Massage Therapists Who Climb

It would seem that working as a professional massage therapist could be detrimental to your climbing, and vice versa. The possibility for overuse injuries seems high. Anyone have experience in this?

F r i t z wrote:

It would seem that working as a professional massage therapist could be detrimental to your climbing, and vice versa. The possibility for overuse injuries seems high. Anyone have experience in this?

Here let me fix that for you: “It would seem that working could be detrimental to your climbing, and vice versa. The possibility for overuse injuries seems high.” 

Detrimental if overdone, yes. I dealt with a little flexor tendonitis that cropped up as my practice was picking up alongside my climbing. Luckily I had the tools and training to handle it. Now I'd say they help each other, my hands are much stronger and I know how to prevent and deal with injuries.

Curmudgeon Don wrote:

Here let me fix that for you: “It would seem that working could be detrimental to your climbing, and vice versa. The possibility for overuse injuries seems high.” 

Here, let me fix that fixing for you:

"As a route developer, it would seem that working could be detrimental to your first ascents, and vice versa. The possibility for overuse injuries seems high.”

Aren’t you in school to be a nurse? Cause I’m pretty sure there’s a specific porno category for nurses giving massages. Side hustle!

...hoping this thread devolves into nude oily climbing with massages at every belay...

Didn't work out well for me, but then again I have an auto immune disorder wherein my body attacks my joints, so I guess it was a bit of interesting choice to begin with. I think it would probably be fine for most people. 

F r i t z wrote:

Here, let me fix that fixing for you:

"As a route developer, it would seem that working could be detrimental to your first ascents, and vice versa. The possibility for overuse injuries seems high.”

“Imitation is the highest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.” Oscar Wilde

Hashtag goat picture

I hope every climber working in the trades gets a good laugh out of this one..

highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion wrote:

Aren’t you in school to be a nurse? 

Yeah, just curious about it from a paid hobby perspective. Plus the subject matter is interesting.

Curmudgeon Don wrote:

“Imitation is the highest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.” Oscar Wilde

In that case, I humbly accept. Thank you.

F r i t z wrote:

In that case, I humbly accept. Thank you.

I think a lot of people get into massage therapy naively. I think you have a refreshingly good view on it. It's definitely extremely interesting, but hopefully you're able to find a course that is much less full of woowoo nonsense than mine was. I was very disappointed in how explicitly unscientific my school was. 

I'm still glad I went and I feel like I get to really help people even though I don't work as an MT. It's a really cool skillset to have. Best o luck to ya Fritz 

the only real occupational hazard is accidentally wearing your massage oil holster at the crag, or your chalk bag at the clinic ... 

+1 regarding crimp strength and improved injury prevention and treatment!

I've been climbing for 35 years and massaging for 25 years. Having experienced burnout/injury from too much simultaneously early on, I now know how to sustainably balance both. It helps to know how to take care of tight tendons and flush lymphatic fluid from forearms. I never need to do finger strengthening exercises....

Those who do repetitive movements, whether in the trades or at a desk, are at much greater risk of overuse and/or imbalance injuries.

jedeye wrote:

 flush lymphatic fluid from forearms. 

Intruiging! Does this use a different technique than flushing lactic acid from the forearms? I employ contrast showers toward that end, especially after all-day mtb rides.

Lactic Acid is a Myth

As Todd alludes to with that link - it's not lactic acid in there. Help your fellow nursing students shatter that myth!

My understanding and experience is that lymphatic and interstitial fluids will get 'trapped' in or behind tissue that is tight or blocked. Your elbow, as a constriction of tissue, can act like a dam when the forearm tendons that attach there get tight. Fluid then can't flow easily into the muscles, so they don't get the calcium they need to relax, and fluid also can't flow out, so pressure and waste products accumulate. More pressure + tension = less flow. Compound that cycle, and... voila: pump. Releasing the forearm tendons will allow fluid to flow, and... pump gone. I'm always working my forearm tendons by pinching them (fingers on 'hairy side' of forearm, thumb on 'palm side,' pressure on the tightest tendons enough to feel it, but not enough to bruise), and simultaneously moving the fingers and wrist of the arm you're treating. Try it. You might like it. Better yet, once you get it, trade with your climbing partner.

Same goes for the legs: knees and hips are places where optimal fluid flow can get diminished with position (sitting) and tension. Making sure those areas are open will help those contrast showers be even more effective.

I'm curious, Fritz: as a nurse in training, how much do you learn about the lymphatic system? Understanding it is great for helping with lots of congestive issues.

jedeye wrote:

...once you get it, trade with your climbing partner.

Same goes for the legs: knees and hips...

Finally, we made it to the point where we're massaging one another at belays.  

jedeye wrote:

I'm curious, Fritz: as a nurse in training, how much do you learn about the lymphatic system? Understanding it is great for helping with lots of congestive issues.

We just got a cursory overview of it in one chapter of A&P II, possibly getting a more detailed look later in the program.

I tried your tendon massage technique at the gym today, thanks! Feels similar to what I used to get out of the Armaid when I would clamp it shut.

Is anyone able to recommend a sports massage therapist in Vegas?