Tools or No Tools

[soein777]

I am considering incorporating tools for deeper work. I have been an MT for 6 years now and my thumbs are taking a real beating. Does anyone here use tools (like the jack knobber) for deeper work? It was heavily ingrained in me during school that we should NOT use tools--feels wierd to think about going against the grain! LOL!Lanie

 

[the mysterious stranger]

Tools or No Tools

I wasn't really encouraged to use tools in school, but we were never told not too.I have used The Knobble.  I do not use it frequently, but it comes in handy on a Monday after weeding my landscape all weekend.  It is easy to use and hold.  I can palpate pretty good with it too, but it does take practice.  I also have a Theracane that I use for myself.I am sure that after 6 years I don't have to tell you to get a massage for yourself on a regular basis!? That is what makes the biggest difference for me.  I have been a MT for 8 years and after a nasty burnout 2 years in I learned my lesson.

 

[owlbeback]

Lanie,I have been a therapist for 24 years.  After feeling my thumbs and wrists were destined to give out, I went on a comprehensive search for tools to help.  I found that the tools out there didn't feel natural and you still had to apply pressure on top of them, so they didn't help very much.  So, I decided to create tools that would feel like real hands-on work and do the work for me.  My product line is called Acuforce.  I have 3 tools, the Acuforce 7.0, Acuforce 2.5 and the Acuforce 3.0i.  All of these tools are designed to use wieght to assit the therapist.  They are made of a skin-like material that is very hard for the client to discern between your hands and the tools.  I encourage therapists to do all their muscle-stripping, cross-fiber friction and trigger-point work with the tools.  For the average treatment that could be 10 to 20 minutes, the rest of the time the therapsit can use their hands, giving plenty of hands-on massage in every treatment.They have been on the market for 5 years now and there are thousands in use.  The feedback that we receive is overwelmingly positive.  Over half of the pro sports teams in this country use them, they are also on the market in other countries as well.  The tools have a money-back guarentee, so there's no risk in trying them.  They are sold in many catalogs including:  Massage Warehouse, BML, Scrip, School Health and on my website.  They are endorsed by:  Benny Vaughn, Bob King, Ralph Stephans and many others.  I am currently the massage therapist for the Chicago White sox baseball team and I own a clinic in a suburb of Chicago.  You can visit my website at http://www.acuforce.com or you can call me directly (phone number is on the site)  I would be glad to answer any questions that you may have.John G. Louis

 

[shann]

Tools or No Tools

I am finally learning the art of using other parts of my body. I am discovering how forearms, wrists, knuckles, and elbows really do provide for an incredible massage. I use thumbs minimally now and try to brace them if I "catch" myself using them. I say this only because I was an avid thumb user and was heading towards a definate blow-out.In reading an excellent book by Art Riggs "Deep Tissue - A Visual Guide to Techniques." He says.." The thumbs are a wonderful tool for massage, but they are not intended for extended periods of use performing deep work. Tendonitis or, even worse, arthritis of the thumb is one of the most common and debilitating injuries to massage therapists. Sometimes experienced therapists are laying the groundwork for serious injury years before symptoms even surface. Once symptons arise, it may be too late to reverse the damage. I have known several excellent therapists who had to change careers because of thumb pain."Hmmm...had to pause and re-evaluate my techniques on that one.However, I personally don't like using extranious tools as they tend to minimize the sense of touch. I must admit though, being a bit partial to hot stones complementing deeper tissue work. A quality massage is not just fancy strokes or sophisticated techniques. A massage, whether a gentle energetic experience or an extremely deep session, is a dance between you and your client - Art Riggs

 

[S L]

Hello Forum!Has Anyone purchased or used the AccuForce tool mentioned by John G. Louis?I have seen this tool advertised on massagewarehouse.com, Haven't seen any reviews posted good or bad.  Thanks for the input.

 

[Pocket Protecktor]

No - I don't and won't use tools.  When my hands give out it'll be time for gentler work with elderly clients (yeah, I can ride the Aging Baby Boomer wave) or Reiki/healing touch modalities.  I have experiemented on friends with different knobs and such...but I don't get the same intuitive information through them and hated every minute of it.  I need my hands on the person to "hear" what the body says to me.--Jenna

 

[ezza1982]

I haven't used the accuforce tools but I have used massage stones from www. themassagestone.com and I can say these tools really do the job. And as far as losing sensitivity its amazing but you can really feel the knots through the stone.

These massage stones can easily be gripped with two hands to really give some force. Oh did I mention each one is a piece of art that is an attractive display all by itself.


Jason

 

[Honey Bees]

I've been using acuforce2.5 and the acu-star in my practice for a couple of months now. I don't use them all the time, but have been using mainly for cross-fiber friction (star) and for working right next to the spine. In spite of (or perhaps because of) the 2.5's size, it is easy to feel what it happening in the body, through the tool.

I highly recommend the acustar as a small and portable thumbsaver, and if you like tools, the 2.5 is great too. The design makes it easy to hold the tool in one hand, and use the other hand on the body as a guide for either the paddle or the triggerpoint end. I have no issues with my grip slipping, even when it's really "greased" up. It works best with just a small amount of massage creme rather than oil. Oil tends to make this, (like most tools) a little too slick.

Also, the acuforce 2.5 is great for working on arms and legs of really muscular people who want deep stripping work. The effort required to strip by hand (or thumb) is many times greater than using the paddle on the 2.5

(plus, John Louis is really nice to deal with.)

The only other tool I use regularly is massage cupping with the traditional glass cups.

 

[awesomegirl]

I don't use tools. One of my clients gave me the gift of a hematite massage stone (different from the one JasonD mentioned). It's beautiful to look at, but not very functional for my style of massage therapy. I think tools are used more often by civilians than professional massage therapists. (Friends & Family Members massaging each other for a few minutes.) I'd be more likely to give them as gifts to nonprofessionals, than to use one myself. As far as my preference as a client, the only way I'd see a massage therapist who used tools is if they were so adept at the technique that I couldn't tell a tool was being used. I heard of one therapist saying they keep one hand on the skin, surrounding the tool at all times, so the feeling of personal touch is never lost. I think that's a great idea. (Breathe & I were posting simultaneously. This sounds like the technique she uses with tools .)

Anyway, for those of you interested in tools, I stumpled across a few more websites:
http://www.bodyrocks.com/
http://www.naturesmassagestones.com/specialty_massage_stones.htm
http://www.dragon-art-work.com/lepidolite-fluorite-and-angelite-rock-massage-tools.htm

 

[PandaNinja]

I got curious about how many people use tools, so I did a quick search of the forum. I found two recommendations from other forum threads:

Thumbsaver

Cosmictouch wrote: I have one of these and am about to order another. They REALLY help me keep my thumb in the correct positon and helps me work longer with the deeper pressure on TPs. I really had a time getting used to using them since I found it difficult telling how much pressure I exert with it, but just kept asking my clients to tell me if I get too deep. They really help me when I am working 'knots' out of traps when they are in my chair. I just love mine. They are rigid, so dont be suprised when you get them. I expected them to be a type of support and not so hard, but with the pressure some of my clients ask for, I need them to be tough!

Acuforce

Jillith wrote: love my accuforce star!! i use the blunt point and the scraper end the most. the triggerpoint end scares me because of the sharp point. i wish they sanded that part down. it just looks too painful. it works great on self massaging my cranky calves. i bought the 2.5, but haven't had a chance to watch the CD or test it on hubby. i'll do that on wednesday.

i have the thumbsaver and it sits on my shelf collecting dust. i'm not all that impressed with it. i found it to be awkward and hurt the base of my thumb.

 

[VMR]

Breathe,
Does the Acuforce 2.5 really feel like skin?

 

[Sommer]

Missed this question. Yes it does. People don't know the difference unless I tell them. Of course the paddle feels different, but the trigger point end feels just like a thumb to them. Whatever the surface is, it glides the same as using your hands on skin with a little bit of cream.

 

[meow m]

The 7.0 looks rather large. Is it easy to control? I've never seen the Star before and I think I may be ordering one! Do you clean it with soap and water?

 

[ratatouillewoo]

The 7.0 is a bit large, but then it needs to be. It is hard to believe my kids weighed that much when they were born! I dont now what is inside the 7.0 to make it so heavy, I assume lead?


I dont find it hard to control.

When I use the 2.5, I dont use the handle grip. I hold on to the end that is up. I can stand straight up without hunching over when I hold it like that. I can also use the 7.0 without hunching over as well.

 

[I dont know do I ?]

Because I'm have a thumb that is already cranky, I have found that tools and forearms/elbows are my saving grace.

Right now I use the Knobble and can palpate with it just fine. I do always use my free hand to guide the tool along the spine or anywhere near bone. You can hold it several different ways for different techniques and most of my clients don't even notice.

I'm interested in trying the Thumb Saver but haven't gotten one yet.

 

[Porcupine]

Ladybug,

I have a thumbsaver. I dont like it. It DOES take the pressure off your thumb, it just puts it a little higher up.

I found it hard to feel a lot through the thumbsaver, and because of that, I would apply to much pressure. Which would make my wrist hurt, and my thumb feeling jammed.