Guilt-Free Massages for Court Reporters

Have you ever noticed during a work comp deposition that your back hurts because the witness keeps talking about how much their back hurts?!

Pain can be quite distracting and uncomfortable, which are just two reasons to schedule some self-care!  Let’s take a closer look.

 

Common Court Reporter Ailments

 

As much as we don’t want to think about it, court reporters are at risk for several health issues due to the nature of our work, which often involves sitting for long periods, repetitive motions, and high stress levels.  Some of the most common reporter-related ailments include:

1. Musculoskeletal disorders include carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, and back pain due to repetitive motions involved in taking down transcripts and prolonged periods of sitting.
2. Eyestrain due to the prolonged periods spent looking at a computer screen (plus TV and scrolling social media when we’re NOT working) – Ooof!
3. Stress due to the pressure of taking as much work as we’re comfortable doing while also keeping up with our transcript backlog, producing extremely accurate transcripts, often with tight deadlines!  No wonder we’re tense!
4. Headaches due to the prolonged periods spent in front of a computer screen, the need to focus intently, and the stress of the job.  (Apparently, numbers 2 and 3 can lead to number 4!)
5. Poor posture due to the prolonged periods spent sitting, having outstretched arms while writing on the steno machine, and poor desk posture while scoping and proofing (unless you’re using Stenovate to delegate efficiently)!
6. Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) due to the repetitive motions of writing on our machines and the prolonged periods spent in front of a computer screen.

Court reporters need to be aware of these potential health issues and take steps to prevent them, such as:

1. Taking regular breaks (whenever possible)
2. Stretching
3. Practicing good ergonomics (both in front of and away from the steno machine)
4. Finding ways to manage stress.

(Here’s a gentle nudge to start a 30-day free trial of Stenovate for workload organization and simplified collaboration with scopists and proofreaders to take some of that stress off your plate.)

 

So how does a court reporter book a massage guilt-free?

 

Are you feeling guilty about doing something “luxurious” for yourself?  Don’t!  Even though massages are often seen as fancy spa treatments, there is very much a medicinal element to massages, mainly depending upon the type of massage, such as “sports recovery” or deep-tissue.

Just like exercise, eating well, or getting your teeth cleaned (but far more enjoyable), massages can be worked into a regular healthcare routine.  Frequent massages can help alleviate the ailments listed above by:

1. Relieving muscle tension can help reduce pain and stiffness in the shoulders, neck, and back.  (Praise be!)
2. Improving circulation can help deliver oxygen and nutrients to the muscles and tissues, promoting healing and recovery.  (Warm fingers and toes, anyone?)
3. Reducing stress levels by releasing endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals.  (What court reporter doesn’t want that?!)
4. Improving focus and concentration by reducing muscle tension and promoting relaxation.  (Because you know we’re going for that stellar untran rate!)
5. Improving posture by releasing tension in the muscles and promoting balance in the body.  (Beneficial both on and off the record!)
6. Preventing repetitive-stress injuries by releasing tension in the muscles and promoting flexibility.  (Hello, longevity!)

Most court reporters could easily benefit from regular massages, as they can help us maintain physical and mental well-being, which can help us perform our job better and live happier lives with less pain!

At Stenovate, we prefer an alternative to the classing saying, “No pain.  No gain.”  To the contrary, we believe every court reporter deserves to live in the present moment, enjoy the little (and big!) moments, and live life as pain-free as possible, which is why we build tools that help you organize, delegate, and collaborate efficiently with your current (or new!) transcript teammates (so you can be present and enjoy the little and BIG moments without worrying about your backlog).

We hope you feel inspired to book yourself a massage, try Stenovate, and join us in our philosophy of  “Less pain!  More gain!”