The interesting thing about "Scope of Practice"This week alone I heard that phrase no less than 15-2...

1. Scope of Practice: Sports Massage
The interesting thing about "Scope of Practice"
This week alone I heard that phrase no less than 15-20 times during the course of the games.Â
I am a licensed massage therapist in both RI & NC. Â I am also "Board Certified" by the NCMBT and
a AMTA member  I follow the "rules" and pay a LOT of money for the credentials that really don't
mean a thing to my clients & athletes but speak volumes in the massage field. Â Go figure, but I'm
sure someone's got an argument for it or against it. Â Whateva .....
So this past week me & the USMT crew set up at the CSOTC for the Warrior Games. Â This is going
to be a walk in the park.. 4th year out and every year has presented us with a different set of
circumstances and challenges. Â We got this.. We've overcome other obstacles this year is no
different.
So funny how other so called "sports medical" professionals such as: athletic trainers, sports
physical therapists & team "doctors" ( you get the picture) Â can arbitrarily toss that term around to
meet their needs, fit their insecurities and disrespect others.Â
Let me just make this statement: I know & own my scope of practice. Â I don't need anyone to point
it out to me. Â I also don't hold myself out to be anything other than a very well educated and skillful
muscular therapist .Â
My scope of practice is: the manual manipulation of the soft tissues of the human body. Â Among a
few other things such as First Aid & CPR, IASTM and certified training in Kinesio Taping.
I do not implement anything out side of that realm: my scope of practice. Â Sports massage -
Muscular therapy
I do manipulate the skeletal system
I do not prescribe medications
Would I like to work in a cohesive sports medicine environment like I do on Camp Lejeune at
Wallace Creek & the Navy Smart Clinic.. Yes of course... But unfortunately that didn't happen.
The only medical personnel that we interacted with that showed me & my team any ounce of
professional curtsy  was a army medic assigned to Team SOCOM .  He (thanks Luke) recognized
our skill set!
Ponder this: if I spent the same green   US currency as any chiropractor, physical therapist,
athletic trainer, doctor or a occupational therapist in a Kinesio Taping course or an IASTM course
that provides me with continuing education credits that fall under the guide lines of my scope of
practice .... Why oh why do these same "professionals" feel the need to  say I'm working outside of "
my scope of practice"?

2. True story.. Happens all the time....
This trip & sports event was no different.
This is one reason why I have made it MANDATORY that our team has a travel binder with us that
declares all of our licenses, insurance, specialty skill certifications & credentials.
I may not have gone to school as long as other "Sports Medical Professionals" but I am
knowledgable, I do study things that are considered "above my pay grade" and some of you may
think of it as out of my "scope of practice" ~ but it's not... Just consider me & my team as career
students.
Don't be afraid of me because I really.. REALLY know the science.
Embrace us.. Because, after all we're all on the same team.. The team that ultimately helps the
athlete & client who's looking for results.
http://www.ultimate-sports-massage.com/2014/10/scope-of-practice-sports-massage.html