During a session, therapists use a wide variety of movements and postures: standing, sitting, bending, reaching, and lifting. They also use a wide variety of hand and wrist positions. When performing these movement and postures from a properly supported position, and utilizing balanced breathing techniques, you have less risk of injury and conserve body energy. This series of Massage & Bodywork articles look at good body mechanics in specific body positions. ABMP members earn 1 CE Hour when they log in to the ABMP Education Center and complete a 5-question quiz based on the content from these articles (note that NCBTMB requires 15,000 words for 1 hour of CE).
Body Mechanics Stances
- Find Your Best Stance: How to Quickly Check for Posture Problems by Barb Frye
- Balanced Standing by Barb Frye
- Improve Your Posture While Doing Massage by Mark Liskey
- Postural Habits by Barb Frye
Sitting
- Sitting by Barb Frye
- Be on the Ball: Building Strength and Flexibility by Peggy Lamb
- Alternate Standing and Sitting as You Work by Lauriann Greene and Richard W. Goggins
Bending
Breathing
Protecting Your Hands and Wrists
- Mindful Hands by Barb Frye
- The Fingers and Thumbs by Barb Frye
- Avoid Using the Heel of Your Hands by Barb Frye
Putting It All Together