The Role of Sports Massage in
Injury Prevention and Absence
Management
Ben Scott
BSc (hons) MSMA
What is Sports Massage?
Soft tissue therapy
- Muscles
- Tendons
- Ligaments
Effleurage
Compression
Torque
Vibration
Dermal lifting
Tapotement
Stretching
Aims to restore muscles to their normal resting length
When is Sports Massage Useful?
3 Sports phases:
- Pre-event
- Intermediate
- Post-event
Injury Prevention
Rehabilitation
Relaxation
- Clinically
- Psychologically
Aims to restore muscles to their normal resting length
What can Sports Massage do?
Inadequate clinical research, therefore limited evidence
Massive anecdotal evidence
Restores muscles to their normal resting length
Helps maintain optimum muscle condition
Effective in treating back pain
Reduces risk of Occupational Overuse Syndrome
Decreases Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS)
Effective in treating Chronic Compartment Syndrome
Absence
UK Health and Safety Executive on Fire Service absence:
“The injury and ill health rates are above average”
“Scope for significant improvement”
Absence statistics
Local government (inc. police and fire)
Private services
Manufacturing services
10.9 days/year
£644 /employee/year
6.8 days/year
£568 /employee/year
8.4 days/year
£624 /employee/year
Australian public sector (2001-02) = any one day 1 in 20 employees
absent (unscheduled leave)
In 2005 the local government absence rate was unchanged from
2004
Absence statistics cntd….
 Size of agency =  Rate of absence
 Size of agency =  Length of absence
Small % of employees account for bulk of sick leave
e.g.
20% - No days
17% -  10 days
The vast majority of people want to get back to work
Main causes of absence
Health
Lifestyle
Accidents
Culture
Family
Management Action
Work related




Minor illness
Back pain

Musculo-skeletal injuries

Stress

Recurring medical conditions
Absence Management
3 Main strategies:
- Record absence statistics
- Early intervention
- Targets / Benchmarking

“Early medical intervention will significantly speed up recovery and
reduce absence due to sickness and ill-health” (Worcester NHS
Trust)
“Reducing absence is not just about policies and procedures. It is
about skills and roles”
Sports Massage can provide necessary skills and play an important
role
Role of a Sports Massage Practitioner
Absence prevention
Assessment
Advice
Treatment
Maintenance bodywork
Relaxation / Revitalising
Absence limitation / reduction
Assessment
Advice
Treatment
Referral
Sports Massage as an early intervention
Without Sports Massage
With Sports massage
What level of qualifications are there in Sports
Massage?
3 Levels of qualification:
Government funded vocational training ‘level 3’
- ITEC, VTCT, Premier IQ qualifications
- predominately run in local FE colleges though some private
providers run these awards
- the National Occupational Standards are currently
written that those graduating are qualified to work ‘under
supervision of doctor or physiotherapist’, so not covered
to work as self-employed/independent practitioners (although
many do!)
Private training providers – ‘self-regulated’ - standards vary
enormously, there are even some online massage courses available!
SMA accredited courses – SMA assures standards and quality of
training and as such the graduates have met the minimum
requirements for 'independent practice'
References
Absence Management, A Survey of Policy and Practice 2005. Chartered Institute of
Professional Development
Absence Management in the Australian Public Service. Audit Report No. 52, 2002-03
The effects of Massage on delayed onset muscle soreness. Br J Sports Med 2003;
37,72-75
Effects of Massage on delayed-onset muscle soreness, swelling and recovery of muscle
function. J Athl Tr 2005 Jul-Sep; 40(3), 174-180
Preliminary evidence of the short term effectiveness of alternative treatments for lower
back pain. Technol and Healthcare; 13(6), 453-462
Effective physical treatment for chronic lower back pain. Orthop Clin North Am 2004 Jan;
35(1), 57-64
A review of the evidence for the effectiveness, safety and cost of acupuncture, massage
therapy and spinal manipulation for back pain. Ann Intern Med 2003 Jun 3; 138(11), 898-
906
Massage treatment for back pain. BMJ 2003 March 15; 326(7389), 562-563