07/10/2026
ATHLETES! Not all massage is created equal!
I know Swedish is nice and feels good but sometimes what you NEED is uncomfortable.
Sometimes you need years of experience with extensive knowledge of anatomy, biomechanics and technique.
Sometimes your friend who just bought a cupping set isn’t capable of preventing or treating an injury.
So, ask your MT questions. They should be doing ROM and muscle tests to identify actual problems, be able to explain a treatment plan, name target tissues (ACTUAL MUSCLES, not just “hamstring”) and why, and explain the modalities they’re using using and why.
MTs! Be honest with your clients. If you don’t want to spend countless hours reading research papers and attending CE classes specific to injury prevention/treatment, myology, anatomy, pathology, kinesiology, etc, it’s OKAY!
But when that injured athlete comes to you and you say you can help with general full-body Swedish massage, you are doing a disservice to that client and the profession as a whole.