Students learn about chemicals that operate in the human body, the influence exercise has on chemical functions of the athletic body, and the biochemical principles of athletic qualities. Students are given knowledge about chemistry of carbohydrates, lipids, ferments, proteins, nucleoacids, vitamins, hormones, and water, their role in the human body, and the influence of exercising on their exchange. Students learn chemistry and bioenergy of muscular activity. Students complete 55 hours of externship working with professional and semi-professional athletes. Students will track progress of athletes over 20 weeks to show the effect of massage on performance.
Students learn basic principles of kinesiology and how they relate to sports massage and athletes.
Methods and techniques of muscle diagnostics, emphasizing muscles most commonly used in different types of sports, are also taught. Sports Massage prepares students to address needs of athletes. Techniques include pressure-point massage, friction massage, petrissage, facilitated stretching, compression, range of motion exercises, and stretches. Multiple techniques are taught to enhance athletic performance, prevent injury, and decrease recovery time. Students are introduced to the role nutrition plays in the life of an athlete, important minerals for athletes and the role minerals play in an athletems body.