Therapy Masters’ Therapist in Focus
Richard Martensz
So when did you move to Canberra?
I first came to Canberra at the end of 2005 to do the Introduction to Massage course that’s offered here at the Canberra Institute of Technology. I thought it would an interesting short course as I had played basketball and hockey and enjoyed studying anatomy at school. I ended up enjoying it so much that I decided to become a therapist. So in 2006 I moved to Canberra permanently and started the Advanced Diploma in Soft Tissue Therapies that I completed last year.
How do you find working with some of Canberra’s elite sportspeople?
It’s a fantastic experience! You get to meet a wide range of people and get to work with the players at both ends of the spectrum - from household names like Stirling Mortlock and Terry Campese, to the new guys who are just starting their careers.
What have you gained from this work?
I have a better understanding of sports injuries and the skill, time and dedication that is required to see a player back on the field after he’s been injured. I’m always learning how to better apply my skills to assist with a player’s recovery and performance. We get to work with the other medical staff (physios, doctors, trainers) and we all help each other to see the player return to the field as quickly as possible.
I’m fairly easy going and this helps when a player has received some bad news and won’t be back on the field as quickly as they would like. I try and get them to focus on what is working well for them, how they can assist their own recovery and share any gains (such as increased range of motion, reduced swelling, improved flexibility, or decreased pain) that have come from the massage treatment. Keeping them focused on returning to the field and thinking positive often speeds up their recovery.
How does your sporting work translate back to everyday clients at Therapy Masters?
My confidence in my abilities and skills as a therapist has grown. A confident and relaxed therapist builds rapport and trust quickly with clients. One of the best ways to gain confidence comes from treating lots of different people; this happens really quickly in a sports environment.
I also believe that being easy to talk to, understanding and down-to-earth go a long way to being a good therapist in my book. Luckily these things come naturally to me.
I’m more focused now on planning out treatment goals and prioritising the massage techniques that see the client’s condition improve in the shortest available time. Regardless of whether someone’s a professional athlete or an office worker, no-one likes to be in pain or recovering from an injury. The best thing about being a massage therapist is sharing your skills and to see someone improve. Whether it’s something as dramatic as watching a client walk without crutches or seeing someone’s relief at having their headache go away; it’s nice to know that the work you do helps.
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