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Professional Practise

Becoming a good sports massage practitioner requires dedication, hard work, sound knowledge of the areas described below, and plenty of practice. Most people who embark on this form of training already have a keen interest in sport or rigorous physical activity. While you do not need qualifications to start with, you will need to learn anatomy and physiology, become confident at ‘touching and handling’ your clients, and be a good communicator. 

A sports massage practitioner requires a wide range of knowledge and practical skills covering the following:

  • anatomy & physiology
  • communication
  • the effects of exercise on the human body and its systems
  • the physical, physiological, neuroligical and psychological effects of massage
  • how sports massage works to aid the athlete
  • how to assess dysfunction
  • massage techniques and how to apply them to each part of the body
  • stretching techniques
  • first aid
  • injury management
  • safety in sport and exercise 

 

The above areas are important not only to any practitioner of sports massage, but also for those athletes, coaches and other industry professionals who wish to know more about how sports massage can aid performance and prevent injury.

 

It is important to recognise how much the sports massage practitioner must know – and indeed, how much they are expected to carry out under professional practice. While they must be skilled in assessing a client’s physical condition, there is a line to be drawn between this and the diagnosis of traumatic injury and other conditions. This requires more extensive training and is often the realm of the medical practitioner or physiotherapist . If in any doubt, the client should always be referred on to an appropriate specialist.

 

Once a diagnosis has been made by a suitably qualified person, the sports massage practitioner may often provide treatment which will benefit the client. For example, musculo-skeletal imbalances may often arise as a result of a traumatic injury – and these may be accurately assessed and treated by the sports massage practitioner. For this reason, many sports massage practitioners will often work in tandem with other sports-care specialists.

 

Sports massage is physically demanding and may involve long and continuous periods of strenuous work. As a practitioner you need to have the strength and endurance to cope with extended periods of demanding physical activity. Your health and wellbeing are your most important assets, and overdoing it because of a lack of physical fitness can be detrimental to both you and your client. As well as physical fitness, a practitioner needs good mobility and flexibility to massage effectively. Good posture is essential.


While you don’t need to be an active sports participant, knowing as much as you can about a client’s activity will help you to understand how conditions may arise. It will also ensure you can provide sound advice that is relevant to your client’s activity.


The sports massage practitioner will be expected to carry out different forms of massage in various circumstances and surroundings: in a treatment room, at a sports event, on a sports field, at the trackside or in changing rooms either before, during or after a race or event. These venues may be noisy and crowded, unlike the tranquil environment often associated with other forms of massage that are aimed at relaxation. Furthermore, a practitioner will often work among teams and large groups of people such as coaches, players, trainers and other sportscare practitioners. Whatever the circumstances, it is essential to maintain a professional and confidential, one-to-one client relationship.


It is important to have public liability and professional indemnity insurance once you are qualified. Although it is unlikely that anyone will have reason to claim against you, it does provide your clients with the reassurance that you have adopted a professional approach and that in the event of an accident while in your treatment area, they would be covered by adequate insurance.

 

To practise sports massage, you will need a basic kit that includes at least the items detailed below:

  • Portable couch
  • Carry case
  • Kit bag
  • Towels
  • Flannel
  • Tissue roll
  • Massage oil
  • Cologne
  • Record cards and pen.
  • Evidence of insurnace cover


from The Complete Guide to Sports Massage

For further guidance from UK Professional Organisation - contact The Sports Massage Association