healingways What to Look For in a
by Michael McGillicuddy LMT, BCTMB, CKTI I
n Florida all licensed massage therapists (LMTs) must complete a minimum training of 500 hours. The required training includes anatomy and physiology, musculoskeletal anatomy, pathology, hydrotherapy and basic massage techniques. Entry-level massage therapy education does not usually include extensive sports massage training. So how does a massage therapist attain specialty training in Sports Massage? Some massage schools specialize in Sports Massage Training. At the Central Florida School of Massage Therapy, graduates of the massage therapy program can enroll in the Sports Massage Internship Program. That means the students already know the basic massage strokes, but lack the specifi c skills
necessary to provide an athlete effective sports massage.
Sports Massage is really based on
physiology, which simply means what is happening in the athlete’s body as it goes through workouts, recovery and healing from injuries. A good Sport Massage Therapist must know anatomy and physiology extremely well. They need to be aware of how exercise affects the athlete’s body and adjust their massage techniques accordingly.
It is best if students of sports massage learn from an experienced teacher who can train them in an actual athletic training room. In a training room, athletes from various sports present real conditions for sports massage students to help hone their skills. You cannot learn sports massage from reading a book. It takes real athletes
Sports Massage Therapist
with real conditions and a teacher that knows what to do to demonstrate effective treatments. Then it takes sports massage students repeating the treatments over and over again until the skill is acquired. Often it takes years to become a great Sports Massage Therapist. First, you have to learn about most of the major sports. Second, you have to learn how athletes train for each sport and their different positions within the sport. Third, you have to learn common athletic injuries that occur in each sport. Fourth, each sport requires a certain sports psychology understanding. If you are going to go to a Sports Massage Therapist, look for one who has taken a sports massage internship like the one offered at the Central Florida School of Massage Therapy. If you want to receive an effective sports massage treatment, make sure your massage therapist has been properly trained. For Licensed Massage Therapists interested in obtaining a Certifi cation in Sports Massage, contact the Central Florida School of Massage Therapy at 407-673-6776. The fall program begins September 12!
September 2015
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