Chapter 4: Massage Therapy for Sports Injuries 4 CE Hours
By: Valerie Wohl, PhD Learning outcomes
After completing this course, the learner will be able to: List 12 massage techniques that can help rehabilitate or prevent sports injuries. Describe the manner in which each massage technique is performed. List 14 general terms associated with sports injuries. Summarize each of the general terms to include symptoms of bodily conditions. Course overview Athletes as a group are particularly vulnerable to injuries and dysfunctions that arise from physical exertion. Unlike the average person who may exercise daily as a means of staying healthy, athletes exercise vigorously for extended periods of time. In some cases, an athlete may train for up to four hours a day depending upon their particular sport. As such, athletes are likely to suffer an injury at some point during their training due to the high levels of stress they place upon their bodies. Naturally, athletes also become injured by participating in their chosen sport, but injuries may occur at any time, such as during an athlete’s warm-up session or even during non-training activities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, two out of every ten professional athletes will suffer an injury that requires professional treatment. Massage therapy is becoming increasingly popular with injured athletes due to a number of current studies that indicate massage therapy shortens recovery and injury time. It is also now generally accepted that massages Implicit bias in healthcare Implicit bias significantly affects how healthcare professionals perceive and make treatment decisions, ultimately resulting in disparities in health outcomes. These biases, often unconscious and unintentional, can shape behavior and produce differences in medical care along various lines, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, and socioeconomic status. Healthcare disparities stemming from implicit bias can manifest in several ways. For example, a healthcare provider might unconsciously give less attention to a patient or make assumptions about their medical needs based on race, gender, or age. The unconscious assumptions can lead to delayed or inadequate care, misdiagnoses, or inappropriate treatments, all of which can adversely impact
Identify the conditions that contraindicate massage therapy. List 14 conditions associated with sports injuries. Define each of the specific conditions to include its symptoms. Discuss which massage techniques are most effective for each condition. Provide any self-care techniques that may help rehabilitate these conditions. can help prepare the body for greater exertion and help prevent injuries before they occur by relaxing heavily used muscles that have lost the ability to contract effectively. As a supplement to training programs, massage therapy can help athletes avoid common, general injuries such as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS); help them recuperate more quickly from sports-specific injuries such as runner’s knee; and help athletes feel calmer, which may allow them to become more focused. This course is designed to familiarize massage therapists with the techniques most commonly used to treat sports injuries, the general terminology associated with sports injuries, the most common sports injuries, the anatomy and physiology involved, and the sports each injury is usually associated with. The course also reviews several tips for helping athletes avoid specific injuries. In several instances, learners will discover that massage therapy is contraindicated given the specifics of an athlete’s condition. health outcomes. Addressing implicit bias in healthcare is crucial for achieving equity in medical treatment. Strategies to combat these biases involve education and awareness programs for healthcare professionals. These programs help individuals recognize and acknowledge their biases, fostering a more empathetic and unbiased approach to patient care. Additionally, implementing policies and procedures prioritizing equitable treatment for all patients can play a pivotal role in reducing healthcare disparities. Ultimately, confronting implicit bias in healthcare is essential to creating a more just and equitable healthcare system where everyone receives fair and equal treatment regardless of their background or characteristics.
SECTION I: MASSAGE TECHNIQUES FOR SPORTS INJURIES
Counter Torque Twisting, Cross Fiber Friction, Deep Tissue, Directional Massage, Hot Stones, Myofascial Release, Petrissage, Sports Massage, Stretches (passive stretching, Agonist Contract or AC stretches, and Contract Relax Antagonist Contract or CRAC stretches), and Trigger Point Therapy.
This section reviews the massage techniques that are the most effective and most often used to treat sports injuries. A single technique may be used during the course of one session, though in most cases, the application of multiple techniques will help heal an injury more quickly. This section contains descriptions for the general application of Counter torque twisting This technique is primarily used to realign large muscle groups of the limbs such as the biceps or quadriceps, or realign muscle groups around an injured joint such as the
elbow or knee. Massage therapists should be careful not to perform this technique on the site of the injury; instead, they should use medium pressure (or pressure tolerable
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Book Code: MIL1224
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