Wilson & Meagher Sportsmassage specializing in equine and sportstherapy.


JO-ANN WILSON Jo-Ann Wilson M.Ed., nationally certified L.M.T., has been a longstanding associate of Jack Meagher and a partner in Wilson and Meagher Sportstherapy. Jo-Ann co-founded the Jack Meagher Institute and was the former co-director and instructor. She was the Principal Investigator of a research grant titled "Sportsmassage: The Science of Complete Motion" awarded by the AMTA Foundation. Jo-Ann has a private clinical practice that includes both horses and humans. She worked as the Sports Therapist for the United States Equestrian Team's 3-Day Event Team, winners of the individual Gold and team Bronze medals at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Her active equine practice includes all disciplines of equestrian sport including top international competition horses as well as pleasure horses. Her human practice includes athletes, dancers, injury related work, as well as conditioning and strengthening. She collaborates with a team of professionals in her human practice such as OT., PT., MD. and ACUP. Jo-Ann's past experience in education is a major asset to her teaching abilities in this innovative program. Jo-Ann's application of the Meagher method of sportsmassage has been published in leading equine publications. Research Jo-Ann was the principal investigator of a research grant funded by the American Massage Therapy Foundation titled "The Effects of Sportsmassage on Athletic Performance and General Function", published in American Massage Therapy Association, Massage Therapy Journal (summer 2002). The research provided strong scientific evidence supporting a significant increase in range of motion, and muscle/tendon unit, and muscle belly diameters with the application of the Meagher method of sportsmassage. Horses were used as subjects to eliminate a placebo effect. See a review of the research in "Research Matters" by Janet Kahn PhD, Massage Magazine May/June 2003. Publications THE CHRONICLE OF THE HORSE. "Massage Restores the Power of Free Motion" Jan. 13, 1995 by Jo-Ann Wilson HOEFSLAG, "Sportsmassage", Holland July 1997 THE CHRONICLE OF THE HORSE. "Horses Must Have Proper Muscle Conditioning Before Being Asked to Perform" June 21 1996 by Lisa Campbell DRESSAGE TODAY. "Sportsmassage in Dressage". October 1999 by Vanessa Craft AMERICAN MASSAGE THERAPY ASSOCIATION: MASSAGE THERAPY JOURNAL."The Effects of Sportsmassage on Athletic Performance and General Function." Summer 2002. by Jo-Ann Wilson PRACTICAL HORSEMAN. "Sportsmassage" June 2003 by Jo-Ann Wilson with Sue Copeland	"It is my privilege and pleasure to have Jo-Ann Wilson as my friend and associate in sportsmassage. I have seen her develop over the years from my pupil to the foremost practitioner of the art of sportsmassage, to serving the United States 3 Day Team at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney Australia. Her talent and integrity and commitment to the profession are widely known and respected. She and her pupils will insure the future of sportsmassage." - Jack Meagher

JACK MEAGHER In the mid 1950's Jack Meagher ,a pioneeer in the field of massage therapy, coined the term sportsmassage, and under its umbrella combined a series of specific soft tissue applications based on anatomy physiology and muscular kinetics. The application of these techniques became known as the "Meagher method" of sportsmassage. Jack was the sportsmassage therapist for two United States Equestrian Teams and for the National Football League athletes represented by professional sports management. With a work week split between horses and humans he has tended many of the top horses of the world,leading athletes in different sports and European royalty. He served the United States Equestrian Teams at the Montreal Olympics and at a number of World Championships both here and abroad. As a result of his work he has been awarded the USET certificate of Achievement and an honorary membership in the American Massage Therapy Association. Meagher (pronounced "Mar") is a graduate of two massage therapy schools and a school of physical therapy. He was technical advisor for sportsmassage to the AMTA. His book Sportsmassage (Doubleday and Station Hill Press) introduced the concepts of sportsmassage to American therapists and athletes. This book was required reading for a number of schools and for the New York State Licensing Board. He has conducted teaching seminars on his technique throughout the United States and Canada for both horses and humans. Jack was the first recipient of the Dr. Marty Simensen award. Jack's publications include: Beating Muscle Injuries for Horses, Beating Muscle Injuries for Runners, and Sportsmassage. NOTE: Jack Meagher passed away March 6, 2005. "He was my teacher, mentor, associate and friend. He gave me the opportunity to learn and practice his method of sportsmassage which changed my professional life. I owe my success to him. He was a very generous, creative, and brilliant man who was down to earth, and kind to all. By teaching others, I will try my very best to continue to carry on his legacy and methods to insure the future of the original Meagher method of sportsmassage." -Jo-Ann Wilson	"I give my highest professional endorsement for the hands on therapy created by Jack Meagher.His work with horses and high performance athletes is legendary within the field. His book, SPORTSMASSAGE, helped revolutionize the application of clinical massage to peak performance. I have known Jack for nearly 15 years and was honored to have written the introducion to the revised edition of his book,and consider him a mentor, not only to myself , but to an entire generation of sports therapists." - Robert King (Founder and Director of Chicago School of Massage Therapy and AMTA Past National President)