Groom’d: Use Ergonomics To Create Healthier And Safer Grooming Habits

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With more than 20 years of grooming experience, Chris Anthony, owner/groomer at Have Shears Will Travel, understands the wear and tear grooming can put on the body. She led “Principles, Techniques and Applications of Grooming Ergonomics,” a session focused on explaining and relating ergonomics to everyday grooming tasks and habits.

Trying to ensure a dog’s comfort, groomers sometimes end up hurting themselves instead. She covered topics such as maintaining healthy posture while working and identifying movements that can cause major pain and injuries over time. She also shared stretches designed to help groomers reduce pain and strain throughout the day.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are injuries affecting the muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage and nerves, and can lead to conditions such as tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and sciatica. They often develop over time and can create a cumulative cycle with no clear beginning or end, where one issue contributes to or worsens another. Issues include:

• Overuse and fatigue
• Discomfort
• Restricted movements
• Weak and tight muscles
• Imbalances
• Poor movement patterns

These types of injuries — as well as repetitive-motion injuries from tasks like brushing or using clippers — can take weeks or even months to heal. Recovery can also be costly if it requires time away from work. She stressed the importance of paying attention to body mechanics, including how you twist, turn, squat and perform hip-hinge movements while grooming. Making sure your table is adjusted to the proper height for the task at hand can also help reduce strain and prevent injury over time.

Prepping before a groom is also important. Taking a few minutes to organize your station ensures that the equipment and products you’ll need are within reach, which can vary from dog to dog. This reduces the need to constantly reach or turn for tools, helping prevent strain on your body. It also keeps the dog safe, since you won’t have to turn away to find what you need, and it can even help make the grooming process more efficient.

Read more PETS+ coverage of GROOM’D 2026.