Sports Massage: An Overview for Massage Therapists

At the conclusion of this continuing education activity, the participant will be able to:

1. Describe the role of massage and the massage therapist in assisting amateur and professional athletes following an injury.

2. Distinguish between the various types of sports-related injuries.

3. Describe the various types of musculoskeletal injuries common among athletes, their causes, and classifications.

4. Describe the various types of tendon injuries common among athletes, their causes, and classifications.

5. Describe the various types of synovial joint injuries common among athletes, their causes, and classifications.

6. Describe the various types of bone injuries common among athletes, their causes, and classifications.

7. Identify common sports-related injuries affecting the upper and lower body.

8. Identify factors that massage therapists must consider when working with athletes.

9. Describe the various types of sports massage along with their timing and purpose.

10. Describe how neuromuscular concerns, the type of injury, and stage of healing impact the use of massage and the technique used.

11. Identify appropriate massage techniques for various types of injuries.

12. Describe how massage can be used in the treatment of muscle imbalance and postural distortion syndromes.

This is a 2-hour overview of the types of injuries common among amateur and professional athletes, how massage can help facilitate healing and recovery following an injury, and the appropriate massage techniques to use during each phase of the athlete’s training and competitive cycle and stage of recovery. This course is among the subjects covered for mandatory live classroom hours; however, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Florida Board of Massage Therapy is allowing Florida licensed massage therapists to obtain all of their continuing education hours online for the current renewal period.