giving massage, doing laundry, and dealing with paperwork. Fortunately, there are several accessories that make your day go a little smoother and promote your own self-care while you’re busy caring for your clients.

1. The Hand Helper

Your hands are one of your most important assets. Reduce the amount of stress on your body and prevent overuse injuries with professional massage tools. With the right tool, most clients will never notice the difference between your fingers and your massage tool.

A massage tool allows you to apply greater pressure for modalities such as deep tissue massage and comes in handy for applying focused pressure on trigger points or bony areas of the body. Getting the feel for applying the right amount of pressure can take a little practice, so elicit feedback on your client’s comfort level throughout the massage, just as you normally would.

2. The Back Saver

You ask a lot from your body during each massage session. Give your back and legs a rest with a rolling massage stool. A pneumatic stool easily adjusts to your height and the height of your client to ensure that you continue to massage with proper body mechanics, even while seated.

A healthy combination of standing and sitting during massage prevents muscle fatigue and repetitive injury by varying your body position and balancing out the stress load on your muscles. A massage stool is perfect for massaging the head, feet, and hands.

3. The Lubricant Leash

You’re on your feet all day. Why not save yourself a few steps with a massage product holster? Forget the reaching and stretching or walking around the table to get to your lubricant, not to mention the days you’re so frazzled that you forget where you last set down your massage oil.

Those days are over when you strap your lubricant to your waist, keeping it within easy reach at all times. A product holster lets you keep the rhythm of the massage going and never lose contact with your client.