A sports massage therapist is a masseuse who specializes in providing therapeutic massage to athletes, for many purposes: to prepare athletes for upcoming events, to help prevent injury, to loosen muscles (promoting flexibility and reducing tension), and to lessen muscle fatigue in general. Sports massage can also help increase blood and lymph flow and reduce blood pressure as it relaxes the muscles.
The demand for those with sports massage therapist qualifications has increased in recent years as the value of massage in improving athletic performance and preventing injury has become better known. The marked increase in resort spas has also driven up demand.
Sports massage therapist skills are similar to those required for performing Swedish massage. One sports massage therapist qualification, for example, is knowledge of trigger point therapy, which is also common in Swedish massage. This is used to loosen muscle knots, and therefore increase range of motion.
Other special qualifications required for a sports massage practitioner include:
1) strong knowledge of specific muscles and muscle groups, and how they are used in each sport;
2) the ability to perform deep tissue massage, trigger point work, and acupressure;
3) familiarity with rhythmic compression techniques;
4) strong skills in cross-fiber or cross-friction massage.
All of these skills and techniques are taught in massage schools, which can be found throughout the country. But the best practitioners generally have many years of experience.
Although some sports massage therapists specialize in particular sports, most are generalists, tending to athletes who participate in many different team and individual athletic pursuits. Such therapists may work in gyms, in college and university athletic departments, for professional sports teams, and for individual competitive amateur and professional athletes.
Others work in spas — including resort spas around the world — alongside massage therapists with other specialties. Non-athletes who have restricted range of motion, acute injuries, or persistent pain — which frequently occurs in the back, neck, and shoulder areas — can also benefit from sports massage therapist skills.
Many sports massage therapists are self-employed, and may or may not be affiliated with either a traditional or alternative medical practice. Many sports massage therapists are employed in physical therapy practices or physical therapy units within hospitals.
Because of the many different work environments, sports massage therapist duties also vary widely. For example, self-employed sports massage therapists are responsible for their entire practice, which includes publicizing their services, maintaining good relations with customers, and basic bookkeeping. Sports massage therapists connected with sports teams or athletic departments may be required to be available or on call during games and practices, which may require work on nights and weekends, and perhaps frequent travel.
What is the typical sports massage therapist salary? It can range widely, from approximately $25,000 to $75,000 a year. However, the national average yearly salary, according to salary.com, is about $47,000, and most sports massage therapists earn between $37,000 and $56,000 a year. If the value of benefits (vacation, health care, pension plan, etc.) is included, the average compensation jumps to more than $65,000 a year.
Over the past two decades the resort industry has exploded, and with it there has been a concurrent jump in the number of luxury spas operating throughout the world. Because of this, there is a strong demand for those with sports massage therapist skills.
A career in sports massage therapy can be very rewarding. Sports masseuses are highly valued in a variety of work settings, and with experience can do very well financially.