PAULA RAFFERTY

 Aim is to build upon information obtained in the subjective phase.  A detailed OA will enable the sports massage practitioner to evaluate the following:  Primary condition – a focus on specific anatomical structures reported by the client.  Secondary – assessing the body as a whole rather than its component parts could identify symptoms related to other structures which could be contributing to the condition.  Potential problems – identification of dysfunction

 Is a structured approach which is completed during the objective part of the assessment.  It will aid the sports masseuse to identify any factors which may be contributing to the clients’ condition or injury.

 Asymmetry – observation of the balance of the body.  Range of movement – testing of ROM to identify restriction, pain and weakness.  Tenderness on palpation – information gained through palpation of structures.  Special tests and functional tests – specific testing of structures or conditions.

 Posture is a mixture of the positions of all the joints of the body at any given moment, and static postural alignment is best described in terms of the positions of various joint and body segments.  PA – will enhance the masseuses' ability to identify –  Causative factors  Areas of potential dysfunction  Tight/Weak muscles (shortened/lengthened)

 Most people will not possess ideal posture!

 Good posture has a direct relationship with the functioning of the body.  Its been shown that poor posture can be attributed to the functions of most structures in the body for example, Poor lung functionNeural function Muscle fatigue Musculoskeletal injury Digestive issues

 Exist when a muscle is weak and its antagonist is strong.  The imbalances of muscle around a joint may cause a joint position to be altered.  Either weakness or shortness can cause faulty alignment.  So further testing may be needed to confirm postural findings.

 This is when the client takes control of their limb and moves it through a ROM asked by the masseuse.  With active ROM testing there will be a great reliance on contractile tissue to control movement around a specific joint.  The masseuse will gain important information about the clients: ROM, muscle strength, co- ordination, compensations, pain and willingness to move.

 This is when the therapist takes the clients limb through a specific ROM.  With passive ROM testing the masseuse takes full control of the limb while the client relaxes, allowing tissue to be stressed in a different way to active testing.  Contractile tissues will still be stressed, they will however, not be actively working.

 Resisted tests are performed when the masseuse manually resists a specific movement of the client.  Movement will occur however, during this type of testing the client will perform an isometric contraction.  This type of testing will give more information on pain, strength and muscle function.  In some cases, passive structures ( ligaments, joint capsule) may still be affected.

 A special test is designed to give the masseuse further information about the state of the client’s soft tissues and may identify conditions that could either be treated or contraindicated to further sports massage assessment or treatment.  A range of tests will be applied to gain further information regarding a clients ROM, compensatory movements, quality of movement, strengths, weaknesses and imbalances.