Meet Michael Jordan of Fortitude Sports Therapy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Jordan.

Hi Michael, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My engagement with sports has been a constant in my life. However, during college, a back injury sidelined me for what felt like an eternity – over a year. Following an MRI, the diagnosis was spinal stenosis. Surgical intervention was presented as a possibility, though the reported success rates weren’t exactly a cause for celebration, and the potential for lasting negative effects was mentioned. Consequently, I chose to explore non-surgical options. My journey through various alternative therapies was… well, let’s just say the results were varied.

Interestingly, acupuncture provided a degree of relief that others hadn’t. Feeling a noticeable improvement, I cautiously attempted to resume my usual activities, only to find the pain returning with unwelcome enthusiasm. This was, to put it mildly, a bit disheartening. It was then that I discovered a sports massage clinic with a different approach. At that point, I was willing to try anything short of wearing a full-body spandex suit in public. After the first session, I experienced a significant change in my mobility and comfort. This approach proved to be the key. This all happened when I was 20. Now, nearly two decades later, I’m pleased to say I’m active and able to enjoy the sports I love.

This personal experience sparked a genuine curiosity about the intricacies of the human body and its responses to external forces, particularly the development of asymmetries. It became clear that imbalances in muscle function could lead to skeletal misalignments. These can manifest in various ways, such as differences in hip height, spinal curvature, shoulder alignment, or limb rotation – the body’s subtle way of indicating things aren’t quite square. These structural imbalances can be a significant source of pain, and addressing them has become the focus of my work. I find the process of assessing each individual to be akin to solving a fascinating puzzle. Understanding the biomechanics behind these issues makes the process of correction a deeply engaging one.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Starting a business is both thrilling and intimidating. For a time, I balanced a part-time job while working hard to grow my business. Success, failure, and constant learning all happened at once. One of the biggest challenges came when the phrase “two weeks to flatten the curve” became part of everyday conversation—COVID. Navigating the pandemic required flexibility and quick thinking. Surprisingly, adapting during that time was not only challenging but also rewarding. I’m proud to say that my business, Fortitude Sports Therapy, made it through those uncertain years, and today I continue to help people find relief from musculoskeletal pain.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
As a sports massage therapist focused on postural alignment, I specialize in identifying and addressing the root causes of musculoskeletal imbalances. Essentially, I work to correct the way muscles pull on our bones, which can lead to pain and restricted movement. A frequent scenario in my practice illustrates this well: clients often present with neck or shoulder pain. However, upon assessment, I commonly find misalignments in their hips and lower spine. By addressing and correcting these foundational imbalances, I often observe a significant positive impact on their reported neck and shoulder pain. This can lead to increased range of motion and a substantial decrease in discomfort, sometimes to the extent that direct work on the neck or shoulder becomes unnecessary.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Fortitudesportstherapy.com
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/fortitudesportstherapytn
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeljordantn?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app