

Understanding Sports Massage
Description
Based on a textbook by Patricia Benjamin, PhD and Scott Lamp, LMT, this course provides the theoretical and practical basis for using sports massage to help athletes stay in shape, recover from injuries and improve performance, including the authors' approaches to conducting an effective sports massage program in various settings. A list of resources for further study, including hands-on training, is included. This course provides conceptual preparation to seek additional training, and does not teach hands-on skills. Please seek additional experience, with a mentor, to add hands-on skills.
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| Choose an enrollment type: | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Text Materials Shipped and Test Online | Contents: Text shipped to you. Online multiple-choice test. | $145 | |
| OR | |||
| Materials and Test Shipped to You | Contents: Text and workbook with multiple-choice test shipped to you. | $145 | |
Content Outline
| Theory and Science of Sports Massage | |
| Definition of sports massage | |
| The many uses of massage in sports | |
| The sports massage specialist | |
| The whole-athlete model | |
| Sports massage and athletic performance | |
| Evidence for effectiveness | |
| Constellation of effects | |
| Contraindications and cautions | |
| Medications and drugs | |
| Techniques and Skills | |
| Building blocks of sports massage | |
| Hand and finger positions | |
| Massage techniques | |
| Joint movement techniques | |
| Specialized techniques | |
| Palpation | |
| Restorative Sports Massage | |
| Restorative massage and its applications | |
| Recovery massage | |
| Remedial applications | |
| Rehabilitation applications | |
| Sports Massage at Athletic Events | |
| Event sports massage | |
| Pre-event sports massage | |
| Interevent sports massage | |
| Postevent sports massage | |
| Hyperthermia and hypothermia | |
| Relieving muscle cramps | |
| Event sports massage at a swim meet | |
| Maintenance Sports Massage | |
| Common problem areas | |
| Maintenance massage using oil | |
| Planning and Giving Sports Massage | |
| Sports massage sessions | |
| Planning a session | |
| Logistics of giving sports massage | |
| Aspects of techniques performance | |
| Monitoring progress and pain | |
| Implementing a Sports Massage Program | |
| Sports massage programs | |
| School and university programs | |
| The athlete's support team | |
| Athletic organizations | |
| Organized sport events | |
| Health clubs | |
| Private sports massage practices | |
| Integrative sports medicine clinics | |
| Appendix A: Sanitary Guidelines for Sports Massage at Events | |
| Appendix B: Massage Licensing Laws Glossary, References & Index |
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| About the Authors | |
| Open-Book Test and Answer Sheet | |
| Course Evaluation Form |
Testimonials
Great course, great book, I learned alot!Linda J Lambert, LMBT, Cherokee NC
Excellent overview of the topicSuki Lurie L.M.T San Diego Ca
I liked the layout of the text. It was easy to read and understand. The photographs were very helpful.D. Stegall
I enjoyed this course and am looking forward to the next one.J. Hubbel, CMT
Learning Objectives
- Communicate how massage can enhance athletic performance, including the evidence for its efficacy.
- Describe the application of specific techniques with active movement, including the cautions and contraindications.
- Identify specialized massage techniques used in sports massage, including recovery, remedial and rehabilitative massage applications.
- Contrast the techniques, guidelines and goals of pre-, inter- and postevent sports massage.
- Describe the symptoms of, and first aid for, hyper- and hypothermia and muscle cramps.
- Recognize common problem areas for athletes in different sports, including remedial applications for different body regions.
- Identify common sports massage body mechanics problems and how to correct them.
- Identify how to plan for a season of sports massage, including how athletes and coaches can participate in a sports massage program.
- Recognize how sports massage is offered at athletic events, health clubs, in private practice and in sports medicine clinics.
Sample Text
"ATHLETIC ORGANIZATIONS
Many professional and amateur athletes hire their own massage specialists. This is a common practice in individual sports such as running, tennis, figure skating, boxing, and cycling, sports in which athletes have their own coaches, athletic trainers, personal physicians, and other support staff. Sometimes tournament managers (e.g., on a professional tennis circuit) provide a massage specialist for all players. An Olympic team may have its own massage specialist who travels with the team to training camp and to the Games themselves.
Some professional sport teams hire team massage therapists to provide massage to all team members. This assures that athletes will at least receive regular postevent massage, maintenance massage, or both. The logistics of providing massage in those circumstances is similar to in schools (i.e., creating a master schedule, allocating space, providing equipment, and making travel arrangements)." (Understanding Sports Massage by Patricia J. Benjamin & Scott P. Lamp, 2nd ed., 2005, p. 123-124)
Back to top Enroll NowSample Test Question
How do professional sport teams assure that the athletes receive regular maintenance massage?
- they call local massage practitioners in the cities of the upcoming events and arrange massage sessions
- they make it a mandatory rule that athletes must supply proof of receiving weekly maintenance massage
- they hire team massage therapists to provide massage to the team members
- none of the above

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