Massage Therapists! YOU are responsible for client safety.

Every once in a while, I am reminded of how important it is to be vigilant when interacting with and treating clients. As a massage therapist, I am ultimately responsible for the safety of my client, from initial intake to homecare suggestions.

I was recently reminded of this fact a few weeks ago when I was sitting in my gym’s reception area, waiting for my spinning class to start. There is a conveniently located massage therapy clinic in my gym, and I am very pleased that one of my former students is employed there. She’s a great person, and a great therapist, so imagine my surprise when I overheard her suggest to her client that he do his homecare stretches in the shower.

Now, I distinctly remember the day when I was teaching the Remedical Exercise class a few years ago when we had this debate in class. Apparently the students had been told by another instructor to tell clients they could do their stretches in the shower. My argument against it was that stetching in the shower was a bad idea for several reasons – it’s wet, it’s slippery, and it’s very easy for people to get dizzy in the heat. As a combination of factors, this is an ultimate recipe for a slip and fall to occur.

As a matter of fact, in the article Bath Safety – Preventing Slip and Fall Accidents in the Bathroom, it is cited that

“Statistics show bathrooms can be the most dangerous room in your house. 70% of home accidents occur in the bathroom. The combination of water and smooth surfaces makes taking a bath or shower a risky proposition. Slip and falls account for over 20,000 fatalities per year in North America. It is the second leading cause of accidental death and disability after automobile accidents. Over 75% of slip-fall deaths occur to people 65 years of age or older…”

See my point? Yet I doubt that many massage therapy instructors OR even massage therapists think about this fact. Should it be common sense? ABSOLUTELY!!!!! And not only for massage professionals, but for the clients themselves. However, how many people blindly follow the advice of various health care professionals, much to their detriment? Tons of them, I know it. There may be therapists who will say “It is ultimately the client’s responsibility”, and you are right, to a point. But like I said, many clients take advice literally, trusting that their health care professional will give them the best information possible.

And “stretching in the shower” isn’t the only area that I am disappointed to see massage therapists failing the best interests of their clients. I have refused to treat clients with Congestive Heart Failure who wanted Manual Lymphatic Drainage to relieve their edema – telling me that their previous therapist “used to do it once a week”. (hint – MLD is contraindicated for CHF as it increases fluid return to a cardiovascular system that is already stressed out) I have refused to work distal to, and directly on, bulging varicose veins. Yes, I understand that varicose veins are uncomfortable, but when I explained to my client that deep pressure over clotted blood can break up the clot (clots are also known as “thrombus”) and cause an embolus, she was horrified that her previous massage therapist “used to drive his elbow along her calf muscles” to relieve the tension.

Don’t worry, I’m not just picking on massage therapists, I have seen other health care professionals take some pretty big risks with client safety and health. Notably:

1. The chiropractor who berated me for refusing to provide Swedish massage to an elderly lady with uncontrolled high blood pressure (I don’t remember the reading, but it was sufficiently high for me to recommend that she go to a doctor before heading home). Apparently the chiropractor in question was one who routinely did cervical spine adjustments on patients with high blood pressure in the 150/95 range. (OMG!!!). Huge potential for a stroke, here, people. Stressed arteries neighboring immobile joints are not good. Mobilizing this joints with a high-velocity, low-amplitude thrust – even worse.

2. The physiotherapist who performed a cervical spine manipulation on a patient without getting his consent, and without viewing the xrays first. Guess what? The client had osteophytes in his cervical spine from 2 WAD (whiplash associated disorder) injuries, and subsequently developed arthritis and osteophytes. Even worse, this manipulation damaged the nerves as they exited the spinal column, and this client now has permanent weakness, numbness and tingling in both hands, in the ulnar area.

3. Don’t even get me started on physicians who mis-prescribe or over-prescribe medication … Enough said.

I guess my main point from this discourse is that a little common sense goes a long way. For some health care professionals (ahem) the almighty dollar drives them to treat patients or clients who maybe are better off getting cleared for treatment, or for seeking other alternatives to relieve their conditions or pain.

Also, as a profession that is trying to gain legitimacy, the conduct of its practitioners needs to be held to a high standard. If we act like quacks, that is how we will be viewed. If we are trying to be taken seriously by the public and other health care professionals, then we have to step up as individuals and as a collective and do right by our clients, even if it means turning people away. We have a Code of Ethics for a reason, and need to keep it in mind for every client.

Personally, I would rather take home less money than take money from someone who may ultimately be harmed from something I did. If I think about how I would want someone to treat a member of my family, or anyone else I love, I am very comfortable in saying that in a strange way I feel good if I refuse to treat, knowing that I have had an opportunity to educate my client and assist him or her in getting the treatment which is the best for his or her circumstances. And for the record, when I explain to my clients the reason why I may alter a treatment, or forgo treatment altogether, they are generally very understanding and appreciative that I put their welfare ahead of my financial needs.

So, What are you going to do?

© Copyright 2010 Jodi Forsythe
www.whymassagetherapy.com
All Rights Reserved.

Massage Therapy Treatment Room Accessories – Floor Coverings

An eco-friendly, Turkish Style Area Rug made from recycled plastic is pretty, functional and easy to care for. After all, just because you walk on it doesn’t mean it can’t look nice.

Let’s face it, there are always challenges to knowing how to decorate your treatment room, be it a spa or a clinic, and there has to be a marriage between functionality and esthetics, and a reflection of your own taste. You are going to be spending a lot of time in your room, so you had better like it.

Footing is really important during a massage therapy treatment – the safety of you and your client both depend on it. What I have noticed during my years as a therapist is that I don’t really like to stand on a surface that is hard and makes noise as I move around the table. Surfaces such as tile, hardwood or concrete are noisy and can be rough on your legs as you stand a lot. Not to mention the fact that they can become slippery if you drop oil on it, and the last thing anyone needs is a slip and fall. (hello Whiplash!)
Most times we don’t have a choice in the treatment room of the materials our environment is made of, so we have to improvise.

Personally, I really like an area rug under my table, but it has to follow certain specifications to meet my expectations.

1) It has to be large enough so that when my table is in the centre, there is plenty of room for me to roll around on my stool – mobility is a huge deal for me, especially when working on a clients head, neck and shoulders when I am seated. Ideally, a minimum of 6×9 feet seems to work.

2) It has to be pretty. Whether it is plain or has a fancy design is very personal, but since my clients might spend a vast majority of time face down, it is best if it is pleasing to look at.

3) It has to be durable. Depending on how much your room is being used, it’s really easy for an area rug to wear out. Personally, I’d rather spend my business dollars on things like continuing education, so equipment or accessories that wear out easily are an expense I want to avoid, no matter how nice it looks when it’s new.

4) It has to be hygienic and easy to clean. My mom gave me a beautiful area rug that worked perfectly in my treatment room. Everything was great, it was big enough, pretty, easy on my legs, and helped to soundproof the room a bit. Great, except that it got stained from oil and gel being dropped on it, and wore out in a pattern around the table. It’s not so pretty right now (not to mention that it probably has some germs lurking around in it) and I won’t be able to use it in my living room. I wish I would have thought of that before I ruined it. Instead of being able to hose it off, I’ll have to get an environmentally friendly cleaner to steam clean it.

5) In my efforts to be eco-friendly, it has to be made from either a recycled material or from an ethically sourced, sustainably manufactured material. Usually this is the sticking point for people, as most people want to make an effort to be eco-friendly, but the expense can be prohibitive. There are cost-friendly options, you just have to know where to look. Gaiam has a great Turkish style area rug that is durable and pretty – and when you get tired of it in your treatment room, you can put it on your deck or patio.

6) Don’t forget that if you use an area rug, you should get a non-slip backing to put under it. Even though the weight of the table will pretty much anchor it, the backing will also help protect the flooring underneath – especially important if you are renting space with nice hardwood or tile flooring.

So many of us are concerned with the treatment aspect of the business, we don’t realize that a little forethought concerning our work space goes a long way. Trying to be green makes it a little more challenging, but it can be done.

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www.whymassagetherapy.com
All Rights Reserved.