Sports massage
Sports massage is used to release and reduce tension in muscles, it improves circulation and
encourages the removal of waste products that are made during high intense physical activity like
lactic acid. It is proven that massage helps to reduce stress and increase relaxation, promote
recovery, improve circulation and energy and can lower the heart rate and blood pressure, it
reduces the chance of injury to muscles, all is a benefit to sports people and athletes
The role of a sports massage therapist or practitioner is to work closely with athlete’s and others
who take part in sport and physical activity and use massage techniques effectively to care for and
treat athlete’s who are suffering with muscle pain or soreness, injury and tension from training or
games or sport activity. They work with their clients to reduce pain and discomfort and inflammation
as well as follow rehabilitation programmes with massage included to help improve a injury or
reduce the risk of injury or the reoccurrence of a previous injury. To do this effectively they each
follow the relevant standards of practice and are registered with professional associations.
Standards of practise
Health and safety is defined as the regulations and procedures intended to prevent accident or
injury in the workplace or public environments. The minimum standards that every business must
follow are to ensure the comfort and safety of everyone at work, the basic requirements are that a
risk assessment is carried out, to provide basic comforts and put up signs and notices required by
law.
In the sports massage environment is is essential to provide health, safety, hygiene and protection in
the work place. The law demands that every work place is safe and healthy for employees and
clients.
The minimum regulations and laws for health and safety in sport massage therapy are listed below.
The health and safety at work act (1974) provides the legal framework to encourage, promote and
maintain high standards of health and safety. This act includes what the employer must actively
achieve such as
complete risk assessments
consultations with everyone at harm in the workplace
provide hygiene facilities
Have appropriate insurance cover
report and record injuries as appropriate
Manual handling, operations regulations (1992, amended 2002) this brings attention to
musculoskeletal disorders caused by manual handling such as lifting, repetitive strain disorders and
unsuitable postures. When working as a sports therapist it is essential to minimise the risk of
handling injuries. A sports massage therapist or SMT must be able to discuss the law as well as learn
future lifting techniques to reduce the risk of injuring themselves in the workplace.
Health and safety (first aid) regulations (1981) states that there must be appropriate first aid
treatment along with a qualified first aider available at all times. The minimum provision for a
medical emergency is stated as
, A fully stocked first aid kit
Someone appointed to take charge of the first aid kit
Clear indications of where the first aid kit is located
A mobile SMT would be required to qualify in first aid and carry their own fully stocked first aid kit
Data protection act (1998) this act regulates the processing usage and storage of personal data
recorded electronically on in hand written notes. The information commissioners office will
ensure that all data is used and stored ethically as well as maintaining confidentiality. Sports
massage therapist organisations will have to register with the ICO. SMT client records must be
Stored for 8 years if the client is an adult
If the client is a child the records must be stored until their 25 th birthday if 17 during the
consultation and treatment the records are stored until their 26 th birthday
If on paper any notes should be secured immediately and not left out
If stored electronically the notes should be password protected and have back up
systems with strength in electronic security
Employers liability (compulsory insurance) act (1969) ensures that employers have appropriate
insurance to cover accidents or Illness
Control of substances hazardous to health regulations or COSHH (2002) this act ensures employers
take precautions against the risk of hazardous substances, this includes checking the SMT and client
aren’t allergic to any substances which may be found in lotions used during therapy
Provision and use of work equipment regulations (1998) this ensures employers have equipment and
machinery which is safe to use and properly maintained. This includes the massage bed that will be
used during sessions.
Health and safety industry standards are important in sport massage therapy. The most common
health and safety industry standards that are used as part of a sports therapists routine include
personal hygiene and properly washing hands and using hand sanitizer between clients and before
and after each session, this is very important due to the nature of the close personal therapy on
different people in one working day and ensures adequate personal hygiene facilities are provided.
All equipment should be sanitised before and after use. Personal protective equipment (PPE) like
gowns, gloves and masks will protect the therapist and the client and provide a barrier especially in
todays Covid environment and working in close surroundings with different people. Making sure the
massage bed is at the correct height for the SMT is very important to protect them whilst they stand
for long hours, they must also be comfortable and work at a height that prevents them from bending
or stooping over the client. It is also important to lower the bed for easy access for the client to get
on and off, especially older clients or ones with injury who may find it difficult to get onto the
massage bed at the beginning of a session and to get off safely after, this will prevent any further
strain or injury if done safely. This is part of the the provision and use of work equipment regulations
(1998) it also involves a risk assessment and complies with the health and safety at work act (1974)
and manual handling (1992). Adequate comfort breaks should also be incorporated into the working
day, this will allow the SMT to rest their hands, arms and shoulders. Most common injuries sustained
by an SMT is tendinitis, arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome. To prevent this they should be
encouraged to not overwork their bodies, they should plan their clients so they are treating different
Sports massage is used to release and reduce tension in muscles, it improves circulation and
encourages the removal of waste products that are made during high intense physical activity like
lactic acid. It is proven that massage helps to reduce stress and increase relaxation, promote
recovery, improve circulation and energy and can lower the heart rate and blood pressure, it
reduces the chance of injury to muscles, all is a benefit to sports people and athletes
The role of a sports massage therapist or practitioner is to work closely with athlete’s and others
who take part in sport and physical activity and use massage techniques effectively to care for and
treat athlete’s who are suffering with muscle pain or soreness, injury and tension from training or
games or sport activity. They work with their clients to reduce pain and discomfort and inflammation
as well as follow rehabilitation programmes with massage included to help improve a injury or
reduce the risk of injury or the reoccurrence of a previous injury. To do this effectively they each
follow the relevant standards of practice and are registered with professional associations.
Standards of practise
Health and safety is defined as the regulations and procedures intended to prevent accident or
injury in the workplace or public environments. The minimum standards that every business must
follow are to ensure the comfort and safety of everyone at work, the basic requirements are that a
risk assessment is carried out, to provide basic comforts and put up signs and notices required by
law.
In the sports massage environment is is essential to provide health, safety, hygiene and protection in
the work place. The law demands that every work place is safe and healthy for employees and
clients.
The minimum regulations and laws for health and safety in sport massage therapy are listed below.
The health and safety at work act (1974) provides the legal framework to encourage, promote and
maintain high standards of health and safety. This act includes what the employer must actively
achieve such as
complete risk assessments
consultations with everyone at harm in the workplace
provide hygiene facilities
Have appropriate insurance cover
report and record injuries as appropriate
Manual handling, operations regulations (1992, amended 2002) this brings attention to
musculoskeletal disorders caused by manual handling such as lifting, repetitive strain disorders and
unsuitable postures. When working as a sports therapist it is essential to minimise the risk of
handling injuries. A sports massage therapist or SMT must be able to discuss the law as well as learn
future lifting techniques to reduce the risk of injuring themselves in the workplace.
Health and safety (first aid) regulations (1981) states that there must be appropriate first aid
treatment along with a qualified first aider available at all times. The minimum provision for a
medical emergency is stated as
, A fully stocked first aid kit
Someone appointed to take charge of the first aid kit
Clear indications of where the first aid kit is located
A mobile SMT would be required to qualify in first aid and carry their own fully stocked first aid kit
Data protection act (1998) this act regulates the processing usage and storage of personal data
recorded electronically on in hand written notes. The information commissioners office will
ensure that all data is used and stored ethically as well as maintaining confidentiality. Sports
massage therapist organisations will have to register with the ICO. SMT client records must be
Stored for 8 years if the client is an adult
If the client is a child the records must be stored until their 25 th birthday if 17 during the
consultation and treatment the records are stored until their 26 th birthday
If on paper any notes should be secured immediately and not left out
If stored electronically the notes should be password protected and have back up
systems with strength in electronic security
Employers liability (compulsory insurance) act (1969) ensures that employers have appropriate
insurance to cover accidents or Illness
Control of substances hazardous to health regulations or COSHH (2002) this act ensures employers
take precautions against the risk of hazardous substances, this includes checking the SMT and client
aren’t allergic to any substances which may be found in lotions used during therapy
Provision and use of work equipment regulations (1998) this ensures employers have equipment and
machinery which is safe to use and properly maintained. This includes the massage bed that will be
used during sessions.
Health and safety industry standards are important in sport massage therapy. The most common
health and safety industry standards that are used as part of a sports therapists routine include
personal hygiene and properly washing hands and using hand sanitizer between clients and before
and after each session, this is very important due to the nature of the close personal therapy on
different people in one working day and ensures adequate personal hygiene facilities are provided.
All equipment should be sanitised before and after use. Personal protective equipment (PPE) like
gowns, gloves and masks will protect the therapist and the client and provide a barrier especially in
todays Covid environment and working in close surroundings with different people. Making sure the
massage bed is at the correct height for the SMT is very important to protect them whilst they stand
for long hours, they must also be comfortable and work at a height that prevents them from bending
or stooping over the client. It is also important to lower the bed for easy access for the client to get
on and off, especially older clients or ones with injury who may find it difficult to get onto the
massage bed at the beginning of a session and to get off safely after, this will prevent any further
strain or injury if done safely. This is part of the the provision and use of work equipment regulations
(1998) it also involves a risk assessment and complies with the health and safety at work act (1974)
and manual handling (1992). Adequate comfort breaks should also be incorporated into the working
day, this will allow the SMT to rest their hands, arms and shoulders. Most common injuries sustained
by an SMT is tendinitis, arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome. To prevent this they should be
encouraged to not overwork their bodies, they should plan their clients so they are treating different
