Sport Massage and Sports Injuries Helen Doherty is the proprietor of Sporting Angels and is based in Belfast and Ballymena. She has a Diploma in Kinesiology, Diploma in Sports Injuries, Certificate in Sports Massage, Certificate in Emotional Freedom Techniques and Modules 1&2 in BodyTalk.
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 in order to achieve the best outcome. Helen believes Sports Massage is more than a “quick rub down” or splash with the “magic sponge”. It is a great tool to discover any underlying niggles in the muscles and alignment issues that can, over time, develop into something more serious. It involves assessing muscle and joint function, minimizing soft tissue damage and regaining functional use, thereby allowing the sportsperson to compete at their optimum level. Different sports have different requirements in terms of training plans, muscle strength, flexibility requirements and the typical injuries that could occur. Sports Massage Practitioners know and understand these factors and plan their massage and rehab programmes accordingly. Helen has worked with rugby players, athletes and tri-athletes at national and international level during the last 10 years. She is currently 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 a member of the FHT International Institute of Health, Fitness and Sports Therapists, the Sports Massage Association and the International BodyTalk Association. Helen Doherty aka “The Girl with the Magic Thumbs” email. [email protected]
