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Learn the principles and techniques of sports massage in this 20-hour continuing education course for massage therapists. The course introduces pre-event, inter-event, and post-event sports massage and explores how massage techniques can be adapted for different athletes and athletic activities.
The course covers common sports injuries, contraindications, stretching, sports psychology, nutrition, and considerations for working with athletes. Approximately two hours of online video demonstrations provide additional instruction in general sports massage techniques and techniques for common athletic injuries.
In this course, you will learn:
The principles and theory of sports massage
Pre-event, inter-event, and post-event sports massage
How sports massage approaches may vary for different athletes
Common athletic injuries and the injury process
Contraindications and safety considerations for sports massage
Massage techniques for athletes and common sports injuries
Sports massage routines and treatment approaches
Stretching techniques and considerations for athletes
Sports psychology and nutrition considerations
Different venues and settings where sports massage may be provided
When referral to another healthcare professional may be appropriate
Practical techniques demonstrated through approximately two hours of online video
Why take this course?
Sports massage requires an understanding of athletic activity, common injuries, timing, and appropriate massage techniques. Learning how to adapt massage sessions before, during, and after athletic events can help massage therapists better meet the needs of active clients and athletes.
This 20-hour course provides a broad foundation in sports massage, combining a comprehensive textbook with approximately two hours of online technique demonstrations. It is a good choice for massage therapists who want to expand their knowledge of sports massage and work more confidently with athletic clients.
Define sports massage and describe its principles and purposes.
Differentiate between pre-event, inter-event, and post-event sports massage.
Identify considerations for adapting sports massage to different athletes and activities.
Describe common sports injuries and the general injury process.
Identify contraindications and safety considerations for sports massage.
Describe massage techniques used in sports massage routines.
Identify stretching considerations for athletes.
Explain basic considerations related to sports psychology and nutrition.
Identify different venues and settings where sports massage may be performed.
Recognize situations in which referral to another healthcare professional may be appropriate.
Describe massage approaches for common athletic injuries.
Demonstrate an understanding of the sports massage techniques presented in the online video demonstrations.
Text: Sports Massage textbook by Susan Findlay, 176 pages
Video: Sports Massage video with Molly Verschingel — approximately 2 hours
Course guide with instructions
124-question multiple-choice examination
Course evaluation
Certificate of achievement upon completion
Unlimited phone and email support for any questions
The Center for Massage Therapy Continuing Education, LLC is an Approved Provider through the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB); Approved Provider number 409296-00.
Our massage continuing education courses are also accepted by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP), and most state boards.
For more information on individual state requirements and approvals, please visit our Approvals page and click on your state.
I liked that there were both DVD instruction and workbook instructions with the illustrations. I find visual cues important for me to learn. - C. Hodges, LMT
It was easy to understand and the quiz questions were straight forward and easy to find the answers if I was uncertain. - C. Hummel, LPN, LMT
The DVD was excellent! - M. Freeburg, LMT
I like how there was a variety of information and no trick questions. - Sarah Laux, LMT
Very thorough and simply laid out. - Jonathan Gellert, LMT
Which of the following is an important thing to keep in mind when performing a pre-event sports massage?
A. Perform the massage within 60 minutes of the event
B. Do not overstretch the muscle tissues
C. Keep the treatment short
D. All of the above
When do athletes feel the most pain from “delayed muscle onset soreness”?
A. 12-15 hours after an event or intense training session
B. 24-48 hours after an event or intense training session
C. 1-5 hours after an event or intense training session
D. 15-20 hours after an event or intense training session
When treating an athlete with tennis elbow, which of the following muscle groups will you be primarily be working with?
A. Wrist flexors
B. Wrist rotators
C. Wrist extensors
D. Elbow flexors
Course Authors
About the Instructors
Corrine Rubida, BS, LMT
Corrine completed her massage therapy training at Gateway College of Massage Therapy in 1997 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Healthcare Administration in 2012. She has been practicing and teaching massage therapy since 1997 and currently holds a massage therapy license in South Dakota. She is also a member of the ABMP. In 2002, Corrine founded the Center for Massage Therapy CE to make professional massage continuing education courses available both online and by mail. Since then, she has developed more than 100 home-study massage continuing education courses and has taught live courses for AMTA and the Gateway College of Massage Therapy.
Sean Riehl, CMT
Sean Riehl, CMT is the founder of Real Bodywork and a leading expert in massage therapy and bodywork education. A pioneer in clinical instruction, Sean began teaching massage in 1991, and has authored numerous textbooks and produced over 30 instructional videos used by massage schools and practitioners worldwide.
Beyond his clinical and educational work, Sean has been a driving force in the wellness industry’s growth. In 2022, he was a founding member of iFlex Stretch Studios, a premier assisted stretching franchise. Following the acquisition of iFlex by the founders of StretchLab in late 2024, Sean served as the Vice President of Training through 2025. In this role, he worked closely with the executive team to elevate training standards and curriculum for hundreds of practitioners before retiring from the position at the end of the year to focus on his educational legacy.
