Sports Massage Therapy Certification
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, sports massage certification is offered by local and state level massage licensing boards as part of the general training required for certification. Massage therapists can choose from more than 80 areas of study in which to specialize.
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Sports Massage
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Sports massage is used by a growing of athletes in the 21st century as an important part of their exercise routine, according to the Holistic Online website. The site reports that coaches and trainers recommend the inclusion of specialized sports massage as an important part of a workout routine. Specialized sports massage can help an athlete recover with increased speed from workouts and assist in relieving any injury-causing conditions that can be caused by prolonged workouts.
Certification
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in 2009, 42 states and the District of Columbia offered some form of massage therapy licensing. In the states that do not require a state license to provide massage therapy, a license must be obtained at local level. Massage therapy licenses are usually provided after completion of a course of study lasting for around 500 hours and the passing of an examination. During this period of study, the Lauterstein-Conway Massage School reports, a module of study is usually available allowing candidates to receive specialized training in sports massage. The sports massage certification offered at Lauterstein-Conway consists of 38 1/2 hours of training in the application of massage techniques linked to sports injuries and in stretching exercises to help prevent injuries.
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Training
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Sports massage training includes the preparation of students for massage techniques designed for pre- and post-event massage and the training of candidates for the maintenance of athletes throughout training programs. The National Holistic Institute says sports massage training is used for a variety of sports, including endurance events such as marathons and triathlons, alongside workout and training sessions.
Techniques
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According to Holistic Online, the training included in sports massage therapy certification uses a variety of massage techniques offered by training in other areas of certification. Sports massage most commonly uses the technique of Swedish or traditional Western massage. Other techniques used in sports massage are deep-tissue massage, trigger points and acupressure.
Benefits
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The benefits of sports massage certification include the training of massage therapists in the treatment of muscles vital for various sports activities. The Lauterstein-Conway Massage School website explains that the training offered in sports massage therapy includes advanced anatomy, allowing the therapist to understand the muscle groups used in specific sports and physical activities. Sports massage therapy helps an athlete recover more quickly from physical activity and allows the body to function more efficiently during training sessions, according to Holistic Online.
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References
- Photo Credit massage image by fderib from Fotolia.com
