Sports massage is reported to have many beneficial effects in athletes. Sports massage can be used pre and post training/competition, during training or for rehabilitation.  Athletes of all levels may benefit from sports massage.

If you are looking for a way to improve your athletic performance, then sports massage may be for you.  Many different movements and techniques are used in sports massage. Examples of these techniques include; Swedish style massage, effleurage (stroking), petrissage (kneading), compression, friction, tapotement (rhythmic striking), vibration, gliding, stretching, percussion and trigger points. These movements and techniques are used to try to help the athlete's body achieve maximum performance and physical conditioning with a decreased chance of injury or pain and a quicker recovery.

What are the Benefits of Sports Massage?

Many benefits from sports massage have been reported based on experience and observation. Some of the benefits are to the mind (psychological) and some are to the body (physiological). Possible side effects of sports massage are tenderness or stiffness for 1 to 2 days after the sports massage. A skin reaction due to the massage oils is also possible. But for the most part, sports massage is safe. Some of the reported benefits include:

• Increased blood flow

• Increased joint range of motion (ROM)

• Increased flexibility

• Increased elimination of exercise waste products (lactic acid)

• Increased sense of well-being

• Decreased muscle tension

• Decreased neurological excitability (nerves more relaxed)

• Decreased chance of injury

• Decreased recovery time between workouts

• Decreased muscle spasms