Patricia offers a senace of shiatsu, this Japanese technique of pressure on acupuncture points at the Porte Verte hospital in Versailles.
-
O. Gabriel / 20 Minutes
Human Impact launched in 2019 free shiatsu sessions for caregivers in public hospitals across France.
A welcome initiative given that since the health crisis, many caregivers have been living exhausting days with the non-stop wearing of masks, heavy patients to treat and deaths.
On Wednesday, Patricia Delagneau offered six shiatsu sessions, a practice of pressure along the meridians that helps fight stress, to caregivers at La Porte Verte hospital in Versailles.
20 Minutes
was able to attend.
“I have a point here,” explains Christine Géret, indicating her right shoulder.
Wednesday noon, this nursing assistant at La Porte Verte hospital in Versailles (Yvelines), has not taken off her white coat but is taking a little well-being break as rare as it is welcome.
She benefits from a free shiatsu session.
And it's a great discovery.
"I got to a point where I no longer slept"
Sitting with her knees bent and her head resting on a cushion, she lets herself be handled by Patricia Delagneau, a shiatsu professional.
The latter receives caregivers in a consultation room who, for once, cross the mirror and let themselves be taken care of.
"There, that will interest you, I attack the neck, warns Patricia, sneakers on the feet, with precise gestures accompanied by his breath.
The right side may be more painful, I sink slowly.
"
After this half-hour away from the beeps, Christine looks up, opens her eyes again and breathes: “It unblocks!
I'll be back !
".
Escape in this way allows you to catch your breath to continue the marathon.
"It's very difficult morally and physically for a year, admits the nursing assistant, who worked for a year in the Covid unit.
And keeping FFP2 masks on all day is exhausting.
I got to a point where I was no longer sleeping.
After this session, I see the difference.
I don't know how long it will last… ”
Patricia Delagneau practices shiatsu, a technique of pressure on the body of Christine Géret, nursing assistant at the Porte Verte hospital in Versailles.
- O. Gabriel / 20 Minutes
“I found a smile again!
"
Same satisfaction and same question for Carole, an oncology health executive, who succeeds her in the chair.
“I had so much positive feedback from my teams that it encouraged me to register,” she explains.
I arrived belly down and come out soft, relaxed.
With the Covid, we have stored up a lot of negative things and as an executive, I cannot give up.
I had a burst of emotions during the session and there, I found a smile!
"
A few minutes later, Solène, nurse, a bandana in her hair, settles down.
While Patricia tries to relax her despite her tense shoulders and sighs, a jackhammer disturbs the stillness of the moment.
"I asked to make some noise so that we don't hear your cries of pain," Patricia quipped.
Who assures us: “In general, people come out soothed and regret not having discovered shiatsu before.
Afterwards, I am not a doctor, and when I see something that bothers me, I prefer to advise to make an appointment with a chiropractor, an osteopath or a psychologist.
"
A little-known practice
For the past month, some hospital employees have been able to register on a site dedicated to eight sessions, three times a week, to discover this little-known practice.
“'Shiatsu' means 'finger pressure' in Japanese,” explains Patricia.
I will do stretching, percussion, pressure on the whole body with the thumbs or palms.
"" It is neither a massage, nor a therapy, adds Pierre Guigan, president of Human Impact, at the origin of the initiative.
It is an acupressure technique similar to acupuncture, but without the needles, which helps reduce stress, musculoskeletal disorders, promote sleep and relaxation.
Another advantage is that shiatsu is practiced dressed, sometimes sitting down, in half an hour or an hour.
This is therefore useful for relieving stressed employees in companies, Human Impact's core target.
"We thought it would be perfect for caregivers in public hospitals, who already denounced, before the health crisis, their difficult working conditions and their extended hours," says Pierre Guigan.
But the hospitals did not have enough money to offer these sessions.
"
The sponsorship has made it possible to forge partnerships since 2019 with six hospitals in Ile-de-France, Nice, Thionville and Strasbourg.
"We have planned 900 sessions for the employees of the three hospitals of our group, thanks to funding from Malakoff Humanis," says Thomas Lauret, CEO of Univi, which includes the La Porte Verte hospital.
This is a good way to treat our teams under severe strain, especially facing three times more deaths than before in the Covid units.
"
"I was told 'take care of yourself!'
"
While the indicators are soaring in Ile-de-France, that 40% of operations have been deprogrammed, taking a little break can take a back seat.
Solène also hesitated to leave her colleague alone in her Covid department.
“Patients demand an enormous amount of time and care.
But I was told "take care of yourself"!
I have severe pain in my right shoulder blade.
My osteopath explained to me last week that my rib cage was compressed.
She even asked me if I hadn't had an accident.
"It's the work that eats you up from the inside out," she told me.
I also think… ”
With a lot of weight resting on their shoulders, this kind of initiative could prevent these caregivers from being the patients of tomorrow.
A year ago, health professionals received applause, encouragement, packed lunches and a helping hand.
But solidarity seems to have dried up a bit since then.
“I don't ask to receive chocolates every day, but today the crisis has become commonplace.
We must do more without additional recognition ”, regrets Solène.
“We talk a lot about patients, caregivers, but it's very new to take care of caregivers,” continues Pierre Guigan.
And not unnecessary.
“They are surrounded by people who are doing worse than them, so they rarely complain.
At the end of the session, they are offered a satisfaction and impact questionnaire to find out the effects felt.
And training in do in ”, this self-massage practice derived from shiatsu.
To prolong the benefits of the session as much as possible.
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