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Sports Massage 6: Athlete Care and Conditions
Sports Massage

Sports Massage 6: Athlete Care and Conditions

Author(s): Steve Jurch and Helen Tosch

3.5CE credits 13 Lessons Text

Sports massage therapists should understand common problems encountered by athletes, particularly those related to heat. Learn approaches and prevention strategies to ensure athletes can perform at the highest level.

Complete this course on its own or as part of the AMTA/NCBTMB Sports Massage Specialty Certificate Program.

When you finish this course, you will be able to:

  • Explain heat-related illnesses and conditions common to athletes, and outline prevention strategies. 
  • Discuss the three areas of acclimatization and how they help athletes perform.
  • Compare dynamic warm-up exercises with stretching.
  • Describe the first-aid steps a massage therapist can take.

  1. Sports Medicine and Heat
  2. Heat and the Human Body
  3. Types of Heat Illness
  4. Muscle Cramps—a Common Condition
  5. Acute Mountain Sickness
  6. Exercise-induced Bronchoconstriction
  7. Hyponatremia
  8. Concussion
  9. Overtraining
  10. Providing Emergency Medical Care
  11. Prevention Strategies
  12. Dynamic Warm-up Exercises
  13. Resources

Steve Jurch, ATC, LMT has over 20 years’ experience as a massage therapist and athletic trainer. He serves as director of health and human services at Community College of Baltimore County, in Maryland. He has a master's degree in sports medicine and authored a clinical massage textbook.

Helen Tosch is a published, award-winning writer and editor with more than 14 years of experience. She has a broad and deep understanding of medical and healthcare topics.