Helen Doherty SMP

HELEN DOHERTY MSMA(3), MHFST, DIPAK SPORTS MASSAGE PRACTITIONER.

Helen Doherty is the proprietor of Sporting Angels and is based in Belfast. She has a Diploma in Kinesiology, Diploma in Sports Injuries, Certificate in Ultrasound Therapy, Certificate in Sports Massage and Certificate in Emotional Freedom Techniques. She uses a “whole body” approach by combining aspects from various therapies – such as structural tests from Kinesiology or goal setting from Emotional Freedom Techniques – with sports massage and injury rehab to provide an individual and effective treatment plan. Helen works closely with chiropractors, physiotherapists and podiatrists who have a special interest in sport so that the best outcome can be achieved for athletes. She has worked with rugby players, athletes and tri-athletes at national and international level during the last 10 years.

She is the Sports Therapist at Up and Runners, a new affiliated club born out of an internet forum on the Belfast Up and Running shop website. She is also a contributor to www.runireland.com website.Helen is a member of the FHT International Institute of Health, Fitness and Sports Therapists, and the Sports Massage Association.Helen Doherty aka “The Girl with the Magic Thumbs”email. helen.doherty@hotmail.co.uk

1. What should I ask my Sports Massage Practitioner?

Finding a good Sports Massage Practitioner (SMP) can be like finding a good doctor or a good sports coach. What works for one person may not work for another so don’t be afraid to walk away if you feel the relationship is not working out. Sports Massage is not a regulated profession so the level of training undertaken varies from a one weekend course, to a two week course to a two year course. Ask your SMP where they trained, how long the course was and what sports they specialise in. If they work with runners, they should be attached to a running club; if they work with rugby players, they should be attached to a rugby club; and so on. Look for practitioners with straightforward qualifications in sports massage, sports injuries and/or sports therapy. Practitioners must also be a member of a professional organisation such as:

• Sports Massage Association;
• FHT Institute of Health, Fitness and Sports Therapists;
• British Association of Sports Rehabilitators and Trainers; or
• Association of Neuro-Muscular Therapists

Membership of these organisations means your SMP has achieved a certain level of educational training. It also means that they participate in post-graduation training to keep their skills up-to-date and have valid insurance cover. If your SMP is not a member of one of these organisations, you run the risk of accepting a treatment from an untrained, unqualified or uninsured practitioner.

2. What should my Sports Massage Practitioner ask me?

Questions questions and more questions! Now it’s their turn to ask you a whole lot of questions. As well as taking a full medical history, the SMP will ask you all about the sport(s) you play, your training regime, current injuries and previous injuries. What may seem like a lot of pointless conversations actually has a purpose. Firstly they are fitting all the pieces of the jigsaw together. For example, they know that if you complain of headaches, it is quite likely that you have jammed cranial bones caused by untreated foot alignment problems. So although the questions might seem pointless, do answer them as fully as you can. Secondly they are tuning in to you so that they can understand your sport and understand what motivates you. This will have an impact on the rehab programme they will prescribe for you. They will tailor your appt and rehab to what fits you best rather than a “one size fits all” set programme. They are also working out whether they need to refer you on for further investigations such as x-rays, orthotics, spinal manipulation, nutritional testing, etc. etc. The SMP will give you realistic expectations about how many times they need to see you, what you can achieve together by combining your homework and their treatments, and when you can return to your sport. So there you have it. You will ask lots of questions to decide on your SMP and they will ask you lots of questions to devise your treatment plan. Trust is a two-way thing that takes time to develop but once you find a SMP that you trust, they are worth their weight in gold.

This article can be read in full on the www.runireland.com website.

Helen works from Alive Chiropractic & Wellness Services, 14b Ballynahinch Road, Carryduff, Belfast, BT8 8DN

• She can be contacted by telephone 028 9081 4547
• mobile 07787 504000
• or email helen.doherty@hotmail.co.uk.