Stay in your lane

We are not physiotherapists, osteopaths, chiropractors, or doctors. They undergo completely different training that requires a high level of expertise in their field, and we fully acknowledge and respect that. We have our own lane and expertise.

Sports massage is a bit unusual in that anyone can call themselves a sports massage therapist, much like anyone can claim to be a dog trainer or personal trainer. Unfortunately, it's not a protected title.

Sometimes, clients will tell me about medical conditions they've been diagnosed with that I’ve never heard of. Even if I’ve heard of the condition, I might not have the in-depth knowledge required to address it. That doesn’t mean massage therapists are clueless, but it’s important to recognize that diagnosing and treating medical conditions is not our job. I always make it clear that if I’m offering an opinion on something outside the scope of my practice, it’s simply that—my opinion—and that they should consult a doctor.

We are trained to identify red flags. I once had a client who showed signs of multiple sclerosis, which turned out to be the case. It could have been easy for a therapist to start talking about something like a tight psoas muscle causing tingling in the legs, but I knew to refer that client to a medical professional. A red flag for me is when someone says, “It just sort of happened for no reason,” like a client I had with MS.

It’s crucial for both clients and sports massage therapists to understand the limits of our practice. We’re here to help with recovery, alleviate basic muscle aches and pains, improve mobility, prevent injuries, and so much more. We can make educated assumptions, but these should never be taken as medical advice.

Today, for example, I had a marathon runner come in feeling tightness in their legs. That’s an easy situation to understand—lots of long-distance running causes muscle tightness. It’s very different when someone comes in saying, “I don’t do sports, but I’ve been experiencing numbness down my leg and pins and needles in my foot.”

What I’m trying to convey is that sports massage therapists should stay within their scope of practice, which we generally do. It’s also important to educate the public that while sports massage therapists have a wealth of knowledge and can provide a great massage, we are not medical doctors.

This is not a dig at Sports massage therapists in no way shape or form as we understand our role better than anyone else, it's more to help the people who put their trust in us to understand what we can and can't do.

At Apex recovery room, i offer many different sports massage treatments in Saffron walden, and i hope to see you soon. Sports, Massage & Deep Tissue Massage | Apex Recovery Room Book now | Apex Recovery Room