Even Rodeo Cowboys Get Massage

Reducing Risk

An important objective in extending professional rodeo contestants? careers is the collection of data on rodeo injuries that may lead to risk reduction programs. The Centre of Excellence will deal specifically with the collection and evaluation of injury data in an attempt to provide a world-wide authority in rodeo injury, thereby educating the public on rodeo injuries and the role of sports medicine in rodeo. Massage therapy will be part of this objective for years to come, and Wahl, the coordinator of the massage therapy team, will have an important role to play in the future.

The accumulated data showed that all three disciplines, massage therapy, athletic therapy, and chiropractic care, are equally in demand and administered. Kawiecki clarified, "I would say that when you look at the data at the end of the year, taking into account the length of treatments, because treatments are different in all three professions, chiropractic tends to be a shorter treatment period, [whereas] massage tends to be longer. Athletic therapy tends to be in between-or longer or shorter, just in terms of what's going on. It depends on the injury [but] there is definitely a component for soft tissue work inside of our program, and we think it's a real benefit. There have been lots of cowboys since massage therapy's been on, [who] find it real beneficial."

The type of cowboys' injuries a massage therapist sees range from spider fractures in the tibia, dislocations, muscle tears, partial tears, to post-surgery applications, abrasions, absolutely anything, Wahl explained. "They may have had surgery a little while ago and it's draining some fluids off, but they've come out to see their friends ride. You're working within your scope, not going beyond."

Cowboys Wear Protective Clothing

As far as the prevention of serious injuries to muscles, bones, and other organs, rodeo riders wear face masks, protective vests, and helmets. Although, not many wear helmets because they're not going to look like cowboys. The protective vest was designed by Cody Lambert, a Canadian bullrider, and it was produced in the U.S. There are five to six variations of the vest to suit the cowboys' body types. It's like a bullet-proof vest, and protects the cowboys from getting crushed ribs or collapsed lungs. A lot of performers wear it now. "Six years ago," explained Lacasse, "many kids got killed. They got stepped on and kicked and they were not wearing any vests, and a year [later] this came out. Everyone wears one now. I'm wearing one now when I'm on bucking horses. The horse might kick, but I'm protected."

The unique feature of the vest is that it does not affect the flexibility of the cowboy's muscles during a performance. It is built especially for bending over, moving your arms and shoulders. It is cut on the back of the arms a little more so they have full range of motion when they are jerked backwards.

Wahl, who also has a lot of Russian massage training, explained that elbows and knuckles are used in the trailer on athletes because it's not a "clinical setting." The therapist is working through jeans, and if he or she is a small person doing massage on a big steer-wrestler, using fingers and thumbs would not be adequate enough to create the pressure needed for an effective release. Some cowboys are more sensitive to elbows and knuckles than others.

Wahl explained, "You gauge it like you would anybody in your clinic to what type of pressure to use. The type of tissue usually dictates what you can do and can't do. It depends on how soon the injury was, if they're in the acute stage or chronic stage." Often, a cowboy goes to a massage therapist before he rides, so more pain is not what the therapist should create. Palm pressure is used with inflammatory conditions to facilitate draining. "If it's something where inflammation is created, you try to calm that down, depending on how long you've got and what the injury is," added Wahl.

Only hypoallergenic creams, which avoid irritation, are used in massage. Wahl recommends that therapists not use heavy oils, especially if the cowboy has to leave right away for another rodeo. "You don't want him to have a bunch of oil sitting on his skin clogging pores, or have a rancid smell on his body, or stains on his shirts. You need something light enough that is going to be wiped off," said Wahl. Peanut oil, or any kind of oil from nuts is not recommended, while hypoallergenic oils such as a white flour oil get the smell and effect, but not the organic scents that irritate skin.

The length of a massage treatment for each individual performer varies, depending on the nature of the complaint and if the massage is given before or after a performance. For example, Roger Lacasse, last year's fifty-thousand dollar winner of the professional bareback riding event at the Calgary Stampede, and champion at the Canadian finals and at American rodeos, received his massage treatment from Wahl after his performance. An experienced pro originally from Montréal, Quebec, Lacasse now resides in Edmonton, Alberta. He started doing pro rodeos in Montréal 18 years ago and discovered that massage therapy helps alleviate the stress of rodeo, which he considers "a way of life."

He says, "The massage therapists are really helpful. I always go and sign autographs for them and do anything I could because those guys are doing everything to keep me on the road. Without them, I don't think I could be sitting in my truck driving 12, 14, 18 hours doing rodeo. I was doing it when I was young, but when you're young, your muscles hold up a lot better." Flying everywhere and driving everywhere makes the muscles stiff. "We just get on those horses and get whiplash all the time and shaken up, and muscles get torn and with those guys here. I mean, they just keep me on the road. That's phenomenal."

Everyone who works on the team feels that recognition by the professional rodeo contestants is appreciated. "There's always a thank you for the work they've done," concluded Kawiecki, "whether they win, lose or draw, they always say thank you," and that is the spirit of rodeo.

. . .

Grace Visconti, Shiatsu therapist, graphic designer, and freelance writer, has relocated in Canada, from Toronto, Ontario, to Calgary, Alberta, and can be reached at rafael@concentric.net