Massage Therapy Schools and a Career in Sports Massage |
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February 27, 2006
charity.shumway@healthcare-programs.com
Healthcare Programs Columnist
Sports Massage: the Basics
Sports massage is a lot like other types of massage – a therapist applies pressure to the body to relax muscles, improve circulation, and alleviate pain. Sports massage differs from more general varieties of massage in a few key ways:
- Sports massage is generally used before, during, and after athletic activities and sporting events
- Sports massage is largely focused on preventing and relieving sports injuries
- Sports massage has the specific goal of improving athletic performance
A massage therapist practicing sports massage is likely to focus on reducing swelling, loosening key muscles to increase flexibility, and relieving sports induced muscle fatigue.
A Sports Massage Career
Massage therapists who focus in sports massage can find work with all sorts of employers. There are of course the dream jobs with professional sports teams, but positions at colleges and universities, at health clubs, and with physical therapy treatment centers are also common. Many massage therapists offer sports massage treatments as well as more common massage treatments and work in settings like spas and resorts.
Sports Massage Training
While there are a few schools that exclusively offer sports massage training, most courses and training programs in sports massage are found within more general massage therapy schools. Courses in sports massage cover essentials like musculoskeletal anatomy as well as specifics like stress fractures, ankle injuries, and muscle pulls. Some courses also cover areas like the business of sports massage and sports massage as it relates to remedial therapy more generally. Many states require massage therapists to be licensed, and coursework and clinical practice in sports massage can help you earn your license and launch your massage therapy career.
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