how technical to be with clients?

[Pompal 09.]

i am a fairly new MT, have a lot of the typical issues dealing with being timid and unsure. my client base is growing b/c the center i work in expanded and biz is picking up. it is a wellness center, but we do offer some spa treatments and are in an area that people frequent day spas, so i have noticed that about half my clients are coming for more relaxation spa type sessions and the other half are coming for more specific problems and healing/therapeutic sessions.

many clients ask me questions about what they are feeling or why they have tension, and i have found that by explaining to them actually helps the massage because they understand why certain techniques work and are able to focus with me on releases etc.

sometimes i can get pretty technical with explaining muscle attachments, techniques and physiology. do others do this? am i confusing my clients with terms like anterior/posterior and muscle/bone names?

also, are the spa clients put off by this type of talk? i have noticed that they tend to have way less problems so it is less technical talk then the others.

i like to be specific and really appreciate when my MT talks technical with me, she always has even before i became an MT, but i also have a medical background so maybe thats why too.

 

[mallos731]

The older I get/longer I do this the less technical I get with clients.
I might use the correct anatomical term for a muscle or bone during a therapeutic session - but most lay people appeciate simpler terms.

For me - I don't like getting unsolicited advice from a massage therapist.
But if I DO ask a question (I don't but if I did) I would expect a short answer based on the viewpoint of a massage therapist with no medical "diagnosis".

I think that the condition of our body/mind is much more involved and that there are no simple answers anyway.

 

[katie h]

:iagree: :iagree: :iagree:

Yep it might be overkill but I can't agree enough

 

[Shan]

I once mentioned the sacrum to a client in a similar situation. The response was:

"I have no idea what a sacrum is."

Lesson learned. Keep it short and simple and definitely avoid tech terms like anterior, post, origin, etc. Those who don't know won't feel confused, and those who want to know more will usually indicate that.

Of course, it all depends on the client.....

 

[luv2swim4evr]

I'll usually use both terms, scapula/shoulder blade and tell them what actions those muscles perform.

 

[peecheedandee]

Keeping it simple is my general rule of thumb.

Besides explaining about a bit about referred pain, when I'm working in a different location than the area they are feeling the pain - I don't get into a great deal of explanation.

I do talk about compensation patterns in the body: That if they had an ankle injury, & hobbled around on it for awhile, it may have helped to create the currant hip or knee problems they are experiencing, etc.

 

[Mukunda M]

I save the most technical talk for clients that I might get a funny feeling about (re their intentions.) I'll get very specific and clinical just to throw up a professional barrier, so that it's more than clear that the massage is intended for therapeutic reasons.

In general though, I keep things pretty simple. The other exceptions might be that I do get to work on a number of nurses and a few doctors, so for example I'll choose scapula over shoulder blade, or go into more depth about what I'm doing if they question me or seem interested in the process.

 

[MikeL]

The last few months I've had clients asking me lots of questions, and many ask for more technical explanations when I start off simple. : Didn't used to be this way, but I encourage their curiosity and involvement in the healing process.

 

[Liberal Nemesis]

I find it funny when a client tries to talk the talk and has no idea what they are talking about. They pick up words from other MTs and then say things like, "I can feel my fascia moving all the way down my spine."
LOL :roll:

 

[Komkommer]

They pick up words from other MTs and then say things like, "I can feel my fascia moving all the way down my spine."

I LOVE that feeling. Now THAT is a good MT.

 

[fizzyfitzy]

My replies to client questions depend on the questions themselves. If it's something vague like "Why do my fingers and wrist feel tingly now?" after I've massaged them - answer is short and sweet - "Increased blood and nerve impulses".... Now, if the client wants to know how a pain in the shoulder could possibly come from a problem in the hips or pelvis, then I explain to them by moving body parts around so they can feel what is going on and/or I drag out the anatomy books/charts so they can see it as well (during or after session - their choice). Most of my clients now understand that the sing-song they learned as kids about "the knee bone is connected to the shin bone".... really does have an impact on what goes on with them physically.

 

[Kelly- RIP MJ]

I find it funny when a client tries to talk the talk and has no idea what they are talking about. They pick up words from other MTs and then say things like, "I can feel my fascia moving all the way down my spine."
LOL :roll:

Maybe the client picked up this exact wording from a therapist.

I think we owe it to our clients and to ourselves (and usually several thousand dollars of education) to be clear, concise and ACCURATE with the answers we give.

The last few months I've had clients asking me lots of questions, and many ask for more technical explanations when I start off simple. : Didn't used to be this way, but I encourage their curiosity and involvement in the healing process.

I agree. When the client expresses interest or a curiosity to learn about their body, that is the perfect time to give a simple yet technical explanation. This does not mean that we give every client that lies on the table an extended lecture on the sliding filament theory.

To greentree, if you have noticed you have a knack for giving a technically correct answer AND you notice the client benefiting from it during sessions, then go for it. I bet the client will take you seriously and be more likely to follow self care, as well.

I suggest you keep a notebook of questions clients ask, and prepare clear and brief answers; if they really are curious to know more, the questions will follow.

 

[brazil201]

I like to keep things minimal. If a client presses I will go into more detail, but overall, I try not to go into a lot of technical information.

I am big on referring out, and if I do refer I will usually become much more technical at that time. My referrals are usually to orthopods, neurologists and acupuncturists - not common, but common enough that it's at least once every two months or so I am handing someone one of these cards. Generally they will see me in conjunction with one of these folks. So, if at that time we're discussing the why's and "withertofores" *winks*, that's more of the time for it.

Otherwise, I grunt, nod, am fairly agreeable and when they ask "Why is it so tight there?", I usually say... "Well, you've got a pretty large knot there that needs to be worked out.", or whatever the general situation may be.