Having issues with some techniques...

[markelmarcel]

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(please excuse the typos as I wrote this on my phone) I have double jointed hands (can hyperextend my
Thumbs, elbows and knees) and I find that massage is very bothersome to my hands. We did massage today and I probably only did a 20-30 minute learning session and my hands have been so sore and cramped that I couldnt hold my fork at lunch, I couldn't straighten my fingers and they are hurting even now that it's been over 2 hrs since I finished. (and also couldn't type to post this lol, wow sorry again for typos!!)

This really concerns me because now I'm afraid that I'm not goig to physically be able to be a PT because of year issues. I did try to use the base is my hands and fists and less finger motion, but it was still very uncomfortable for me and my partner (who was a CMT) told me she could tell my fingers weren't working right near the end.

How big of a concern should this be? Is it something where I will get stronger as I do it and practice or am I looking at somethig that could ultimately land me in therapy/ on disabilty unable to use the degree?

 

[atstudent]

I think manual therapy is a big key in rehabilitation and using your hands is definitely important. But I'm not sure that I would say that you wouldn't be able to be successful in PT.

You have to be able to use your hands and hopefully you'll be able to do so to some degree. As you continue your education, dont' be afraid to try different techniques and using instrument-assisted manual therapies. I'm trained in the Graston Technique and let me tell you it's one of the best things I've ever learned! And I say this coming from 6 months ago I hated doing anything that would be considered manual therapy...

There are other techniques out there that get excellent results. Graston is great because it takes a ton of pressure off the fingers and thumbs..

 

[Akiramay]

A lot of massage (soft tissue mobilization) techniques can be done using less finger/wrist motion and more using the butt of your hand (is that what it's called? lol) with the motion coming from your whole body. Other manual techniques such as grade 1-4 mobilizations or grade 5/manipulations may not be as aggravating as they can involve using the webspace between your thumb and index finger or butt of your hand and again performing the movement from your body/body weight. You'll mainly be doing these techniques for outpatient ortho, so if you are planning to work in rehab, acute care, etc, it should be less of a concern.

 

[johncronejr]

I don't think the hypermobility of those joints is your problem markel. I think it comes down to hand strength. As someone who has worked in various construction jobs, been a horseshoer, and run a manufacturing business I am all too familiar with hand strength issues. I went through it in my early years of manual labor and then never had a problem again after my hands adapted to the stresses. I have seen others go through the same.

Get some silly putty and start working it. Get you some hand strengtheners, They make a type that is a rubber ring and they are comfortable (and quiet) to use. Here is a link to them : http://www.amazon.com/Grip-Pro-Trainer-Forearm-Strength/dp/B000NJHD1W

You can do this. Massage is an intense strain on hands that are not use to that type of stress. You have to train them. It always helped mine to do an ice bath as well to help with inflammation. Good luck!

 

[jesspt]

(please excuse the typos as I wrote this on my phone) I have double jointed hands (can hyperextend my
Thumbs, elbows and knees) and I find that massage is very bothersome to my hands. We did massage today and I probably only did a 20-30 minute learning session and my hands have been so sore and cramped that I couldnt hold my fork at lunch, I couldn't straighten my fingers and they are hurting even now that it's been over 2 hrs since I finished. (and also couldn't type to post this lol, wow sorry again for typos!!)

This really concerns me because now I'm afraid that I'm not going to physically be able to be a PT because of year issues. I did try to use the base is my hands and fists and less finger motion, but it was still very uncomfortable for me and my partner (who was a CMT) told me she could tell my fingers weren't working right near the end.

How big of a concern should this be? Is it something where I will get stronger as I do it and practice or am I looking at somethig that could ultimately land me in therapy/ on disabilty unable to use the degree?

Stop stressing/worrying/agonizing! (Apologies for upcoming tough love)

Perhaps I'm reading into this post a little bit, but this seems to be a trend for you. Initially you were very worried about absorbing all of the material presented to you, that you weren't conecting with your classmates, etc. Then in later posts, you state you did very well on your exams, and if I am remembering correctly, also stated that you were forming some better relationships with your classmates. Is it possible that your over-reacting a bit here? Try to step back and look at this logically:

• Have you ever performed this demanding of a physical activity from your hands before? If not, would some post-activity soreness be unexpected?
• In your previous exposure to outpatient ortho PT, was massage so large a component of most patients' treatment plans that you feel an inability to perform it easily would be a disservice to your future patients?
• In your previous exposure to PT during your observation, have you ever heard of a PT going on disability due to hand weakness?
• From your undergrad knowledge of anatomy and physiology, do you not expect adaptive change to occur within your hand intrinsics, resulting in improved strength, and likely improved tolerance to activity such as performing massage?

Short term outlook - your hands will get stronger, and will be more tolerant to this type of activity. If you still are struggling a bit later on, there are tools that can help decrease the stress on your hands such as those found here, here, and here.

Long term outlook - You need to take a step back, take some deep breathes, and relax. I understand you're likely using these posts primarily to vent and get a few things off of your chest, but as many of the posters here have assured you, your concerns are common. And just as common as these concerns are students successfully completing what is asked of them by the curriculum at their PT school. But, stress and worry, although occasionally understandable, are not helpful, and can often be detrimental to our work/studies, our relationships, and to some degree, our well being.

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[markelmarcel]

Thanks for the feedback (and no need for apologizing for tough love, jesspt). Yes, it is true that I use this forum mostly for venting, so I probably do come across as someone who chronically bitches, moans and stresses (I do this in real life; if you told me my cat was hungry I would get anxiety over it) and I don't take time to say anything positive, because I usually don't need reinforcement for things that are going well; usually seeking reinforcement for things I'm concerned about... and as I'm finding, are things that other people may potentially be curious about and too afraid to ask.

I'm not afraid to be pegged as a whiner/pessimist because when I come here with concerns they get answered, so that's why I keep bringing my new concerns here; people are kind enough to answer and I appreciate the outsider's aspect of someone not emotionally involved.

I wouldn't have even given this a thought had my professor not said what he said to me, which is probably a crucial part of the story- when we were doing some other manual therapy techniques in a previous class I mentioned to him that the stress on my knuckles hurt my fingers and he asked me a series of questions (about being able to hyper-extend, double-jointed, etc, etc) and then looked at me and said, "Yeah, if you had to do a repetitive job you'd be out on worker's comp in 5 years."

So, I suppose the overreaction probably wouldn't have been a consideration had it not been brought up previously.

In any case, I'll have to try some of the strengthening moves and such and know that it's probably a good thing I'm not in massage therapy schooling 😉

But, thanks for the responses and dealing with my many issues. (I am trying to figure out how to more effectively manage my stress as it is a huge issue and definitely feel that it impacts my day to day life.)