SPORTS MASSAGE THERAPIST

The joys of massage are multiplied when you get to unpuzzle problems athletes are having with their bodies. We like to give the students a "challenge" when we are working on sports massage and see if they can figure out what might be going on with their client. This article gives a great description of Sports Massage and what it involves.

Sports Massage - Why Become a Sports Massage Therapist?

Become a sports massage therapist and help athletes reach optimal performance.

Check out this Sports Massage Video

Serious athletes will go to extreme measures to insure that they can perform to the highest standards and meet the challenges of competitions. Workouts, proper nutrition and great coaching can all be wasted if an injury sidelines a player. By engaging a skilled sports massage therapist, individuals and sports teams are making an investment in the health of their athletes.

Pursuing a career as a sports massage therapist will allow an individual to become an important part in the success of individuals and institutions. Look on the sidelines during any college or pro football game and you will see a trainer working on players to keep them limber and fit. This activity doesn't just happen during a competition. Keeping muscles fit with massage therapy is crucial to preventing injury and maintaining peak performance levels.

Maintaining a high level of fitness requires a lot of work and can present some challenging obstacles. Muscle strains, pulls and aches commonly occur for professional and amateur athletes alike. A sports massage therapist can help reduce the frequency and severity of these ailments. And that's just the start of the benefits.

Extensive training can lead to muscles that are rigid and lack flexibility. These muscles may look terrific but they are susceptible to injury and may hamper performance. A well-trained sports massage therapist can detect irregularities and, by employing appropriate techniques, help to restore flexibility and elasticity to muscles and lessen the stresses that can cause problems.
When muscles are tight circulation is constricted and when blood is not reaching all areas of the muscle properly the tissues are missing out on vital nutrients that are essential for muscle repair. By using massage to loosen muscles waste and toxins are eliminated from the tissues where they could otherwise build up and cause damage.

Incorporating Sports Massage into Fitness Programs

By incorporating a sports massage therapist into an overall fitness program, athletes can insure that muscles remain supple and healthy thus insuring the maximum effectiveness during training and top performance during competition. Regular massage during training is essentially a maintenance program and helps insure that optimal results are achieved during training by promoting flexibility and avoiding debilitating injuries.

Sports massage can be a crucial component during a specific athletic event. A brief massage session prior to an event will increase the blood flow to the muscles and reduce tension. This will improve flexibility and performance. Massage applied during a sporting event can address any tightness or cramping that may occur and promote recovery from prior activity. After the event, massage helps the athlete to relax and assists in the repair of tissues slightly damaged during the event.

Even with all of the preventive measures taken to avoid muscle damage, it is inevitable that extreme levels of activity will result in aches, cramps strains and pulls. Sports massage is an excellent method for rehabilitating damaged muscles and insuring that training is not disrupted due to severe injuries.

Benefits of Sports Massage

One thing is certain, building a relationship with a sports massage therapist will be of great benefit to an athlete or anyone else interested in maintaining good physical conditioning. A massage therapist that is familiar with your routines, your goals and the tendencies of your muscular system will be able to help you stay fit and perform effectively. By pursuing a career as a sports massage therapist, you can be part of a winning team and a key contributor to a healthy and competitive future.

RECOVERY MASSAGE

The following is an article I wrote a couple of years ago about recovery massage. As I am still in the process of recovering from my marathon a couple of weeks ago, I am reminded it is time to get a massage! Our students spend one weekend at the beach doing sports massage during our program.

Do you remember when you were a child and your mother would tell you to go to bed so your body could grow? Well that was true then and is still true. Your body actually grows and heals most when it is resting, and recovering.

What this means to you in the sports arena is, you must give your body time to recover between workouts to get the maximum result from your workouts. One of the best ways to enhance this rest and recovery phase of training is sports massage. The following are all benefits of massage in relation to sports.

The first thing a massage will do for you is to bring your awareness into your body. You will become aware of the places you are holding stress when you work out and the places that are unusually tight. You will learn to feel the difference between normal muscle soreness and injury soreness.

The next thing massage will do is to help your flexibility. The constant muscle contractions of sports cause microtrauma in the tissue which promotes adhesion. The massage will make the muscles and tissues more pliable, and will encourage flexibility, resilience and better circulation.

Another advantage is that massage speeds up the recovery from workouts by removing lactic acid and other by-products from the muscles. Doing this helps the muscle tears to heal faster so that you can be ready for another workout sooner.

In the case of injury massage will also help. The injured areas can be massaged to encourage blood supply to the injured area and aid in the healing process. Increased circulation to the area will speed the healing process, especially in the case of overuse injuries.

The last benefit is the fact that a good sports massage therapist can spot areas of weakness or stress that could lead to injury. Many times athletes are so involved in their training that they tend to tune out their body talk. The body always whispers before it screams. A good massage therapist will be able to help bring your awareness to the areas that need attention and prevent injuries.

WATCH YOUR KNEES

Need Pain-Free Knees? Start Here!

-- By Jen Mueller, Certified Personal Traineryou’re not alone. Nearl

Knees are the most commonly injured joints in the body. Considering that when you simply walk up stairs, the pressure across your knee joints is four times your body weight, it isn't surprising. Simple, everyday wear and tear can end up hurting your mobility.

But it’s not too late. Like a rusty door hinge, with care and maintenance, you knees can be trouble free. Even if you already experience problems, exercising the muscles surrounding the knee joints— Quadriceps (front of thigh), Hamstrings (back of thigh), Abductor (outside thigh), and Adductor (inside thigh)—will help make your knees stronger and less susceptible to injury. Exercise keeps your joints from stiffening and provides needed support, making movement easier and reducing pain.

Here are some exercises you can do to both stretch and strengthen the knee area:

STRETCHES

1. Chair knee extension: Sitting in a chair, rest your foot on another chair so the knee is slightly raised. Gently push the raised knee toward the floor using only leg muscles. Hold for 5 - 10 seconds and release. Repeat 5 times on each leg.
2. Heel slide knee extension: Lie on your back, with left knee bent and left foot flat on floor. Slowly slide the left heel away from your body so both legs are parallel. Hold for 5-10 seconds, return to starting position. Repeat 5 times on each leg.
3. Knee flexion: Sitting in a chair, loop a long towel under your foot (resting on the floor). Gently pull on the towel with both hands to bend the knee, raising your foot 4 - 5 inches off the floor. Hold for 5 - 10 seconds, then release. Repeat 5 times on each leg.
4. Hamstring stretch: Standing, put one foot in front of you, toes up. With hands on the small of your back (or one hand holding a chair for balance), bend the opposite knee and hip (not your lower back), until you feel the hamstrings stretch. The upper body comes forward at the hip. Hold for 5 -10 seconds, then release. Repeat 5 times on each leg.

STRENGTH TRAINING

1. Wall slide: Leaning with your back against a wall, bend your knees 30°, sliding down the wall, then straighten up again. Move slowly and smoothly, using your hands on the wall for balance. Keep feet and legs parallel, and do not allow knees to go out over the toes. Repeat 5 -10 times.
2. Bent-Leg Raises: Sitting in a chair, straighten one leg in the air (without locking the knee). Hold for about one minute. Bend your knee to lower the leg about halfway to the floor. Hold for 30 seconds. Return to starting position. Work up to 4 reps on each leg.
3. Straight-Leg Raises: Sitting in a chair, rest your foot on another chair. Lift the foot a few inches off the chair while keeping your leg straight. Hold for 5 -10 seconds. Return to resting position. Repeat 5 -10 times. (Also work on increasing the time, up to 2-3 minutes if possible.)
4. Abductor Raise: Lie on your side, propped on one elbow. The leg on the floor bent, the other straight. Slowly lift the top leg, hold for 5 -10 seconds, then lower. (Ankle weights will increase the intensity). Do 1-3 sets with 12-15 repetitions each. Remember to rest in between sets.
5. Hamstring Curl: Stand with the front of your thighs against a surface (a table or wall). Flex one knee up as far as is comfortable. Hold for 5 - 10 seconds, then lower slowly. If possible, do not touch the floor between repetitions. (Ankle weights will increase the intensity.) Do 1-3 sets with 12-15 repetitions each. Remember to rest in between sets.
6. Step-Ups: Stand in front of a step, like a sturdy bench or stairs, about two feet high (or less if necessary). Step up onto the support, straighten your knees fully (without locking them) and step down. Maintain a steady pace. If you are comfortable with your balance, pump your arms while doing this exercise. Start with 1 minute, slowly building your time. Gets your heart pumping too!
7. Stationary Bike: Biking is a good way to increase strength and range of motion. Make sure you have the right positioning of the legs. At the bottom of the pedal stroke, the bend in the knee should be 15 degrees. Start with 10 minutes and slowly increase your time.

Depending on your current level of activity and mobility, a good start is 3 stretching and 3 strengthening exercises, 3-4 times a week. Stretching can be (and should be) done everyday if possible to prevent stiffness and achy joints. These stretches can be done a few times a day if needed.Always check with your doctor before beginning an exercise program. These exercises are designed to help, not hurt. If you experience pain at any time during the exercise, stop. Pain is your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong.

BONUS TIP: If you have increased soreness after doing these exercises, it may help to ice your knee or knees for 10 - 20 minutes. Place a bag of ice (or frozen vegetables) over the joint, with a towel between to protect the skin. Elevate your leg on a chair if ice alone is inadequate.

I found this article on Spark people and thought it was very appropriate. There have been studies done that show that even if your knees hurt you should continue strengthening all the muscles around them. In our Sports Massage class we teach all the above and more!

MASSAGE BUSINESS SALES

Did you know you can sell your massage business when you are ready to move? When we left Flagstaff to set up our school here in Costa Rica I had not really considered selling my business. One day I was talking with my realtor who was trying to sell my house and she asked me if I was selling my business. The more we talked the more convinced I became that it was a good idea.

After talking to a few perspective buyers I found the perfect buyer. We worked together for a couple of months to make the transition smoother for my clients. We were both happy with the results and remain friends to this day.

Some things to keep in mind are:
What exactly are you selling? I was selling my client list of over 100 plus all my furniture, minus my table and the remaining time left on my lease.
If you specialize do they also? I specialized in Sports Massage as well as she did, perfect fit.
Are their personalities compatible with your clients? My buyer is probably compatible with everyone so it was easy.
Payment options? We took half up front and the rest in payments.
What are your "no competition" clauses? We decided I would not do any massage within 100 miles for five years.

Selling a massage business is a good option. Just make sure you find someone that works as closely as possible to your style and gets along with your clients.

BUSINESS IDEAS

The following article was out of the Massage Magazine and was a great one for business needs. At our massage school
we spend lots of time working on business ideas to will help our students prepare to run their own businesses.

by Dennis Lisaius

If sports massage is your calling, how do you find those elusive athletic clients? Network!

Networking is nothing more than building relationships. It’s a way of reaching out to individuals and groups. With effective networking, athletes will be aware of you and your credible skills, and they will feel safe in your hands.

1. Decide on your target sport. The athletic world is diverse. Are you interested in golf? Beach volleyball? Running?

2. Know your sport well. Athletes trust someone who “gets” their sport. Know the jargon, big stars and major events of your target sport.

3. Find the teams and clubs for your sport. Nearly every sport has a local club or association. (If not, focus

4. Join and support them. If runners are your target, join their club. Attend their meetings and events. Clubs appreciate help, so you can volunteer. Participate!

5. Offer free post-event massages. After an event, give free 15-minute massages to athletes in your club. They will love you for it!

6. Know the “gatekeepers." Make friends with the club president and leading athletes. Their opinion can make a big difference in the size of your client list.

7. Be generous. Give more than you expect in return. Be liberal with free massages, especially for gatekeepers and star athletes. The law of karma really works.

Dennis Lisaius is a certified sports massage therapist from Santa Monica, California, as well as a triathlete, runner and cyclist. He is the founder of LA Sports Massage in Marina del Rey, California (http://lasportsmassage.com), which provides SPORT Therapy—a fusion of techniques from sports, deep tissue, Active Release Techniques, trigger point, Structural Integration and facilitated stretching—to world-class professional and amateur athletes. The company's client list includes such notables as Natascha Badmann, six-time Ironman World Champion; Chris McCormack, 2007 Ironman World Champion; and WNBA star Candace Parker.

TAMARINDO

We have discovered a new jewel here in Costa Rica. We went to Tamarindo this weekend, and it was beautiful. We rented the above house, that slept seven for only $100.00 per night. It was a two minute walk to the beach and beautiful.

I had always heard the Tamarindo was very expensive, but this was the least expensive we have found to stay on the beach in all of Costa Rica. We have taken students to Manuel Antonio beach to do Sports Massage Class and liked it also. It is also a little pricey and the homes to rent are not as reasonable. The advantage of Manuel Antonio of course is a three and a half hour drive compared to a five hour drive to Tamarindo. So many beautiful places and beaches to see!