Massage Therapy Journal Winter 2024

24 • Massage Therapy Journal

What does this mean for you? You may find yourself massaging one athlete on one table while another athlete in the same room might be receiving compression treatment or chiropractic adjustments. Additionally, when working as a massage therapist in a professional sports setting, teamwork is not only beneficial but required. “I work hand-in-hand with the athletic trainer,” says Jessica Satti, a massage therapist with the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun. “She will give me a recap of what is going on with each player before they are on my table. I will always watch their away games to help me see things that happened on the court.” Similarly, Brimley makes note of the importance of both relying on the information from other health care providers around her, as well as informing them of her own findings. Who might be interested? Practicing massage in a professional sports setting may appeal to massage therapists who are already interested in sports massage, enjoy working in a faster paced environment, and who like to collaborate with other professions as part of a larger team. Pregnancy Massage Generally defined, pregnancy massage—also sometimes referred to as prenatal massage—is a massage focused on helping people who are pregnant. “Prenatal massage is performed much like any other massage,” says Julia Costello, licensed massage therapist and owner of Portland Prenatal Massage. The strokes and techniques used during prenatal massage are very similar to Swedish massage, though there are some key differences. With prenatal massage, for example, strokes may be slower and gentler, and may include techniques like feathering and craniosacral therapy. Additionally, certain areas, such as the calves, may require caution because of the increased risk of blood clots. “Therapeutic touch, gentle range of motion, and breath work can all help the mother’s nervous system shift and help her adjust to the

Sports massage: great for massage therapists who enjoy working in a faster paced environment and who like to collaborate with other professions as part of a larger team.

at their best, and massage therapy is included as part of these offerings for just about every pro sports team. One of the biggest differences between a professional athlete and a traditional massage client is body type. “The biggest difference is size and muscle mass,” says Cicily Cannady, a massage therapist who has worked with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars since 2017. “The players that have a lot of muscle mass take a lot more care and time warming up the tissues and manipulating the muscle to promote circulation and flexibility.” The work environment is also different. “I typically do home visits for my everyday clients,” explains Julia Brimley, a massage therapist who has been working with the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets since 2020 and the NFL’s New York Jets since 2022. “The environment is usually private. Whereas in professional sports, they have one big room for treatment, which can include massage therapists, physical therapists, athletic trainers and chiropractors.”

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