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cont'd... There are challenges, however, that are unique to working with professional athletes. One is their need for privacy and downtime away from the public eye. This can manifest as moodiness or an unwillingness to communicate. Lack of communication can sometimes result from an athlete not wanting to admit feeling pain in an effort to 'tough it out' because he believes that bodywork at the pain level is good. Brown recalls one player who did not say the treatment was painful because he, in fact, wanted deeper muscle work. "The muscle spoke to me even though he didn't," she says. "I stopped and explained that if I worked deeper there would be bruising, and it would be counterproductive. He understood that, and in the future gave me regular feedback during our sessions." Another challenge involves body mechanics, which will differ in competitive and noncompetitive situations.
"The athlete might be a righty but shoot
left-handed," says Brown, who claims it's important to see the athlete you are treating during competition, not just off the ice or the field. Also, body awareness can be extreme, so extra care must be taken to not talk down when providing treatment or advice.
Has being petite ever posed a challenge for Brown? "Not at all," she replies. "It had been a concern of mine, being 5 feet 1 inch tall. I asked the opinions of teachers, trainers, other therapists and the athletes I treated. It was a unanimous 'no.' Across the board, the opinion is that you can use your weight effectively if you know anatomy." In this field, the biggest challenges often come from the business side of the professional organization, not from the players themselves. Not every team can justify allocating funds for massage therapy, even if it has the full support of the trainer. "It is often looked upon as fluff, as nonessential spending," says Kingsley, the trainer for the Lock Monsters. "In the minor leagues, because of budgetary concerns, the teams can't afford to have a person on staff at all times. The organization knows that it's needed, but can't justify it because there are so many other things that they have to do," he says. Asked what he would say to encourage massage therapists who want to work with a team like his, Kingsley adds, "Persistence, whether it's ice hockey, football, soccer, baseball, track and field. Always continue to improve at all points and every level. If they have the desire to do the job they love to do, they will be able to promote performance in athletes and feel the rewards through those athletes." What are the primary things Kingsley looks for in a therapist? "Licensing, certification and reputation," he answers. "Personality is also very important. Not everyone is cut out to be around professional athletes." Brown's own advice for massage therapists hoping to work with a professional team? First and foremost, know your anatomy and your muscles. Every muscle has its own trigger point for release. Second, know the body mechanics for the particular sport. Every sport will put its own demands on the body. Third, communicate well. Being able to give the athlete feedback and insight, and to get that in return, is critical to both treatment and the therapist/client relationship. Finally, remember when working with a sports team that you, as a massage therapist, are also part of a team whose leadership begins and ends with the athletic trainer. Sports massage should be considered complementary to other treatments. Brown has several tips to colleagues looking to make a career move into sports massage, but unsure about where to begin or how to approach a team. Here are some of her recommendations: 1) Set your goals strategically. First, determine what organizations you are interested in contacting, then prioritize on paper. Break down your tasks into smaller pieces, and take action every day. Give yourself a deadline, even if you have to readjust later. 2) Find out the best time of year to make an introduction. "Hockey teams, for example, start training when fall begins, so late August is a good time," suggests Kingsley. 3) Contact the athletic trainer for your number one team. Introduce yourself by phone, and if he or she is able to spare a few minutes to talk with you, give a brief explanation of why you are calling. Ask if the team is currently working with a massage therapist. 4) If the answer is no, ask if you may set up an appointment to discuss your services and how they might benefit the team. If the answer is yes, inquire as to what type of services are currently being provided. Perhaps you could offer a complementary type of massage therapy. If appropriate, ask if you may give their therapist a call. You might get hired to provide adjunct services; at the least, you will have expanded your networking for future work or referrals. 5) When meeting with the athletic trainer, be sure to bring the following: a) a list of points to discuss and questions to ask; b) several business cards; c) a brochure (if you have one) that will ideally list the conditions you have successfully treated; d) testimonials from other athletic trainers, athletes or clients; e) your resume and mission statement; f) any pertinent articles that reinforce the benefits of sports massage. 6) Find out what is important to the athletic trainer so you will be able to tailor your presentation accordingly, and stress the benefits that you can bring to the team. Keep your discussion succinct so he or she knows that you understand that time is valuable. 7) Be prepared to discuss your schedule and fees, and to present a business contract should there be a positive response. Organizations interested in using services such as yours for the first time may not have allotted funds in their yearly budget, but may be able to offer alternative means of compensation. "I've bartered time for advertising space in and out of the arena, and it proved valuable beyond my expectations. This took the form of print ads in event flyers, pregame and halftime announcements, and a table set up during games. I even did 15-minute chair massages in the arena for fans. The exposure was tremendous; I received dozens of new clients," says Brown of her initial "contract" with the Lowell Lock Monsters. If a paycheck is a necessity but no funding is available, consider finding a sponsor. Corporations, civic groups or sports-minded individuals with money to spare may just be inspired to help their team reap the added benefits of sports massage if you can present a convincing case. 8) Once a decision has been made and the meeting is over, follow up with a letter detailing your agreed-upon arrangement with the athletic trainer. If you prefer a signed contract, let it be known that you will be preparing one. "I hope everyone who has ever dreamed about working with professional athletes will take the time to test it out," Brown says. "It is so satisfying to know that you have made a real difference in someone's health and career, in helping them recover from the pain of an injury. You can see that your efforts make a difference in their performance, so you are constantly reaping the benefits of your work." For those who are not able to work with a professional team, or who do not feel that they are ready, there are other avenues: college athletic departments, local and regional sports teams, health-club leagues, referrals from personal trainers, and volunteering at special events, such as marathons, bicycle races and triathlons. All of these can be excellent training grounds because working with people who are serious about their bodies will accelerate learning with regard to how muscles respond, which will in turn teach you so much more about how to prevent injuries and alleviate pain. Additional training can also prove invaluable, such as taking classes in advanced sports massage, orthopedic massage and myofascial release. The results Brown has seen, and the feedback she has gotten from the players and their trainers, have convinced her that sports massage is an optimal career for any therapist interested in continually learning and mastering his or her technique. It follows naturally that she has become an educator of sorts in her own right, instructing physicians and nurse practitioners on the benefits of massage for their patients, and her own clients in how to prevent and alleviate their own pain.
Joana Brown has come a long way from the girl who tried to ice-skate with her first American friend, and wound up walking two miles home with a severely sprained ankle, as well as to and from school for a week, so she wouldn't have to tell her parents or admit to herself that her feet held her back. In addition to working with the Lowell Lock Monsters, she now has a flourishing practice in two locations, and shuttles her own two little hockey players to practice in her hometown. Brown's final advice is to "let your passion show in all that you do and say, and always hold your clients in your heart and in the palm of your hands." With such a vibrant spirit of encouragement, who can resist forging ahead to actualize potential in the "New England winter" of a career? ••• Karen K. Futral of Arlington, Massachusetts, is a freelance writer and consultant who works out of her home and Cambridge studio, Fresh Pond Clay Works. Joana Brown, LMT, has practices at BodyWorks Physical Therapy, Lowell, Massachusetts, and at The Marino Center, Wellesley, Massachusetts. Brown can be reached via E-mail at: joana@jbmassage4u.com. Acknowledgments MTJ wishes to thank the Lowell Lock Monsters, and players Tyler Moss, |
