I’ve been doing 16-20 hours of massage per week lately, mostly Swedish but also a little deep tissue work. (I’m still getting up to speed on ashiatsu.)

The up side? I burn a lot of calories so I can really dig in at the table (one of life’s sweet pleasures), and I sleep well, being physically fatigued, another sweet by-product. And of course I’m the richer for it, in money, skill, connections, and making a difference.

The down side is that such physical work can take a toll on my body. I understand why a lot of massage therapists get burned out and leave the profession. From my fingers to my spine, I have felt achiness, inflammation, swelling, tenderness, stiffness.

Luckily, I belong to a group on LinkedIn, the Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP). I joined to keep up with discussions about the profession. One person not long ago asked the following question:

What do you do for your hands when they ache after giving a series of massages? I am using proper body mechanics. My hands ache. I appreciate your feedback.

There were 55 responses that I’m going to summarize, because I feel so grateful to have this resource. Thanks to all the MTs who responded.

Please note that many of these are new to me; I am just summarizing what people posted. Later I will post what’s worked for me (that I’ve tried so far) along with a few of my own discoveries.

Recovery time

• scheduling days off to recover
• taking a 30 minute break after 3 hours (or however long works for you)
• taking adequate time between clients to recover
• not scheduling deep tissue sessions back to back

Body mechanics, stretching, strengthening, and recovery

• paying attention to how you use your hands on your days off
• doing hand stretching and strengthening exercises
• resting in semi-supine position to open the brachial plexus (on your back, knees up, feet flat, book under head for 15-20 minutes)
• paying even more attention to body mechanics as you work
• getting a colleague to observe you work and give feedback
• stretching after each client
• lifting weights to strengthen arms and hands
• punching a punching bag (with training)

Therapeutic devices

• using the Thera Band Hand and Wrist Rehab Kit
• using Theraputty
• using a spiky reflex ball
• squeezing a dog toy ball for larger hands
• using a thumb protector
• applying a mini-thumper to your forearms
• doing Graston or gua sha (Chinese Graston) on the forearm tendons (with The Edge tool, Fibroblaster, back of a comb, fingernails, jade tool, butter knife, or a Chinese soup spoon)
• massaging sore places on hands with the eraser end of a pencil
• massaging hands by rolling a tennis ball
• sleeping in wrist splints
• using WARMitts
• using hand therapy balls

Heat and cold

• dipping hands into hot wax/paraffin bath
• applying hot and cold hydrotherapy
• dipping hands into ice water

Self-massage

• getting regular massage yourself
• stripping your own forearm muscles
• getting Reflexology on your hands or doing it yourself
• learning Trager self-care movements for the hands
• getting myofascial release work done on your arms
• this page describes how to release wrist trigger points
• this page describes how to release tennis elbow
• cupping with suction cups

Delivering massage

• working within your limitations (i.e., telling clients you don’t do full body deep tissue work)
• reading the book Save Your Hands!
• switching to Trager
• learning Reiki so the energy goes only one way
• learning Bamboossage, Ashiatsu Oriental bar therapy, or floor Ashiatsu to deliver deep tissue work
• use alternating areas of the hand/forearm/elbow in moderation
• having a box of tools available (balls, bamboo sticks, knobbers) to use on clients’  tough spots
• using Art Riggs’ techniques for deep tissue work
• using your forearms instead of hands whenever possible
• using cupping
• applying hot towels to client
• holding thumbs tight against hand and using body to push for static pressure point work
• using the edge of your hand or base of palm area instead of thumbs for sweeping or kneading motions

Oils, herbs, creams, gels, minerals

• applying essential oil of rosemary for warming or peppermint for cooling (add to jojoba oil)
• applying oils that are anti-inflammatory: helichrysum, frankincense, German chamomile, Cape chamomile, katrafay, and ginger
• applying oils that are analgesic: lemongrass, clove, litsea cubeba, peppermint, wintergreen, and eucalyptus citriodora
• combining anti-inflammatory and analgesic oils; applying them to neck, shoulders, forearms, hands, and feet to relieve hands
• applying St. John’s wort oil, white willow tincture, fresh turmeric tincture, comfrey fomentation, raw apple cider vinegar fomentation
• using arnica cream
• applying Biofreeze
• applying magnesium oil or gel
• soaking in an Epsom salt bath
• soaking your hand in lukewarm or cold water with a minimum amount of salt

Diet, teas, supplements

• staying hydrated
• changing your diet to lower inflammation (no details given)
• drinking coconut water
• drinking a blueberry smoothie
• eating cucumbers with sea salt
• avoiding eating sugars, nightshades, baked products with flour and corn
• avoiding caffeine
• taking turmeric internally
• drinking comfrey tea
• taking supplements for joint health (no details provided)
• taking MSM with glucosamine