While sports massage is often used for professional and amateur athletes, it is also an effective treatment for non-athletes with injuries, mobility or flexibility issues, or chronic pain.
Sports massage therapists must follow the same rules and regulations set forth for general massage therapy practitioners. Most states determine the requirements for practicing massage therapy in that state on a statewide basis. Future sports massage therapists who intend to work in a state that does not have statewide licensing or certification requirements will need to contact the city or county in which they intend to work in order to determine the requirements for practicing in that jurisdiction. Requirements vary by state, but most state and local regulatory agencies require a minimum of 500 hours of massage therapy training at an approved massage therapy school, as well as successful completion of a licensing or certification exam.
There is a growing demand for qualified sports massage therapy professionals. If you would like to find out more about this rewarding career, or take the next step in becoming a sports massage therapist, look through the comprehensive list of schools below to find the right online or campus-based sports massage program for you.