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Sports Massage 101 – The Basics Every Professional Should Know

With every type of massage, the therapist has a specific goal in mind depending on the needs of each patient. Maybe one has a stressful job that causes built up tension in his neck and upper back, or another client may have pain from an old injury.

In sports massage, the therapist focuses on the needs of the athlete and the demands of their sport. With more people enjoying organized sports, an increase in competitiveness, and the intensity of physical exercise, the benefits from a sports massage can be limitless. Many athletes even decide to make it an integral part of their training routine. So with all the hype about sports massages growing, we decided to break it down for those of you interested in this rewarding and fun career.

Why it’s important:

1. Athletes constantly strive to improve their physical abilities through repetitive training. This subjects to body to gradual overuse over time, leading to problems in the soft tissue.
2. If the tension in the soft tissue is not released, it can affect the athlete’s rate of improvement and even lead to serious chronic issues.
3. Regular sports massages can help prevent injuries, increase physical training improvements, and restore balance to the muscular and skeletal systems.

What you need to know:

1. It’s important to have a thorough knowledge of anatomy and physiology, especially the muscular and skeletal systems in the human body.
2. You’ll also need to have a solid understanding of sports and the various physical demands of each one. If you’re an athlete yourself or simply a fan, that can prove to be a great asset.
3. A complete medical history from each patient is really important. It will fill you in on past problems, injuries, and more so you’ll have a better understanding on how to treat your athlete.

Sports massage techniques & goals:

1. There are many different techniques and they’re used to treat many different problems, from traditional massage techniques such as working and kneading the muscles to foam roller exercises.
2. While the methods may vary, the basic goal is the same. To improve the health of the athlete. Increasing blood flow, relieving tension, stretching muscle fibers, breaking down scar tissue, and providing a relaxing experience all work to achieve this goal.

If this sounds like something you’re interested in, check out Fremont University’s sports and rehabilitation therapy program and get started on a rewarding career doing something you enjoy.