Sports Massage

Course Details

Our full course runs over 10 weekends or 4 week blocks over a 6 – 7 month period with a practical and theoretical examination at the end. Students are continually assessed during the course with regard to safe and effective practice and are taught by qualified Sports Massage Practitioners (SMPs) and Chartered Physiotherapists.

On completion and graduation of the course, participants will receive a Level 4 Diploma together with full membership of the Sports Massage Association (SMA) enabling them to set up and practice independently or as part of a team working with other Healthcare Professionals (for example Physiotherapists and Osteopaths etc.) in:

* Soft Tissue Work
* Deep Tissue Massage
* Sports Training
* Rehabilitation

* Post Injury
* Injury Management
* Injury Prevention

100 hours of Practice Time

Students are required to record a minimum of 100 hours of practice time outside contact hours and within the time frame of the course. These hours need not be supervised but participants will be required to cover the categories of people specified in the course (e.g. age, gender, race).

Continuous Assessment Record Log (CARL)

Students will be required to complete a Continuous Assessment Record Log (CARL) over the 6 - 7 month period of the course which may represent up to 250 hours outside of contact hours. This includes 4 essays, 6 case studies and study time with further reading.

Examination

Students are continually assessed during the course with regard to safe and effective practice. At the conclusion of the course participants will undergo a practical and theoretical examination conducted by external examiners. Oxford, Cambridge & RSA (OCR) externally moderate the examination process.

Curriculum

The course comprises 150 hours, of which approximately 120 are practical. Outside of course hours students are expected to record a minimum of 100 hours of practice time and in addition research and complete a Continuous Assessment Record Log. The syllabus includes:

Anatomy & Physiology
Muscular
and Physiology Skeletal
Digestive
Cardiovascular
Urinary
Lymphatics
Central/Peripheral Nervous System
Respiratory
Endocrine
Skin
Reproductive

Exercise Physiology

Energy Systems
Principles of Training
Recognition of Injury
Contraindications
Sports Psychology

Massage Methods

Effleurage
Tapotement
Petrissage
Compressions
Vibrations
Frictions
Dermal Lifting
Stretching

Massage Application

Treatment Room
Event Work
Conditioning/training
Pre competition
Inter competition
Post competition
Injury prevention
Injury recovery
Massage Mediums

Health & Safety
Role of the Masseur
Ethics and Professionalism
Safety
Communication - onward referral
First Aid Certificate
Interaction with Healthcare Professionals
Environment
Child Protection Policy
Massage Assessments
History Taking History - overview
Correct Notation
Communication
Client Handling
Legal Issues

Course Aim

To enable delegates to obtain a recognised diploma in Sports Massage and give them the skills to:

• Provide knowledge and understanding of the theoretical aspects necessary to underpin safe and effective practice. Introduce a variety of soft tissue manipulation methods.
• Develop the practical skills needed to perform effective sports massage in any given situation and present opportunities for problem solving.
• Provide an experience that is valuable, a foundation for more advanced study and a means of personal development.
• Work closely with other healthcare professionals to provide best practice.

Our training courses are aimed at:

• People with no previous experience within therapy who want to become registered Sports Massage Practitioners
• People who are already qualified in other areas of massage and would like to take their understanding and standards of practice to a higher level
• Chartered Physiotherapists and other Healthcare Professionals who want SMA recognition to work with elite athletes.