Updated and invigorated, Understanding Sports Massage, Second Edition, provides readers with an understanding of the fundamental theory and practical basis for using sports massage to keep athletes in top shape, recover from injuries, and improve performance. Like the successful first edition, Understanding Sports Massage is ideal for sport professionals and students in sports massage training programs. The book illustrates and explains massage techniques in detail and describes the procedures involved in conducting effective sports massage sessions, including determining goals, organizing the session, and choosing and applying techniques. \\In addition to serving sport professionals, the new edition of Understanding Sports Massage will be useful to coaches, athletes, and teachers. They will be introduced to massage techniques that they can learn and apply in nonmedical situations such as in warm-ups, preparing for and recovering from competition, reducing the potential for injuries, and aiding in injury rehabilitation.\\This text helps readers put theory into practice, first explaining the scientific underpinnings of sports massage and then describing in detail how to apply those concepts in a massage session. \\This “how-to” approach extends to its planning and programming sections, in which the authors lay out the finer points of giving sports massage and then guide readers in implementing sports massage programs in various settings. The program-development portion of this book provides practitioners with detailed advice from the authors, who are well respected for their expertise and program-development skills. They address how to implement sports massage programs in various settings and how sports massage specialists cooperate with other sport and health professionals to provide the best possible care for athletes. \\The result is a comprehensive and richly detailed guide to providing the best sports massage in a variety of settings and to developing a top-notch sports massage program in a school or university, a health club or organization, or a clinic or private practice.

Contents -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Figures List -- Tables List -- History Briefs List -- Chapter 1 Theory and Science of Sports Massage -- Definition of Sports Massage -- The Many Uses of Massage in Sports -- The Sports Massage Specialist -- The Whole-Athlete Model -- Sports Massage and Athletic Performance -- Evidence for Effectiveness -- Constellation of Effects -- Contraindications and Cautions -- Medications and Drugs -- Chapter 2 Techniques and Basic Skills -- Building Blocks of Sports Massage -- Hand and Finger Positions -- Basic Massage Techniques -- Basic Joint Movement Techniques -- Specialized Massage Techniques -- Palpation -- Chapter 3 Restorative Sports Massage -- Restorative Massage and Its Applications -- Recovery Massage -- Recovery Massage Without Oil -- Remedial Applications -- Rehabilitation Applications -- Examples of Remedial and Rehabilitation Applications -- Chapter 4 Sports Massage at Athletic Events -- Event Sports Massage -- Pre-Event Sports Massage -- Interevent Sports Massage -- Postevent Sports Massage -- Hyperthermia and Hypothermia -- Relieving Muscle Cramps -- Event Sports Massage at a Swim Meet -- Chapter 5 Maintenance Sports Massage -- Nature of Maintenance Sports Massage -- Common Maintenance Problem Areas -- Maintenance Sports Massage Using Oil -- Chapter 6 Planning and Giving Sports Massage -- Sports Massage Sessions -- Planning a Session -- Sports Massage Routines -- Logistics of Giving Sports Massage -- Aspects of Technique Performance -- Monitoring Progress and Pain -- Chapter 7 Implementing a Sports Massage Program -- Sports Massage Programs -- School and University Programs -- The Athlete's Support Team -- Athletic Organizations -- Organized Sports Events -- Health Clubs -- Private Sports Massage Practices -- Integrative Sports Medicine Clinics -- Appendix A Sanitary Guidelines for Sports Massage at Events -- Appendix B Massage Licensing Laws -- Glossary -- References -- Index -- About the Authors.