Published Russian Sports Massage Articles

Published in Massage Magazine

As massage therapists, we look for new ways to grow our business and broaden our areas of expertise. Russian sports massage is one modality that offers the beneficial substance to retain clients. It is the oldest and perhaps most advanced system of sports massage in the world.  Russian Sports Massage was regarded as an integral part of sports training and competition in the former Soviet Union and contributed greatly to the overwhelming dominance of that nation’s athletes at the Olympic Games over several decades, where massage therapists shared the spotlight with sports-medicine doctors and coaches. In fact, massage therapists were regarded so highly that they received a medal of achievement from the government along with the athletes they worked with.......

Published in: Journal of Massage Science

Who is a Sports Massage therapist? There are different answers to what seems like a very simple question. Some therapists use Swedish Massage with deeper pressure and call it Sports Massage. Some consider Sports Massage as an application of massage on the athlete or sports enthusiast. Some will title their treatment as Sports Massage based on its location – for example, its application in a fitness facility. Finally, some will take various seminars on how to work on Rotator Cuff Injury or sprained ligaments and label it Sports Massage. All these views don’t have anything to do with Sports Massage that is based on science. Sports Massage has nothing to do with the treatment of somatic injuries.

PART 1       Published in: Massage Magazine

What has compelled me to write this article is my love of both doing and teaching massage. I LOVE IT! The whole world seems to be a brighter and happier place when I wake up knowing that there are people out there are ready to give me a chance to put my hands on them. (On the rare days when my calendar is free, I’m forced to give a shoulder rub to my wife, a tickle-hands massage to my hyperactive son, or a full-body massage to my slightly overweight, yet very athletic dog. Needless to say, my position in my house is secure).  ....

PART 2       Published in: Massage Magazine

After many years of both teaching and performing Russian sports massage across our nation, which still remains "the land of opportunities" in my opinion, I am yet to see enough massage therapists working with athletes and  actually applying "sports massage". My point is, it is not enough to simply show up at a race place (or any other sports event) with a massage table, to become a sports massage therapist. No, it does not happen automatically. There is a need for a very specific training, based on scientifically developed concepts and protocols of sports massage.  ....

PART 3       Published in: Massage Magazine

My heart is racing. The level of my anxiety is rising. It is a familiar sensation, - like the one I had experienced many times before, as a professional athlete, in anticipation of my turn to compete. Oh, those sweet and sweaty memories of pushing myself to the edge, both physically and mentally…  

But how come now, many years after I have stopped competing, I have that same feeling washing over me, making me nauseous and, essentially, telling me that the sympathetic part of my nervous system is out of control?