Sports Massage for Injury Care

Enable your clients and patients to get back in the game and live pain free after injury. In Sports Massage for Injury Care, experienced sports therapist Bob McAtee explains the types of soft tissue injury most common in sport and explains why manual therapy is so valuable in treating musculoskeletal injuries.

No two injuries are the same. Whether an injury is acute or chronic, you need to understand and treat the underlying cause so you don’t leave your athletes susceptible to re-injury. Sports Massage for Injury Care emphasizes the importance of accurate assessment and evaluation, and it focuses on 20 of the most common neuromuscular injuries seen in athletes. For each featured injury, there are assessment recommendations, treatment options and injury-specific protocols, and self-care options for when the athlete is not on the treatment table.

You will learn the evidence behind the techniques that are most effective, based on clinical research. Each treatment protocol is presented with vivid full-color photos and step-by-step instructions. Detailed anatomical illustrations show you the muscles, joints, and soft tissues involved. Practitioner examples and case studies give you a glimpse into how other practicing professionals use the techniques to help their clients heal quicker and more fully.

Clinical sports massage therapy is often the missing component in injury-rehabilitation programs. With Sports Massage for Injury Care, you have the ultimate practical resource for relieving pain and getting your clients and patients back to their athletic endeavors and daily activities as quickly as possible.

Audience

Practical reference for experienced sport massage therapists, sport physicians, physiotherapists, manual therapists, and athletic trainers.

Part I. Foundational Knowledge

Chapter 1. Concepts and Principles
The Process of Clinical Reasoning
Pain Science

Chapter 2. Reviewing Soft Tissue Types
Connective Tissue
Fascia
Ligaments
Tendons
Muscles
Nerves

Chapter 3. Principles of Assessment
HOPS Method
Assessing Active, Passive, and Resisted Motion
Additional Tests
Perpetuating Factors

Part II. A Closer Look at Injury and Repair

Chapter 4. Soft Tissue Injury
Acute Injuries
Chronic Injuries
Soft Tissue Injury Repair Process

Chapter 5. Soft Tissue Techniques
Compressive Effleurage
Compressive Petrissage
Broad Cross-Fiber Stroke
Longitudinal Stripping
Pin-and-Stretch Techniques
Isolytic Contractions
Deep Transverse Friction
Facilitated Stretching

Part III. Common Neuromuscular Injuries

Chapter 6. Treatment of Lower-Extremity Soft Tissue Injuries
Achilles Tendinopathy
Lateral Ankle Sprain
Groin Strain
Hamstring Tendinopathy
Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS)
Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Sprain
Patellar Tendinopathy
Peroneal (Fibularis) Tendinopathy
Plantar Fasciitis/Fasciopathy
Shin Splints

Chapter 7. Treatment of Upper-Extremity Soft Tissue Injuries
Rotator Cuff
Tennis Elbow
Golfer’s Elbow
Bicipital Tendinopathy

Chapter 8. Sports Massage for Nerve Entrapment Syndromes
Quadrilateral Space Syndrome (QSS)
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS)
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
Piriformis Syndrome (PS)

Robert E. McAtee, BA, LMT, BCTMB, CSCS, has maintained a full-time massage therapy practice for over 38 years, specializing in sports massage and soft tissue therapy, with significant clinical experience in treating people with injuries and chronic pain. Since 1988, he has owned Pro-Active Massage Therapy, an international private practice in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

McAtee is designated an Approved Provider by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB). He is a sought-after presenter—throughout the United States and worldwide—on the topics of facilitated stretching, sports massage, and soft tissue injury care.

McAtee received his massage training at the Institute for Psycho-Structural Balancing (IPSB) in Los Angeles and San Diego and through the Sports Massage Training Institute (SMTI) in Costa Mesa, California. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from California State University, is board certified in therapeutic massage and bodywork, and is a certified strength and conditioning specialist. He has been an active member of the American Massage Therapy Association since 1988.

He is also the coauthor of the best-selling book Facilitated Stretching, Fourth Edition, used by health and fitness professionals worldwide as their go-to resource for PNF stretching and strengthening techniques.

“Having read and used Bob's previous book for professional use, I'm excited for his expertise and knowledge of the sport massage industry shown in Sports Massage for Injury Care. Massage therapists will benefit tremendously from this step-by-step guide to assessment and treatment of sport injuries. In addition, all manual therapists will be able to use this great resource in their clinical practice.”
—Joanne Baker, Registered Massage Therapist and Instructor

“With my 44 years of experience in massage therapy and sports, I can say that Bob McAtee's Sports Massage for Injury Care has covered ALL the critical bases! This should be required reading in any massage therapy, athletic training, physical therapy, or chiropractic curriculum. Bob has done a terrific job of demonstrating that therapeutic intervention MUST include hands-on soft tissue therapy—period!”
—Benny Vaughn, LMT, ATC, CSCS, MTI, Master Therapist and Career Success Coach

“Bob McAtee has written the must-read book for any practitioner interested in sports massage. Read Sports Massage for Injury Care and learn from one of the best clinicians and educators I know.”
—Wade Alberts, LMT, Two-Time Olympic Medical Staff Member

“Bob McAtee is one of the most trusted practitioners and educators in the massage therapy profession. His latest book, Sports Massage for Injury Care, should be considered a must-have for any health care provider looking to advance their knowledge and skill set in the domain of sports massage.”
—Keenan Robinson, Sports Medicine and Science Director for USA Swimming

Cryotherapy for acute injuries
Understanding the science of pain
What is tennis elbow?