Unique Talent Of A Sports Massage Therapist

Unique Talent Of A Sports Massage Therapist Most often athletes suffer a severe injury that requires rehabilitation.

In such instances, sports massage is very effective in uplifting the fitness and well­being of the athletes. The massage is customized to make the athletes perform better. Sports massage requires the implementation of specific massage technique, application of a range of motion routine and strength­building or enhancing techniques.

When applying sports massage a massage therapist has to be highly conscious of three essential elements: Timing, Intent, and Technique.

Sports Massage Therapist Timing focuses on when the massage is worked on the athletes. Is the massage to be given pre­event, post­event or while a maintenance period or during the recovery period.

Techniques are the different massage technique application such as effleurage, petrissage, direct pressure, cross­fiber friction, broadening strokes, stretching, a range of motion, compression, vibration, friction and shaking.

Intent means the reason for their massage treatment. Does the treatment aim to warm up the muscle, increase flexibility, increase blood flow, improve posture, improve strength, or facilitate recovery from exertion?

Sports Massage Personalized for Different Scenarios: The timing, intent and technique work in synergy to personalize the massage therapy.

In a pre­event massage for an athlete, the intent is to activate or stimulate blood flow to the muscles and heat up the muscles. The technique used for this preparation is stretching, friction, shaking and compression.

In a post­event massage, the intent is to facilitate quick recovery of the athlete from exertion. The techniques most effective for this need are effleurage, petrissage, broadening strokes, compression, and range of motion.

When working with an injured athlete, the intent is to accelerate the quick formation of scar tissue. Ice treatment is very effective so is the use of techniques such as effleurage, cross­fiber friction, a range of motion and compression.

What makes an outstanding Sports Massage Therapist?

A sports massage therapist should be clear about the reason for giving the massage. They should be clear about the physiological alteration in the tissue that they are trying to generate. And most importantly they should know which massage techniques to use to bring about the required change in physiology.

A sports massage therapist should have a friendly personality and the right mindset, to care for others and help others. They should be comfortable touching others whether male, female, elderly or disabled.

At the end of the session, the athlete should be satisfied with the given massage.

Qualification and Training: Sports massage therapists are in high demand in professional sports, health and fitness industry. Accredited sports massage courses are provided in the UK by a number of training providers. The ITEC level 3 diploma in sports massage therapy is for L3 massage therapists or beginners. You can also get an ITEC level 4 certificate in sports massage therapy. The qualification is recognized by the Complementary Therapists Association, Federation of Holistic Therapists, Sports Massage Association, and General Council for Massage Therapy.

Affable Therapy Training Limited 64A George Street, Croydon CR0 1PD Phone: 0208 338 1212/ 07917147302 Website: www.affabletherapy.com Email: info@affabletherapy.com Follow us on: Facebook

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