Licensed Massage Therapist Strain Index Scores

Abstract

Massage Therapists (MT) are almost exclusively self-employed and lose income if they are unable to perform massage treatments. This study investigated MT workplace pain via survey and assessed musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) risk by video recording MT massage treatments then calculating the Strain Index (SI) scores. First, randomly contacted MTs (16 respondents of 100 cold calls) completed an online survey about their work practices. Despite 87% of MTs reporting self care regimes, 83% reported work-related pain in the wrist or thumb over their careers with 57% experiencing pain in the last 30 days. SI scores were calculated for a 60 minute, naturalistic massage performed by seven licensed MTs (six female and one male reflecting the MT population sex proportions). There was suggestive evidence that the average and maximum hands-on day mean peak right hand SI scores ( M = 5.6 and 7.7, SD = 4.30 and 5.73, and p = 0.08 and 0.04, respectively) were greater than an SI of 3.0 (moderate risk for MSD). There was no evidence of MSD risk for the left hand ( M = 3.2 and 4.3, SD = 2.93 and 3.91, and p = 0.42 and 0.20, respectively). MTs may be at moderate risk of incurring work-related upper extremity disorders.