Pain in Hairdressers: Common Injuries and What May Help
- Peter Petroff
- May 15
- 3 min read
Hair Dressing Is Tough Work
Hairdressing often involves repetitive movements, awkward postures, long hours, prolonged standing and working with the arms elevated. Over time, these physical demands can contribute to muscle and joint pain, and many hairdressers and barbers experience symptoms as a normal part of the job.
At my osteopathy clinic in Yarraville, it's common to work with hairdressers and barbers dealing with persistent neck, shoulder and low back pain related to the physical demands of their work.
Perhaps you feel that unless you change careers, there is not much that can be done. You may have already tried massage, heat packs or pain relief medication, only for the symptoms to keep returning. In this blog post, we will go over some of the most common pain presentations seen in hairdressers and what may help manage them.
Common Pain Areas
Neck Pain and Headaches
Sustained forward head posture and prolonged arm elevation can place increased demands on the muscles around the neck and upper shoulders. Over time this may contribute to neck stiffness, tension headaches and pain referring into the upper back or shoulder region.
Shoulder Pain
The rotator cuff works as an active stabiliser, because the shoulder is a very mobile joint, the muscles do a lot of work stabilising. Unlike some other joints, the shoulder relies heavily on muscular control rather than passive structures such as ligaments for stability. Because your arms are often held out, this increases the weight of your limb and your rotator cuff has to work extra hard to do its job, which can lead to tendinopathies and irritation in your shoulder joint.
Low Back Pain
Long periods of standing, leaning and awkward positioning can increase physical demands on the muscles and joints of the lower back.
Wrist and Hand pain
Repetitive use of scissors and other tools place your wrists in prolonged periods of extension, combined with repetitive motion can cause the tendons and joints on your hands to become painful
All these conditions can significantly impact your ability to work, your mood and your ability to earn an income.
What May Help
Anti Fatigue Mats
These mats of often made of polyurethane foam or rubber and induce micro-instability in the ground. This results in increased leg muscle activity and encourages postural changes, which has been linked to significant improvements in low back discomfort.
Ergonomic Adjustments
The first step should be to ensure you are working at a proper height. If the chair is too high, you will need to compensate by raising your arms, which increases strain on your rotator cuff. Ideally, working with your elbows close to your body is going to be optimal for reducing shoulder pain.
Strength and Rehab Program
Your body wants to be in a state of homeostasis – it doesn't want to rest all day because it'll waste away, and it doesn't want to work non-stop because it won't be able to repair itself. This is why occupational injuries are so stubborn, because you need to work to earn an income, and resting is not always feasible. So the solution here isn't to work less, but to build up your body so you can handle more without becoming injured.
Example Program For Rotator Cuff Strengthening
Maintaining Your General Health
Most importantly, make sure that you are taking care of yourself. Your health is never just a muscle or joint problem. This means prioritising:
Good sleep
Managing your stress levels
Making time for social activities
Have time set aside for your hobbies
Eat a well-balanced diet
All these influence how your body perceives and is able to recover from pain.
When To Seek Help
The body has an amazing ability to adapt, however, if you are experiencing any of the following:
Shooting nerve pain or numbness
Inability to sleep due to the pain
Weakness
Ongoing progression and worsening of your condition
I recommend seeking an assessment to help you rule out other underlying conditions and to map out a management plan for you.
Role of Osteopathy
A thorough assessment can help determine what structures may be contributing to your pain, identify aggravating factors within your work environment and guide an appropriate rehabilitation plan so you can continue working with greater comfort and confidence.
If you are dealing with ongoing pain as a hairdresser or barber, appointments can be booked online.