Back health of a manicurist

Manicurists must spend hours sitting still, bending over clients’ hands, and keeping their posture straight. This can eventually have a negative impact on back health, resulting in pain, discomfort, and potentially long-term issues if left untreated.

Keeping your back healthy is important for more reasons than just preventing pain; it can help you stay in the field for a long time. Easy posture corrections, ergonomic devices, and consistent stretching can significantly reduce the risk of back problems.

Taking good care of your back is essential, regardless of how long you’ve been a manicurist or how recently you started. Let’s look at some doable routines and advice that will help you maintain a strong, pain-free back while you pursue your passions.

Harm of sedentary work

We’ll talk about the spine again later, but for now, let’s define some illnesses that pose a risk to a manicurist because of his mostly sedentary lifestyle:

• slow metabolism. Occurs when a person crosses his legs while sitting, throwing them on top of each other or takes unnatural positions that block the free circulation of blood. Slow metabolism is fraught with deterioration of the skin, premature aging and a decrease in the rate of fat burning;
• the appearance of visceral fat. Visceral fat is deposits, but not under the skin, but around the internal organs. A large percentage of visceral fat provokes a violation of insulin production and causes hormonal disruptions;
• and, of course, back diseases. A manicurist cannot sit with a straight back, drawing more flowers on the nails. Systematic flexion and extension leads to displacement of the vertebral discs, the development of a hernia and other unpleasant consequences.

Back diseases

Manicurists frequently develop back problems; the first signs usually show up after a year or two of consistent work.

Manicurists and pedicurists are typically diagnosed with

Osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a partial wear or deformation of the intervertebral discs that interferes with normal function, i.e., spine stability maintenance.

Osteochondrosis can be of three types, depending on the location:

• cervical;
• lumbar;
• thoracic.

Osteochondrosis can impact the spine singularly or simultaneously in multiple regions.

The primary risk factor for osteochondrosis is its challenging treatment. It is a fact that integrity of the vertebral discs cannot be restored at the point of wear and tear.

Pain relief and halting additional damage to the vertebral discs are the only objectives that physicians strive to achieve.

Developmental causes:

• one of the main reasons is a sedentary lifestyle. It is noted that people with curvature of the spine face osteochondrosis more often than those whose spine is anatomically straight;
• improper load distribution. If you lean on your own hands during a manicure or shift your weight from one shoulder to another, some parts, for example, the cervical spine or lower back, receive more load than they should. An untrained back with weak muscles quickly succumbs to deformation.

Resulting from osteochondrosis:

If osteochondrosis is not identified in a timely manner, it can lead to various other back disorders, such as:

• protrusion – deformation and protrusion of the vertebral disc. In this case, the disc itself remains in the spine, but forms a bulge;
• vertebral hernia – extrusion of the nucleus pulposus beyond the spinal disc. The nucleus pulposus is a jelly-like fluid located in the center of each of the spinal discs, which is held in place by a bone ring.

In addition to making life worse, these illnesses may also make it impossible for a manicurist to continue in their line of work.

Cervical osteochondrosis

Arises in the cervical region, specifically in the space between the first and seventh discs. Apart from the common reasons of osteochondrosis, the following factors can also have an impact on the cervical region:

• serious neck injury;
• constant pressure on the cervical region, which is especially important for manicurists and pedicurists;
• sleeping on an uncomfortable pillow;
• heredity.

Signs and symptoms

The area of the lesion and the degree of osteochondrosis determine which symptoms will show up. Typically, the condition is only diagnosed once the spinal discs have undergone significant alteration and are no longer able to function to their full capacity:

• pain. The pain can be localized in the neck or "reflected" in the collarbone, in the chest or along the entire back at once;
• headaches in the back of the head;
• crunching of the vertebrae in the cervical region;
• constant muscle tension;
• stiffness of movement, low mobility of the arms and fingers.

Cervical osteochondrosis is difficult to diagnose based solely on symptoms because they are nonspecific and can point to a variety of illnesses.

Manicurists’ prevention of cervical osteochondrosis:

• stand up and straighten your back. Alternately raise and lower your shoulders, stretching your neck. Repeat the exercise at least 10 times daily;
• do self-massage. Wrap a towel around your neck from behind and alternately pull its ends to stretch the muscles;
• do simple gymnastics – smooth tilts of the head to the sides, circular movements clockwise and counterclockwise.

Manicurists should wear personal protective equipment; learn about the various risks in the salon and how to avoid them.

Lumbar osteochondrosis

90% of cases of lumbar osteochondrosis are not diagnosed in the early stages due to its slow development. Disc dystrophy in the lumbar region does not show symptoms of pain in the gluteal region or stiffness in the lumbar region until one to three years has passed.

Compared to cervical osteochondrosis, lumbar osteochondrosis symptoms are less severe. Lumbar pain that is consistent is the main symptom, and occasionally the only one. The pain is sharp and shooting, and it gets worse when you move suddenly or assume an unhealthful position.

An X-ray is used to establish the diagnosis. To stop the discs from further degrading, treatment entails strengthening the back muscles.

General guidelines for manicurists and pedicurists regarding the management and avoidance of osteochondrosis:

• purchase a Kuznetsov or Lyapko applicator. This is a small mat or roller with needles or plastic spikes. Lie on the applicator every evening for at least 30-40 minutes. The impact of sharp particles helps to relax the muscles, and also has a relaxing, therapeutic and restorative effect. A large selection of such mats is available in stores and pharmacies, for example, the Lyapko applicator, the needles of which are made of several types of metal. Also, applicators are available in the form of a belt on magnets;

• make it a habit to do morning exercises. Nobody is saying to do the splits every morning, but back stretches, exercises like a boat or arching will help strengthen the back muscles and minimize disc damage;
• go to the pool. Systematic swimming strengthens the muscles of the back and neck, which makes them less susceptible to deformations.

Sciatica

Although radiculitis is more often reported in patients under 40, sciatica is still thought to be an illness of the elderly. Those in occupations that require a lot of physical labor, like construction and maintenance, as well as those with sedentary lifestyles, like office workers and manicurists, are at risk.

Advanced osteochondrosis is the result of radiculitis, which can also be brought on by:

• intervertebral hernia;
• spinal injuries;
• hypothermia;
• tumors;
• infections affecting joints and nerve endings.

Signs:

• shooting pain in the arm, spreading from the shoulder to the fingertips;
• weakness and tingling in the body;
• "goose bumps".

Scoliosis

A deviation in the normal position of the spine, causing deviations to the right, left, forward, or backward, is known as scoliosis.

Every second Russian has scoliosis, to a greater or lesser extent, according to the Ministry of Health. Particularly frequently, office workers, salespeople, and manicurists exhibit its symptoms. The sedentary lifestyle, sedentary work, and bad posture are the things that cause the spine to deviate from its natural structure. Childhood is when the first symptoms of spinal curvature are identified. If proper care is not given at this early age, a minor curvature may eventually worsen into severe back issues.

Resulting from scoliosis:

• slouching and poor posture. These two symptoms are diagnosed among the first and are very difficult to treat, especially in adulthood. To avoid slouching, a manicurist needs to monitor posture and prevent "distortions" of the spine;
• asymmetry of body parts. Due to displacement, shoulder asymmetry is most often observed – one shoulder is higher than the other;
• thoracic scoliosis. Curvature in the thoracic region appears at advanced stages of spinal curvature and is fraught with nerve entrapment or deformation of internal organs.

How to check if you have scoliosis

• stand with your back to the wall. In the absence of scoliosis, the chest area touches the wall, approximately at the level of the shoulder blades, as well as the pelvic area. In this case, the spine bends in the lumbar and cervical regions, forming a gap between the wall and the back. Normally, the gap should be about the width of a palm;

Naturally, these techniques are just meant to be informative. You should consult an orthopedist, therapist, or surgeon to have your spine checked for scoliosis. Remember that there is nothing you can do about scoliosis after 20 years; all you can do then is try to stop it from getting worse, relieve your pain, and straighten your posture.

How to avoid back and neck diseases

It’s crucial to adopt the proper posture at work to prevent neck, shoulder, and back pain:

1. Do not lean on your hands. By the end of the day, when the muscles are already numb and tension is felt in the shoulders, the masters lean on the left or right hand. This leads to the fact that the load is distributed unevenly. Keep your back straight and accustom your body to feel comfortable in a natural position – a straight back and neck;
2. Put your feet on the floor parallel to each other. This way the weight will be distributed evenly and you will avoid the problem of osteochondrosis.

Maintaining proper posture will be simpler if the workspace is set up properly:

• manicure table no higher than 70 cm. The average indicator of 70 cm. is considered optimal and provides comfort in work for people of any height. It is recommended to sit at such a table for 5-10 minutes before buying, simulating the work process. Make sure that your shoulders do not get numb, there is no tension in your arms, there is no need to hunch over;
• table width. The width should be selected individually so that you do not have to reach for the client"s hands while working. Masters give preference to wide tables – you can place all the necessary devices, bottles, put a cup of coffee or a laptop on them, but this functionality makes you bend forward a lot and forces the spine to curve. When choosing a table, put your elbows on the table, leaving your back straight and imagine that you are filing a shape or applying varnish. With the correct width of the tabletop, the hands should be exactly in the center;
• chair with a backrest. The backrest of a chair is a tool for relaxing the lumbar region and an assistant in taking the correct posture. It is best to choose a seat with a rounded backrest, so that there is less chance of taking an unnatural, crooked posture. By the way, take care of such a chair for the client as well – 2, and sometimes even all 3 hours sitting during a manicure can be difficult.

Furthermore, adopt preventative actions:

• periodically during the day, knead the muscles of the cervical spine, and also massage the shoulder joint. It is best to do this after each client, if time permits;
• do sports. In addition to the already mentioned swimming, pay attention to yoga or Pilates – these types of sports make the body more resilient and strengthen muscles;
• sign up for a massage therapist or master self-massage techniques. To relieve tension at the end of the day, acupressure massages are good – Thai or Shiatsu;
• without working beyond what your body can handle. You can"t earn all the money, and you can"t buy a healthy back with it. Try to spend all your free time away from your desk and don"t overload yourself with unnecessary clients;

Exercises for the legs and back that are advised for beauty professionals

Invest in therapeutic massagers for your shoulders and back:

• A hand-held wooden massager with handles and rotating rollers helps relieve fatigue and muscle tension;

• BRADEX, Vibrating massager with attachments for the neck, back and shoulders. Relaxation of a tired neck or back is achieved through pinpoint vibration action. A 10-minute procedure is enough to improve the condition. Powered by an electrical network;

• Richter Relax, Shoulder and Neck Massager. Special rollers are built in, which begin to rotate when turned on. Powered by an electrical network. Equipped with a control panel built into the massager.

More than 160 million people worldwide seek medical care for back disorders related to their jobs. Manicurists are included in this group as well. If you want to be excluded from this statistic, take precautions, adopt good posture when sitting, and limit your workload. Does the back region hurt in any way? How do you handle their appearances? Post a comment to share!

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One comment on “Back health of a manicurist”

Irina

I apply Horse Force relaxing balm to my back when it hurts because it relieves tension.

Key Factors	How to Protect Back Health
Ergonomic Chair	Use an adjustable chair that supports your lower back.
Proper Posture	Sit with your back straight and shoulders relaxed.
Take Breaks	Stand up and stretch every 30-40 minutes.
Workstation Setup	Position your tools at a comfortable height to avoid bending.
Exercise	Strengthen your back and core muscles with regular exercise.

Manicurists who work long hours in stationary positions must maintain good back health. Making minor posture corrections, using a supportive chair, and stretching frequently can help avoid pain and chronic problems.

Manicurists can lessen back strain and maintain general health by emphasizing ergonomics in the workspace and taking brief breaks throughout the day. A sustainable career requires not just the right equipment purchases but also self-care practices.

Manicurists can maintain their energy, comfort, and readiness to provide their clients with the best service by concentrating on back health. The cornerstone of a fruitful and fulfilling career in this field is a healthy body.

Because manicurists frequently spend long hours sitting and leaning forward over clients, it is imperative that they maintain good back health. Strain and discomfort can be avoided with easy adjustments like changing the height of your chair, taking frequent breaks to stretch, and utilizing ergonomic tools. Manicurists can maintain pain-free focus and productivity by emphasizing posture and incorporating back-strengthening exercises into their routine.

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