Preventing thumb pain in Physiotherapists?

[BobbySports]

Hey

There is a tool known as a 'thumb saver' which I use and find it quite usefull. Once you have located the trigger point the tool can be used.
Its pretty cheap & and will, atleast to some degree, reduce the amount of strain on the thumb.

[estherderu]

I have been in this profession for 32 years now.


Began to get trouble with my MCP joints and thumbs after 10 years or so.
Changed my technique... and quite radically .....
When I "massage" I steer with my legmuscles and use weightshifting AND most importantly I use very soft techniques, skin deep.
You should all try it.... its amazing what you can do with the skin.......
think dermatomes and not only muscles/joints and you will see that you need not "overburden" you patient or your joints....

good luck.....

Esther

[IceMan]

In addition to the above suggestions, if you don't have a splint, try to avoid hyperextension of your MCP and PIP joints when applying deep pressure. Keep the joints neutral/slightly flexed and use other digits to support the "mobilising digit". Apply pressure with the pad of the tip of the thumb and not the volar surface of the PIP which I think may be a common mistake.

Also change thumbs and/or fingers while mobilising soft tissue. Give those fingers a break.

I don't really have pain in the joints after mob'ing soft tissue but my intrinsic muscles turn to jelly afterwards and my hand-writing (bad at the best of times) becomes attrocious!