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Do you have clients who are athletes? This is something you won’t want to miss.

Dr. Portia Resnick is an associate professor at Cal State Long Beach, who loves working with athletes, both as a trainer and as a massage therapist.

Her new book, The Anatomy and Physiology of Sports Massage is published by Human Kinetics. It looks at manual therapy for high-level athletes, incorporating anatomy, sports-specific knowledge, and clinical decision-making.

She uses a great I Have a Client Who… story about a college athlete who has an injury and follow-up surgery. She tracks how she was able match bodywork goals, anatomy, and client input to get the best possible outcome.

Full show notes and resources available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-565-anatomy-and-physiology-sports-massage-dr-portia-resnick-i-have-client-who-pathology

A client asks for a specific technique on their face. They have a bad reaction. Then they say they didn’t want work in that area anyway, and by the way, they had a skull fracture four years ago. Now they’re leaving because they feel a migraine coming on.

The therapist is left wondering what just happened.

In this episode of I Have a Client Who . . ., Ruth unpacks this interaction, what may have been going on for the client and their bones, and takes a closer look at where things started to break down.

Has this ever happened to you? You’re not alone.

Full show notes and resources available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-559-skull-fractures-and-failures-communication-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth

A school administrator and massage therapist wants guidance on how to respond to a student who is reluctant to work with clinic clients who report a history of herpes. Is this a significant risk for massage therapists?

The reality is that anyone with a history of herpes simplex can shed the virus intermittently, even without visible symptoms. However, the risk to massage therapists who follow proper hygiene and self-care protocols is extremely low. In that sense, herpes falls into the same category as other infections that may be transmitted through direct contact but are effectively managed with consistent hygienic practices. The key issue is not the client’s infection status; it is the therapist’s adherence to appropriate hygiene protocols.

Full show notes and resources available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-553-herpes-simplex-2026-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner

Ruth is learning, writing, and teaching about thyroid disease in lots of different places, so IHACW is coming along for the ride.

Hypothyroidism: the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough of the right hormones to stimulate healthy metabolism—a person has a hard time turning fuel (that’s oxygen and food) into energy. The result: lethargy, weight gain, sluggish digestion, and lots, lots more. Does this describe any of your clients?

But treating endocrine diseases is a tricky business. In this episode Ruth interviews a friend who had some success, but it is an ongoing battle.

Full show notes and resources available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-547-hypothyroidism-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner

A client has a very traumatic experience with their kidney transplant surgery in 2017. Ever since, they have lived with chronic, intractable neck and head pain that doesn’t respond to any treatment they’ve tried so far. A recent CT scan reveals some calcium deposits inside the cranium but – is that the cause? Can massage therapy help? Are there any options for this person?

Full show notes and resources available at https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-542-kidney-transplant-complications-i-have-client-who-pathology-conversations-ruth-werner