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In Ireland, all you need is a sports massage certification, and then you can start working for sporting teams or at multi-disciplinary clinics.
It is an integral part of neuromuscular therapy (NMT) that focuses on preventing and treating sports-related injuries and muscle pain. Also called orthopaedic massage therapy, it can help correct imbalances in soft tissue muscles and improve mobility in a specific part of the body.
Sports massage is geared towards helping athletes and people who engage in physically demanding hobbies or activities. In this therapeutic massage, the impact of specific activities on muscle groups, soft tissue groups and joints are considered. It is designed to support recovery, increase endurance, enhance performance, reduce the chance of injury and promote relaxation.
Sports massage is unlike holistic massage – the techniques involved are different. Hence, you cannot work as a sports massage therapist even if you are a certified holistic massage therapist unless you have the required qualification.
You need to have a certification to work as a sports massage therapist in Ireland. This means completing an accredited programme like the National Training Centre’s (NTC) Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT) course.
The eligibility requirements vary per training provider or programme. For some institutions, you need to hold certain qualifications to enrol in their sports massage therapy course. But there are also training providers like NTC that offer a programme that is open to individuals with or without prior qualifications.
How long do these courses take to complete? Again, it varies depending on the institution. For example, NTC offers evening and weekend programmes. The sports massage therapy evening course takes around 48 weeks to complete. Meanwhile, its weekend programme runs for 15 months – 15 tutorial sessions, one tutorial session per month.
Suffice to say, there are several sports massage courses offered in Dublin. It should not be difficult to find one that matches your schedule and budget.
It is worth mentioning that the course’s duration and cost should not be your only consideration when deciding which programme to enrol in. The quality of the course is equally important if you want to be a good sports massage therapist and find good job opportunities.
As much as possible, get the best certification available. But how do you determine which one is the best? Well, a great sports massage course is accredited by a trusted organisation.
Why is accreditation important? It serves as your guarantee that the programme meets the standards set by a regulating body or organisation. It means that the course will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to offer safe and effective therapeutic massages to athletes.
The training is rigorous in an accredited sports massage course – e.g., completing 100 recorded practise hours and 25 recorded case students. But it is well worth your time and money because it prepares you for real cases. Once you complete the programme, you won’t just have the knowledge and skill but also the confidence needed to succeed as a sports massage therapist.
There are many opportunities for qualified sports massage therapists in Dublin and across the country.
Upon earning your certification, you can work at a multi-disciplinary injury clinic along with osteopaths and physiotherapists. You can also opt to become a sole trader and get referrals from local medical practitioners. Another option is to work for a sporting team as an in-house therapist or for an athlete as his or her personal sports massage therapist.
You can also choose to work abroad provided that your qualification is accepted internationally. If your goal is to practise in another country, it is essential that you choose a course that provides an internationally recognised qualification. It is also highly recommended that you check what the requirements are for sports massage therapists in the country you are eyeing.
Lastly, if you want to get your foot in the door and best the other job candidates, enrol in a good sports massage course. Employers prefer graduates of renowned programmes because they know these individuals have undergone rigorous training.
In summary, the demand for sports massage therapists is growing. It is a career you should look into if you have a passion for sports and have a particular interest in helping athletes achieve their peak performance.
Are you looking for the best sports massage certification in Dublin? Check out our top-rated programme that is accredited by the SMA at UK Level 5. Call us now on 01 882 7777 to learn more about our course, or click here to book a slot!
