Sports Massage V Sports Therapy

[rehabs]

Ok, before we start this is not a jab at sports massage practitioners, this is observations over the last few years, and complaints I have heard from many of my colleagues.

Sports Massage and Sports Therapy are two distinctly different professions, but something we sports therapists find extremely annoying is sports massage practitioners that call themselves sports therapists.

Colleagues are reporting that some SMP's are advertising as ST's, and when they get clients in for problems that ST's treat everyday, they are telling them they cant treat them, and they should go and see a physio! This is really doing the reputation of sports therapists down, and I shall be contacting all the Sports Massage professional associations to see if they will write into their codes of conduct that SMPs do NOT call themselves ST's.

As I said at the start of this posting im not knocking sports massage as a profession. In my opinion everyone should have a sports massage at least once a month to keep themselves in good condition.

A comparison between sports massage and sports therapy:
A sports massage practitioner can perform sports massage with the following benefits (taken from the Sports Massage Association website):Improve circulation & lymphatic flow;
Assist in the removal of metabolic waste;
Sedate or stimulate nerve endings;
Increase or decrease muscle tone;
Increase or decrease muscle length;
Remodel scar tissue when required;
Assist in mental preparation for sporting participation.

A Sports Therapist can offer sports massage plus added remedial massage techniques such as M.E.T.s, Peripheral Joint Mobilisations, Neuromuscular Techniques and Soft Tissue Release for not only the above benefits, but also to treat muscular injuries/dysfunction. ST's are also trained to assess for muscle and joint dysfunction, using specialised techniques, and therefore would not have to refer within their scope of practice. ST's use taping and strapping and the vast majority are trained in the use of ultrasound. Cryotherapy is used to treat acute injuries and Thermal therapy is used to treat chronic problems. Rehabilitation after injury is a large part of an ST's role, as well as fitness testing/instruction and exercise therapy. Finally ST's are trained to give basic nutritonal advice, and in sports psychology techniques such as visualisation and motivation, to aid their clients further.

So you can see that a SMP can perform only a small percentage of what an ST is trained to do.

Our closest relative would be the Sport & Remedial Massage therapist, who would be trained in sports massage and remedial massage techniques, and some of the courses cover such things as remedial exercise and injury assessment.

It is interesting that with the new NICE report on lower back pain and its recommendation that massage be used as a treatment modality, the bulk of the soft tissue work will be performed not just by physios (with additional massage training), chiros and osteos, but by Sports Therapists and Remedial Masseurs, as they are the ones with the specialist training. It has been reported to me that Sports Therapists will be employed by NHS trusts, starting in the Midlands, and hopefully rolling out around the country.

If you do feel that you know of any SMPs advertising their services as an ST, it would be useful if you could check which Professional Association they belong to, so that we can sort this out for the benefit of ST's throughout the country. I dont mean for this to sound like a witchhunt, but why should we be losing business to people that arent trained to do what some of them claim to be able to do!?

 

[wim]

As a response to the above posting by sportstherapy;

my initial training in this industry was as a sports and remedial massage therapist and I worked part time in a gym environment alongside a physio, after approx 18 months of this work (which I personally found limiting and quite frustrating) I became hungry for more knowledge and decided to embark on a plan to develop my skills from the fitness industry as a sports coach, I completed gym instructor, personal trainer, advanced gym instructing, sports nutrition(to compliment my 12 years as a chef), I then became hooked and completed a course in sports therapy, remedial/ corrective exercise and then myofascial release.
Those additional skills have changed my whole perspective on the way I work and my own personal motivation means I will continue my self development plan.
That said I am extemely respectful of sports massage therapists who provide a valuable service to both elite and recreational athletes, it forms an important component of the whole process from injury to return to sport, equally important is its proactive approach to injury prevention.
However I do believe that my additional skillset means I can provide a complete proactive or reactive approach to any given sporting scenario.

I am aware of a couple of PAs with high levels (approx 3000) of sports therapy members who are seeking the extra recognition for the improved skillset. I personally would like to see the introduction of minimum levels of education to become a sports therapist but do not necessarily think it should be degree level entry, as my vocational experience spanning 25+ years has informed me to an extent that presuing a degree in sports therapy or physiotherapy would not be the best use of my time.

I think there is a lot of mileage in this thread but also feel it might lead to some short term resentment as I have experienced personally from the physiotherapists I have worked with who would have preferred to keep the monopoly they have enjoyed in sports rehab, despite the majority not being trained in massage, or sports specific techniques.

I have said on this forum in the past that I dont have the slightest interest in geriatric, pediatric, stroke, post op or other acute rehabilitation that is the preserve of the NHS Physios, My life is now and has always been involved heavily in sports, either as an athlete myself, presently coaching, treating sports injuries and supporting my kids who are all sporting participants
best regards
BGFL

 

[oxydczky]

Hi,

May I comment on one point?
BGFL mentioned degree-level training, and I tend to agree with him.
Whilst I'm all for degree exposure for anyone connected with healing, the elevation of initial training to degree-level for Podiatry (my field), Nursing and Physio was, in my opinion, a backward step.

Degree-level training is largely academic. Podiatry, Nursing and Physio are (should be) hands-on vocational professions, as should Sports Therapy and Sports Massage.

A prominent Educator in Podiatry put forward the proposal that a two-year full-time vocational course in Podiatry which could be converted to a degree at the end of that time for those who wished to do so would probably be the best way forward. Although not taken up (as yet) by Podiatry, this model would work well for Sports Therapy and Sports Massage, both of which share core learning.

Going back to the thread topic, its a difficult one.
We're all chasing business these days, and the titles aren't protected. Change and protection can only come from the goodwill of the various professional bodies involved.

David

 

[ainnoppift]

I have had lots of emails of support since I posted this last night, which is very nice, and also lots of examples of sports massage practitioners advertising themselves as sports therapists.

I really do think it does us ALL a dis-service.

An example would be, a client sprains their ankle, and books in to see an 'ST', in actual fact, the therapist has done a sports massage course. There is some inflammation so massage is contra-indicated. The therapist then says, "sorry, I cant treat you, go and see a physio".

A sports therapist would have been able to use cryotherapy, maybe some ultrasound, and then strapped the ankle, ready for a treatment in the sub-acute phase.

Instead, the client looks for a physio, and probably would never think to use a sports therapist again.

This example is a real one, and in my clinic, ive seen this first hand.

My gripe here isnt with training standards (unusually), its about advertising yourself as something you are not.

 

[bandittt x3]

Hello SportsTherapy, Big Gaz. We ask our members to use the title 'Sports Massage Practitioner', I will send a reminder to all members on our next newsletter.

Most of our members have come from schools which teach MET, STR, CTM etc. etc and continue to add to their skills through CPD courses (which are for the most part open to all) and include skills such as postural assessment, strapping and taping and so on. However, we are essentially massage experts and we ask members not to overclaim and to refer clients where appropriate. Personally I refer some of my clients on to physios, osteopaths, personal trainers, Bowen technique experts, chiropractors etc. I have sufficient confidence in the quality of what I offer as a Sports Massage Practitioner, and more importantly so do my clients, that I have no concerns about losing clientele.

My personal opinion is that Sports Therapy needs to raise its profile. One way of doing this is to encourage your members to contact their local Sports Massage Practitioner and explain what you do-you may find a willing audience. Secondly, why not establish contact with the associations which represent Sports Massage Practitioners and explain the value a Sports Therapist can add to the rehab. of a client? Inevitably there will be some overlap, but there will also be a point where Sports Massage and Sports Therapy can work together in the best interests of the client.

 

[Destin]

Good post!

David

 

[eqqkhogq]

Hi David, Paul
I agree, good post, communication is the key
BGFL

 

[ungodly]

hi Paul,
thanks for your input.

I think the problem is that Sports Therapy has become more mainstream and its profile is high, especially with the public, and that is why some of our more unethical practitioners are trying to get a slice of the pie, but without putting the work in. If they want to work as ST's then they should do the additional modules which would allow them to do so, and this applies to those that advertise remedial massage, but havent done a remedial massage course.

In my clinic I have ST's that do the postural and injury treatments and rehab, and SMP's that do the maintenance and event massage, and they complement each others skills perfectly. When an SMP cannot fix the problem, they refer to the ST, and when the ST has done all the 'fixing' they refer back to the SMP for the maintentance should the client want it, which they usually do.

I have to say that we are seeing more and more people coming for sports massages, so there is definately enough work to go round.

 

[ImanLii?LiBRA]

Hello Richard, that's good and that's how it should be.

Back to the original post. Misrepresentation in its various forms is a big issue in our industry, one example we are dealing with at the moment is the use of the SMA logo and MSMA letters (both trademarked) by lapsed members and indeed those who may have never been a member. I would urge any users of SMA 'members' to check our national register first. Talking of registers I was inspired to check out my local Sports Therapist, but I can't find a published register on either of the two PAs websites I am aware of. Can you help?

 

[hdchjqzv]

historically, STO has always had a public register, but this year we have experimented with the 'find a therapist' service. This way we have been able to monitor the amount of enquiries that we get through the website, instead of the public just contacting the therapist directly. It also a way that we can measure the usefulness of our website. There is a very strong possibility of a brand new national sports therapy register, which if everything goes to plan, should be available before the new year.

On the logo use, we check once a month on therapists using our own logo and letters, and have found in the last 2 months alone, at least 6 individuals using our logo and MSTO letters, when they arent members, and quite possibly not sports therapists. We treat this very seriously, and would in certain cases take legal action (should the therapist not remove all references etc within 7 days). We do follow up checks. Sometimes it is a genuine mistake, with lapsed memberships etc, but other times it is a blatant misrepresentation of themselves.

 

[xfbeyjpr]

From personal experience when I mention I qualified in sports therapy people automatically assume it involves sports rehab...which I guess is going in a better direction than only using sports massage.
I still get asked 'What is sports therapy?' and people are surprised when you list what it actually involves. This includes physios, chiros etc

As big gaz mentioned there is still alot of resentment amongst physios who tend to label sports therapists as sports massage therapists which gives the impression they only provide sports massage.

Titles of these 2 professions need to be clarified as it can be misleading.
As it harms the reputation sports therapists have been working hard to improve.

 

[Oueradstan]

Hello Carlita, I come back to my point, and it is well meant, that the profession of Sports Therapy needs to raise its profile and the understanding of what Sports Therapists do. Nobody needs to accept this, but you should consider it as a possibility.

Speaking on behalf of my members who only provide sports massage-it's not the worst thing in the world to be confused with a Sports Massage Practitioner. we happen to be very good at what we do. However, I do know what you mean, you have invested in your education and should receive due recognition. Sports Massage has more or less found a working accommodation with physios, osteopaths etc. based on an understanding of what we do and the limitations of what we do. It has taken its time and we still have some detractors, but for the most part it works very well.

 

[RarRosaaua]

Hi,

I actually began reading this thread with great interest, as I have to admit.. I had no idea what sports therapy was.

To me there was physio, and massage. I had no idea that sports therapists did so much of what I considered physiotherapy. So I'd say raising awareness with the public is going to be an important step in fixing this. Just to make it clear, I have competed internationally in sport for years, so I was surprised to not know the difference!

 

[Welsh are best at rugby]

hi Savid,
I think thats where the confusion lays....everyone thinks that sports therapy and physiotherapy are very similar, and in actual fact, they are very different.

Of all the techniques I listed, the only real comparisons are the exercise therapy, joint assessments, and peripheral joint mobs.

Physios do on average 10 hours training in massage over their 3 year degree, and electrotherapy is being reduced too...in one uni ultrasound had been cut to about 2 hours.

In the past 12 months I have trained in the region of 40 physios, some student, some qualified, including musculo-skeletal trained, I have also trained around 60+ sports massage practitioners, and around 20+ sport & remedial massage therapists...........they have all trained because they see how different sports therapy is from all their professions, and have gained additional skills to enable them to work with a broader range of people.

Even if you look at the NICE Report on lower back pain, it concludes that physios would need extra, specialised training to be able to treat the condition with manual therapy, that training is already given to ST's.

I think we do probably need to look at how we 'market' the profession differently, to show how different we actually are to physio's, SMPs and SRMT's.

 

[Zhandra]

I think the nail has been hit firmly on the head when it was said that ST's need to 'raise their profile' but also maybe some need to expand their knowledge of SMP's too.

My sports and remedial massage course taught me MET and STR and I was assessed on both of these specifically. We were also taught NMT and how to recognise muscular injuries and dysfunction. I've also taken a CPD course in taping and strapping. I use all my skills (including my first aid!!) regularly as I work with an ice hockey team.

I'm very aware of my 'limitations' as a massage therapist and will refer people on if I'm unable to treat them for whatever reason. I would never treat someone if I had any concerns or doubts about what I was presented with, and would hope that any sports therapists out there would commend such practice rather than look down on them for not being able to treat 'problems an ST does every day' . In the year since I've been qualified in sports and remedial massage, there have only been a small number of times when I have felt I've needed to refer people to someone else and on each of these occasions it has been to a physio and not a sports therapist. The only reason this has been so is because as of yet I have been unable to find a sports therapist in my area, not because there aren't any but because the few that I have contacted haven't responded.

Maybe there are ST's out there that need to be more open minded about collaborating with sports massage therapists and less worried that we're trying to compete with them.

When I first got into massage, I thought that was all I wanted to do and that's why I did the sports and remedial massage diploma and not a sports therapy one. However, as I do now find myself limited in what I'm able to do for my clients and my team, I would very much like to do sports therapy and it is something I'm looking into at the moment.

 

[fuzzymolly]

Hi Nefra,
In my previous post I stated my opinion of SMPs providing an important service within the rehabilitation sector and IMO more importantly in the proactive work that is done by SMPs. I too became quickly aware of some limitations in providing massage and a couple of remedial techniques even when combined with my other fitness/ nutrition skilset. I have endured over 25 years of inneffective or minimally effective treatment at the hands of NHS ( a couple of exceptions, were wholly interested in my condition/ rehab, however the majority made me feel like I was actually causing them an incovenience by attending appointments) It was during a treatment by a Sports Therapist that I felt I was making progress for the first time in years and that quite possibly the light at the end of the tunnel meant I did not have to have my arm fused at the shoulder as was the opinion of a number of specialists.
I do respect the services of SMPs and have recently had communication with various PA representatives who for the first time in a few years are willing to sit and discuss the differences in our respective services and to move forwards with the aim of providing high quality proactive and reactive services to the recreational, professional and elite athletes as the opportunity or need arises.
Far from suggesting there should be any kind of hierarchy, monopoly or elitism, as has previously claimed by various unnamed corners of the industry, I am advocating a standardisation of education levels that recognises that we all provide a service that is appropriate to our clients needs, across the boundaries of different sports, all of whom still claim only to be accessible by being members of a certain PA or other.

As several of you have suggested , I accept it is about raising our profile, it is also about making the public aware of the differences of our respective services, I know thsat many of my clients fail to distinguish between STs, SMPs or indeed Physios until they are politely educated, many of whom do not know, or potentially care what METs, STRs or PNF is or does. Their main concern and the reason for their visit is to get treatment for an injury, raise performance levels, or ascertain their level of fitness or true potential.
In a perfect world we would all sit round the same table, at the same time to give our respective views on a progression route for this industry and get involved in implementing the agreed plan.
In the real world, some are content to act as saboteurs and pessimists and actively pursue a course of destructive dialogue regarding the best efforts of the few who do commit their time to pursuit of progress.

Best regards with your ongoing development and if appropriate for you, I would be happy to advise you on this thread or by PM regarding your ongoing training opportunities.
BGFL

 

[aJeptevetads76]

The point of my original topic, is the fact that there are SMP's out there that are claiming to be ST's, that dont have the skills to treat some of the problems that ST's encounter, and when they refer to others, they are actually doing a great dis-service to ST's. That would be the reason that an ST looks down on an SMP, and not for any other reason. Anyone, regardless of their training/profession should refer if they are presented with problems that are outside their scope of practice.



Again, ST's are trainined in sports massage, and remedial massage, so in actual fact, can do the work of an SMP, but not vice versa.

Going back to my clinic, we have an ST that does not do any full body sports massages. He may use it within a treatment along with other remedial techniques, however, all his clients come to him to have things 'fixed'. He does no rehab, and if a client requires this, he refers to our other ST, who again, does not do full body sports massages, but his preference is rehab.

Because neither of them do full body sports massages (through choice), we employ an SMP, who does them.

Personally, I enjoy the whole range of sports therapy treatments. I like to do full body sports massages, as I find them very therapeutic for myself for some reason, I enjoy the 'nitty gritty' of encountering injuries, working out what the problem is, and then finding the right 'tool' to treat it, and I like doing rehab, because it gives me a chance to sit back and watch my client do all the work (im half joking here). I think I enjoy the full range of ST treatments because I dont work in the clinic full time, as the other guys do, and they, over the years, have decided to 'specialise' in what they enjoy, be it remedial treatments or rehab.

So, again, going back on topic, my gripe isnt with peoples abilities, but, people claiming to be something they arent, to the detriment of people that are

We all have a role to play, and important ones at that, and im passionate about sports massage, remedial massage and sports therapy, they are ALL wonderful therapies!

 

[EvexUniguenig]

Sorry forgot to add, I dont do full body sports massage now, I get the enquiries but have chosen to specialise in the injury management/rehab rather than massage. I do tho' see several runners who now have regular half body/ leg work on a maintenance basis, now the injuries have been fixed.
BGFL

 

[yen]

hi guys,
I thought I would chip into this thread, as I came across a persons website, which reminded me of this posting. At first glance at this thread, I thought "oh dear, someone has rattled sportstherapy's cage", but then having read through it, he does have some valid points.

The person who's website I looked at, was advertising as a sport & remedial massage therapist, so I looked at the qualifications listed, and it was an OCR qualification in sports massage, and when i looked at the website of the training provider it was clear that the course was just that...sports massage. Now maybe some people dont think that one word would make much difference, but I do think that it does. Sport & Remedial Massage practitioners can offer additional hands on techniques.

When I originally trained, my main source of income was performing sports massages, which I enjoyed doing. I did find, even with the best will in the world, that I used to get very tired after 3 or 4 massages per day, that combined with the fact that clients were forever asking me to 'fix' their problems, made me look at offering more techniques, and I got into the remedial side more, which I loved doing. Having the chance to work on problems was great....however, I still felt something was missing, and so took the sports therapy course.

I have since specialised, and now work mainly with postural problems, and do very little in the way of 'sports injury' treatments. As far as sports therapy is concerned, I think I still lean towards remedial/soft tissue therapy, as I dont use any ultrasound, or strapping, or hot/cold therapy, and I refer clients on for rehab. I am clinic based though, and know that if I was working with a sports team, then the latter techniques would be essential.

Going back to the point of the posting, those that advertise as SMPs should have a sports massage qualication, those that advertise as SRMPs should have a sports and remedial massage qualification and those that advertise as STs should have a sports therapy qualification, and those that falsely advertise are doing us all out of business.

 

[nipples kostalakis]

Hi fasciaman,
thanks for that

Yes actually my cage had been rattled, but then, so have lots of other peoples, and yes I have had emails of support, and I have also had emails where people have thought I was having a pop at sports massage practitioners, when in fact, if you read through my postings, im having a pop at those that advertise as sports therapists and remedial therapists, but are not trained in the therapies.

I know that SMA have it written in their codes of conduct that their members should call themselves Sports Massage Practitioners, and ISRM in theirs, that their members do not call themselves Sports Therapists.

We dont have protection of title, which is a shame, so we all need to be looking out for each other.

If there are any SMPs that thought I have been 'putting down' their skills, then im sorry if thats the way it looked, as that was not the intention. At the end of the day, I am involved in sports massage in a big way. I also teach sports massage, so it would be rather silly of me if I did 'put down' the skills wouldnt it.......