The following are some common reasons clients have been burned by HOT STONES that massage therapists need to be aware of:
THE CLIENT WASN’T EMPOWERED. Massage therapists need to make sure their hot stone clients actively participate in the session and know they not only can—but absolutely should—let them know if the stones are too hot or they’re uncomfortable. Also, massage therapists can check in with clients, asking the client specifically about the temperature of the stones and if adjustments need to be made.
LACK OF INFORMATION. The importance of a thorough intake form cannot be overstated when talking about working with hot stones, as a variety of conditions are contraindicated. Sometimes, however, clients might not list specific conditions on the form, perhaps not realizing the potential for adverse reactions. Perhaps talk with your clients directly about some of the conditions that are contraindicated as you discuss the treatment plan with them before starting the session.
STONES HEATED IMPROPERLY. Heating stones in any device other than a unit specifically designed for this task is never appropriate. Crockpots, slow cookers, microwave ovens, ovens, heating pads and hot plates, to name a few, aren’t acceptable devices for heating stones—ever. Also, burns can happen when the water is too hot, so be sure you have a thermometer you can calibrate to properly monitor the temperature of the water you’re using to heat your stones.
NOT ENOUGH MATERIAL BETWEEN STONES. When using hot stones, massage therapists need to be sure there is some type of material between the stone and the client’s skin. Burns can result if you leave stones that are too hot sitting on the client’s skin. Although this situation may seem obvious, massage therapists need to continually monitor the temperature of their stones, particularly when they’ll be sitting on your client’s skin instead of being used during a massage.
When placing stones, you must remember to use a sheet, towel or clothing between the client’s bare skin & the hot stone.
When placing thermalballs, just put the ball on the skin!
Using Thermalballs cold
Hot stone massage and thermalball therapy are popular techniques, but your clients might really benefit from using a combination of heated and cooled thermalball massage therapy. Contast temperature therapy is extremely powerful healing technique. Cold thermalballs can be particularly effective for chronic and acute conditions, such as injuries and inflammation as well as providing a numbing sensation to sensitive nerves. It is a potent pain killer, better than an ice pack when you need to apply specific pressure as well.
Similar to when heating your stones, however, you need to make sure you chill your thermalballs properly. You can place your thermalballs in the freezer or in a bucket of ice.
As with heated thermalballs, you should use a calibrated thermometer to ensure the stones are the right temperature—ranging from room temperature to 25 F.
Cooled thermalballs help remove heat from the body and allow the client to relax the affected area.
Massage therapists might consider using chilled thermalballs for trigger point work, as well as cross-fiber friction.
Using both heated and cooled thermalballs during a massage can be very effective in reducing inflammation and congestion in isolated areas. Between the applications of heated and cooled thermalballs in an isolated area, however, you need to be sure you warm your hands before placing hot objects on your client, as they may still be cold from working with chilled thermalballs. Without warming your hands first, accurately gauging the temperature may be difficult.
After alternating between hot and cold thermalbals in an isolated area, it’s best to end with a cold application to allow the body to continue to reduce any inflammation and congested blood and or lymph in the area, resulting in less pain and stiffness for your clients. This final application of cold thermalballs in an isolated area will be a “heating response” and will support the body to internally heat itself. The results will be long lasting for your client—sometimes for hours after the session has ended.
There are myriad circumstances where hot thermalball massage makes sense. If you have a client who has a sprain, strain or acute bursitis, for example, thermalball massage can help alleviate the pain associated with these conditions. Someone dealing with a sports injury, like tennis elbow, knee pain, carpal tunnel etc… might also benefit. Common ailments, such as headache and bruises, can also be helped. Using both hands on a large (Mega) thermalball will allow you to apply temperature and pressure to larger areas such as the back.
Again, having a good understanding of a client’s health and the basics of hydrotherapy, however, are absolutely necessary when designing a thermal therapy treatment plan. If a client has a condition that might benefit from hot thermalball massage therapy but is suffering from an ailment that contraindicates heated thermalball massage, err on the side of caution when developing a treatment plan. In this case, protocol dictates “less time, less temperature.”
As with all techniques and modalities, hot and cold thermal therapy isn’t going to appeal to every client. And, as is also the case with most every massage therapy modality, there are clients who shouldn’t receive hot thermalball treatments.
FOLLOWING ARE SOME CONDITIONS WHERE HOT STONE THERAPY WOULD BE CONTRAINDICATED:
This list is not exhaustive, and massage therapists need to take a client’s full health history as presented during the intake into account before performing hot and cold stone massage.
DIABETES
CANCER
AUTOIMMUNE DYSFUNCTIONS
EPILEPSY
NEUROPATHY
HEART DISEASE
SKIN CONDITIONS
RECENT SURGERIES
PREGNANCY - although many client love to use the larger thermalball cold for the back aches.
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