How to prevent work-related injuries
Are you doing massage treatments back to back and feeling the tension in your back because of it? Do you get a niggle in your hands every once in a while? Then, you could be suffering with a work-related injury.
“Good posture is paramount. Your mum was right in telling you to stand up straight and not slouch,” says Kerry Beavis, owner of home-based salon The Revive Company in Wixams and Professional Beauty’s Therapist of the Year 2016.
“Looking after your spine is so important, if you’re not looking after your posture then later down the line you’re going to get back problems, which can lead to bad stress on the joints or arthritis.”
What injuries can occur from bad posture?
“There’s two injuries. Firstly, repetitive strain injury (RSI), which mainly affects your hands, fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders and neck. It happens when you do the same movement over and over again and your tendons get tired and inflame,” explains Beavis.
“The other one is lower back pain. We’ve all had days where we rub our lower back and it’s purely down to not standing correctly for long periods of time. It can really jeopardise your career.”
How should I be standing during treatments?
“The number one rule is to stand tall. Think that you’ve got a magnet on your head and one attached to the ceiling and then feel that pull upwards,” says Beavis.
“Also, remember that your knees move, so bend them – don’t think that the bend has to come from your spine. Your spine has to be in its natural alignment all the time, so move the client to you or lower the couch to help ease the symptoms.”
How can I prevent RSI?
“To prevent the occurrence of RSI, you really need to have a rest from the thing that’s giving you grief. If you’re continuously doing the same movements then you need a stop gap – take the time to do other treatments if you’re able to,” explains Beavis.
“However, sometimes that’s unrealistic. If you have any niggles that last more than a few days go to the GP and nip it in the bud. With RSI, it’s also worth buying wrist splints and wear them when you’re not doing anything to help support your wrists.”
How can I prevent back pain?
“You need to be mindful throughout your day. Practice what you preach and look after yourself. Book in for regular massages if you can. However, if you can’t get to a masseuse, grab a couple of tennis balls and massage yourself. Put them up against a wall and rub yourself up and down like a bear in those areas that are tender,” says Beavis.
For more helpful advice and tips, visit Professional Beauty’s YouTube page.
Read Beavis’s top advice for enforcing cancellation policies and the tasks mobile therapists could outsource to free up their time.
Other PBTV videos:
- How to avoid therapist burnout
- Benefits of aromatherapy for stress, sleep and anxiety
- Boosting your therapists’ wellbeing through nutrition