Rhett DeVane is the author of two published mainstream fiction novels:  ‘The Madhatter’s Guide to Chocolate’ and ‘Up the Devil’s Belly’.   Rhett lives in Tallahassee, Florida, where she is a practicing dental hygienist and massage therapist.  She dedicates a portion of her book royalties to a support group for breast cancer patients.  She has been a presenter at the Seven Hills Conference in  Tallahassee and the Harriette Austin Writers Conference at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia.  Currently, Rhett is working on a series of mainstream fiction novels set in the panhandle of Florida. 

 

 

 

 

 

THE INJURED WRITER;

 

TIPS FROM A FELLOW AUTHOR AND MASSAGE THERAPIST

 by Rhett DeVane

 

 

           Dedicated writers attend groups, conferences, online classes, and critique sessions. They interact through chat rooms, forums, and email; discuss point of view, characterization, and punctuation. But, they often neglect the most important instruments fueling their passion—their physical bodies.

            Long hours spent hunkered over a computer take a toll. As with most professionals who use their hands, writers suffer from a number of repetitive stress injuries; carpal tunnel syndrome, neck strain, tendonitis, and lower back pain.  All this results from too much work without consideration of the effects. Writers often end up on my massage therapy table, unable to enjoy their passion for words because of pain. I offer pointers in five main areas.

 

1. Work Area Placement

Muscles work best when the body is in proper alignment. Use of a mouse and a keyboard with padded wrist rests and ergonomically-designed keyboards keep the wrists in a neutral position. The monitor height should be adjusted so that the head is in a neutral position; eyes level, with no forward or backward tilt of the head. Writers who use bifocal or graduated lens glasses might consider having a pair with single-strength lenses made for computer use only.

The chair should be adjustable and comfortable. Sit straight, not slouched, never straining forward. Thighs should be parallel to the floor.

Laptop computers are not recommended for extended writing sessions. Because of their innate design, wrist, shoulder and neck strain are guaranteed. While I adore my laptop, I take frequent breaks to stretch, hydrate, and rest.

2. Stretching

Muscles tend to become tight with overuse, and are more prone to injury.

Before, during, and after computer use, a few minutes of finger, wrist, neck, shoulder, and lower back stretches keep the connective tissues elongated. A number of books are available on proper stretching. Stretching at Your Computer or Desk by Bob Anderson is one handy guide.

            Activities such as Tai Chi and Yoga help to relax tension, and the meditative aspects of both disciplines provide benefits for alleviating stress.

3. Hydration and Nutrition

Drink water. Drink water. Drink water. We hear it from every angle. Why?

The body requires water to remove toxins. Dehydrated tissues are more prone to injury. Keep the water bottle by your work area and sip. Easy.

Eating a balance diet rich in fruit and vegetables is always in our best interest. If we expect our muses to work at peak capacity, we have to forgo the sugary, fat-laden fast foods. French fries are not brain food.

4. Posture and Weight Control

In so many ways, life is about balance. The different muscle groups work together to help keep us upright, or to support and stabilize during movement. When one group of muscles is forced to work harder than others, problems are inevitable. Example: weak abdominal muscles create lower back strain.

We’re not all body-builders with knife-cut abs. But, we can make the best of the body we’re given. Get up off the couch. Ditch the bon-bons. Shut off the computer for a while and get moving. Walk. Swim. Bike. Take a dance class.

5. Heat and Cold Therapy

Even when we do everything correctly, pain happens. Ice and heat therapy

aid recovery. Ice packs to reduce pain and swelling are best within the first twelve to twenty-four hours of an acute strain. Apply in fifteen-minute intervals with equal rest periods to allow the skin to resume a normal temperature, and always use a soft, thin cloth to protect the skin from the pack. Freezable gel packs in a variety of sizes are readily available in most drug stores. In a pinch, a plastic bag filled with ice works well.

            Moist heat can be used for general muscle soreness, or after the initial period of cold therapy. Flaxseed packs work best. They are microwaveable, reusable, and don’t tend to harbor mold. One source for quality flaxseed packs can be found at www.PrintedThings.com .

If time and budget allow, a professional massage therapist can perform movements to relax areas of muscle tension, increase blood flow to overworked muscles, and decrease adhesions of connective tissue. Like Goldilocks locating the perfect porridge, finding the right therapist can be a challenge.

Do you want primarily relaxation? Swedish massage fits. Do you need deeper techniques? A therapist trained in neuromuscular massage is your answer. Are you a sports enthusiast who requires vigorous work? A therapist who performs sports massage is the key. Don’t hesitate to ask questions before scheduling an appointment.

Seek trained, licensed professionals. Decide if you prefer a male or female therapist. If there is a school of massage in your area, consider signing up for a student clinic. Most insurance companies do not cover massage therapy, but some will with a physician’s prescription.

A word about ethics; you should always feel safe. Therapists are trained to provide a secure atmosphere for healing. Any behavior contrary to this end should not be tolerated and should be reported to the proper authorities.

Writing provides expression for our deepest creativity. Between the bursts of inspiration and endless revisions, take time to honor the most important part of the equation, the physical body.

 This is excellent advice.  I spend a lot of hours in front of my computer and with a back injury left over from my adolescence, proper posture and attention to my back is critical.

            ---Mary Rosenblum, Long Ridge Web Editor