| We know that not everyone has the physical and | | | | athlete, especially via the lymphatic system because of |
| mental talents needed to become a professional | | | | massage. Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is |
| athlete. So what’s the next best thing? Why, sports | | | | lessened through massage as well. In the end, |
| jobs that constantly bring you into contact with | | | | treatment via sports massage allows the athlete to |
| professional athletes, of course. And one of the most | | | | gain better flexibility and posture. |
| necessary of sports jobs is being a massage therapist | | | | Where can sports massage therapists be employed? |
| for professional athletes. | | | | Since sports massage is needed by both recreational |
| Why become a massage therapist? | | | | and professional athletes, sports jobs like that of |
| Though it does not carry the same prestige that a | | | | sports massage therapists are offered in both |
| professional athlete may enjoy, being a sports | | | | recreational and professional sports venues. You can |
| massage therapist is still an important job that no | | | | find work in local gyms and community sports centers |
| sports team can do without. No serious professional | | | | if you target recreational athletes for your service. If |
| athlete can survive the rigors of regular sports | | | | you favor working with professional athletes, you might |
| competition if he lacks the services of a good sports | | | | want to apply with teams affiliated with professional |
| massage therapist. | | | | sports organizations. If you get really, really lucky (or |
| Why is sports massage needed by athletes? | | | | just have good networking skills) you might be able to |
| A sports massage therapist can aid athletes who are | | | | find work with a particular professional sports athlete |
| going through overcompensation and adaptation. | | | | as part of his personal care team. |
| Simply put, overcompensation is when the athlete has | | | | What other services does a massage therapist |
| recently undergone stress overload (a usual | | | | provide? |
| occurrence in regular training and sports competition | | | | Aside from massage, a massage therapist might also |
| proper) so he overcompensates so that he will be | | | | help the professional athlete with the treatment and |
| prepared for the same or higher level of stress in the | | | | management of sports injuries, exercise rehabilitation |
| future. Adaptation is when the athlete is specially | | | | and therapy, and helping plan the sports nutrition |
| trained in coping with a certain type of stress. For | | | | program of the professional athlete. |
| example, a sprinter is used to running in short bursts | | | | The advances in the 20th century as far as sports |
| over short distances so he needs to adapt to that. | | | | medicine is concerned have helped foster demand for |
| A sports massage therapist will manipulate soft tissue | | | | sports massage therapists as one of the more valued |
| (such as the hamstrings of a sprinter) prior to and after | | | | sports jobs. Of course, you may need to train for this |
| the exercise so that the athlete can experience less | | | | position before you can be considered by a |
| muscle tension and pain. Another benefit is that waste | | | | professional sports organization, but it promises to be a |
| products can be eliminated from the body of the | | | | great type of job (if you enjoy working with athletes. |
