Sports Massage

This could be a college team or, if you are really good at what you do, you could go pro--working for a professional team--NFL, NBA........

Yes, each team has its own staff, including therapists who take care of the athletes before and after training and sporting events.

An even better position is to be the personal therapist for one athlete. Think of the famous athletic winners you see in the news. They all have their own personal body workers who are attuned to the athlete's body. And think of all of the traveling and the perks you would have. Spending time with a favorite athlete would be an incredible opportunity and privilege.

You will need to take some extensive classes in deep tissue therapy and athletic bodywork.

Once you are hired and work with star athletes,helping them to perform better than ever, you will realize that this is one of the best positions you could choose!

Sports massage benefits are well worth the time and money involved to the serious athletic client.

Athletes want to outperform their competitors. They want to win. Massage therapy can give them that extra boost! All professional athletes and sports teams have massage therapists and reap from the benefits.

The most valued of the sports massage benefits is improved athletic ability. Massage therapy increases flexibility. This is accomplished by therapist-assisted stretches, releasing trigger points on muscles, and releasing tension in muscles that are antagonists.

The massage therapist knows that different techniques are required for athletes who compete in different sports. It is important for the therapist to know about the sport so he/she can be aware of what muscles are used the most.

Another of the many massage benefits is getting rid of muscle soreness more quickly after a practice or an event. This way the athlete can get back to practicing or go on to the next sporting event more quickly than if the body healed without massage.

This can also help to relieve soreness after an everyday workout regimen for us non-athletic types!

Ask athletes about massage therapy in sports and they will tell you that it plays a vital role in their success.

Massage therapists are practically part of professional sports teams, traveling with them and giving massages before the sporting event and afterwards each day of practice and competition. From biking to basketball to taekwondo, athletes depend on sports massage therapists to give them the edge!

A massage therapist must know the body's anatomy and how the muscles work. The massage therapist should be able to feel bone and muscle, scar tissue, trigger points, and adhesions so he/she needs a lot of practical massage therapy experience, along with a lot of additional education in this branch of massage therapy.

Releasing trigger points on the athlete is critical so the athlete can perform better. Remember that a technique that works on one client for pain may not work on the next client with the same type of pain. The more techniques a massage therapist learns, the better it is for the client.

Athletes get a lot of muscle cramps. I know this because I have 3 athletes living in my home. Cramps are more frequent after an event.

Do not stretch the cramping muscles as you can tear the muscle fibers. Instead, have the client try to stretch the area against your resistance. This will relax the cramping muscle. This is called reciprocal inhibition and it is amazing!

Reciprocal inhibition is for any muscle in the body. It is important for the therapist to know what area to hold in place while the client tries to stretch. This is where anatomy and physiology play such a big role in massage therapy in sports.

Muscle cramps are usually caused by not enough to drink (dehydration) and a lack of calcium, potassium, and magnesium. In sports massage, cramping is most likely caused by a deficiency of potassium. The athlete should drink a lot of Gatorade or other sports drinks to replenish this important mineral. Bananas are also high in potassium.

Pre-event sports massage is directed at stimulating the athlete to win a competition so you do not want to use any type of relaxation techniques before a big event. Do not put your client to sleep! Instead, think invigorate, rejuvenate, bring that athlete's muscles to life!

You must energize the athletic client with a quick massage without using lubricant. The techniques used for this type of sports massage must be rapid and full of energy. The client must be fully stretched and limber to compete.

Release any trigger points to increase athletic performance. Help the client with stretches to limber and loosen the specific muscles that are used the most in the sport your client participates in.

Finish off the massage with a lot of stimulating tapotement such as slapping, tapping, and hacking.

If sports massage benefits your clients to perform better and feel great about themselves, the word about what you are doing will spread and your practice will grow.

Post-event sports massage is performed by the massage therapist much more slowly than pre-event massage.

Start by asking the athlete what body areas are in pain or where cramps are occurring and focus on these areas. Do not stretch the cramping muscles as you can tear the muscle fibers. Instead, have the client try to stretch the area against your resistance. This will relax the cramping muscle. This is called reciprocal inhibition and it is amazing!

Reciprocal inhibition is for any muscle in the body. It is important for the therapist to know what area to hold in place while the client tries to stretch. This is where anatomy and physiology play such a big role in sports massage benefits.

You will also do cross-fiber friction and trigger point release in post event sports massage so it is important to know what way the fibers of each muscle run.

If you are trying to build your practice, you may want to consider volunteering to do post-event massage at athletic events near you. This is usually done free of charge or just for tips. You give up a day of making money, but you get free publicity and word-of-mouth advertising by the athletes themselves as they attest to sports massage benefits.

Of course, you will give each and every person who comes to your table or chair your business card. You will pick up new clients who will start coming to you regularly.

Contact the sporting event's organizers as soon as you hear about the event and let them know that you would like to volunteer your services.

As your clients realize that sports massage benefits them by helping them to perform better and heal faster after an injury, the word will spread and your practice will grow.

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