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Sitting Down with the Head Massage Therapist of the Edmonton Stingers
Monday, May 06, 2024, 04:10 PM
Meet Trevor Jordan
This month, we spoke with NHPC member Trevor Jordan (TJ) to jump into the exciting world of sports massage.
As the Head RMT for Edmonton's professional basketball team, the Edmonton Stingers, and an accomplished athlete himself, TJ has a wealth of expertise in massage for athletes and sports enthusiasts alike.
TJ graduated from CDI College and MH Vicars School of Massage in Edmonton, AB, in 2007, and has been an NHPC member ever since.
Massage therapy and basketball are two of TJ's biggest passions. As an accomplished player, having played for both of Edmonton's first two professional basketball teams (the Edmonton Chill and Edmonton Energy), TJ has enjoyed a long career in two industries he loves.
"I've always had a healing mentality," he shares. "I've always been interested in sports massage, the way you can alter someone's health by manipulating their body, flushing out toxins, listening to them speak. This just felt like a natural path for me to take."
TJ also enjoys the flexibility of his career choice. "Meeting new people, setting my own hours, and, funny enough, listening to my own music all day!"
What is Sports Massage?
Sports massage is a specialized form of massage that focuses on conditioning, maintenance, injury prevention, and rehabilitation if injury occurs. It often incorporates exercise and stretching programs.
Sports massage therapists are particularly interested in the needs of professional athletes and people who regularly participate in sports or have highly active lifestyles.
The benefits of sports massage are extensive. It aids in pain relief and reduces muscle soreness and symptoms of stress, allowing athletes to stay more focused during competition and training.
Sports massage can facilitate recovery by improving oxygen, blood flow and circulation in the muscles, increasing mobility and breaking down adhesions or scar tissue. It can improve flexibility and range of motion to keep athletes performing at their best.
While treatment may resemble regular or even deep tissue massage, sports massage therapists undergo additional training to understand how massage can affect performance and post-injury recovery.
Major sports teams will often employ a massage therapist as part of their therapy team. These therapists play a pivotal role, priming athletes' muscles before a game, offering short and vigorous treatments during performance, and treating post-event fatigue or injury.
Working in Sports Massage
TJ's work with the Stingers' players largely focuses on preventative treatment to keep them feeling their best, although each player's treatment plan varies, even down to their position on the team.
He explains: "If I am treating a player who is more likely to have more contact with the opposing players, such as a Center or Power Forward, I'm more likely to use cupping. By doing so, I'm not having to use as much pressure by hand, forearm, or elbow. I'm able to concentrate on cycling the blood flow and work on the mobility aspect of the treatment."
Acute or chronic injuries also influence his approach. "Whether it's more of a passive stretching treatment, or reducing the pressure applied, my treatment does have to change."
As with any massage therapist, part of the role comes with educating and communicating the significance and purpose of treatment to the patient. Building relationships is a key part of the job.
"The players know the importance of treatment, stretching (pre/post-game, practice), hydration, hydrotherapy," TJ says.
It's good to get to know them as people. Life outside of their sports, you know? It tends to help people relax more, listen to what you have to say in regard to rehab or setting up future appointments.
The upcoming Stingers season kicks off in May, and TJ is optimistic. "I'm looking forward to watching the team thrive again. Last year was a great season, but knowing what I've learned about these guys, they play for one another, which will lead to another championship."
And it truly takes a team! TJ stays on top of each patient's needs, with the support of the staff at the clinic he practises at (Off Whyte Chiropractic and Health) — notably Office Administrator Sylvia, who takes care of his schedule to ensure he doesn't burn out. "I would be lost without her!" TJ laughs.
Seeing the Benefits
In his own routine, TJ vouches for massage therapy.
"I receive massage as often as I can, as well as chiropractic treatment and Athletic Therapy sessions. Due to the fact that my job is so physical, it helps me a lot. I believe everyone needs a team of practitioners in their lives!" he laughs.
When asked what advice he would offer to massage therapists interested in getting into the sports field, TJ shares: "It's a tough industry to get into, but it's so rewarding. You meet a lot of people and realize that you are in a small niche of practitioners. It will teach you to take care of yourself in better ways as well.
"You can go as far as you wish to go in this field and most importantly, word of mouth is the best form of having your name put out there."
Connect with TJ
You can find TJ practising at Off Whyte Chiropractic and Health (OWCH) in Edmonton. "I enjoy treating all types of people — athletes, pre- and post-natal patients, kids, and people who work too much!" He shares with a smile.
"My main focus is to improve your mobility, reduce pain and stress, and get you back up and enjoying life!"
Special thanks to TJ for collaborating with us on this blog. Connect with him on LinkedIn and Instagram @TJtheRMT.