Sports massage is specialised by being concerned with the application of massage techniques to specific body areas and to meet specific individual needs, including rehabilitation following medical treatments for injury.

Sports massage involves the manipulation of soft tissue (ie muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia) and is designed to assist in correcting problems and imbalances that are caused from repetitive and strenuous physical activity and/or trauma.

The manipulation of soft tissue prior to and after exercise promotes physical, physiological and psychological changes that may enhance performance, particularly aiding recovery and preventing injury.

Physical benefits of sports massage are:-

• Stretches soft tissue – rigorous massage movements stretch and loosen the skin and underlying tissue.
• Relieves muscle tension – stroking actions stimulate the peripheral nerve receptors
• Improves posture and flexibility of muscles – the direct effect of encouraging individual muscles and/or group of muscles to relax is extension of the limit to which the affected joint can move
• Reduces muscle spasm – muscle spasm is an extreme level of tension in the muscle, usually brought about by the body’s protective mechanism resulting from pain. The body reacts by contracting muscles to prevent further movement
• Improves formation of scar tissue – frictions may be used more aggressively to break down scar tissue and encourage the alignment of new scar tissue with the direction of existing muscle fibres
• Reduces swelling – by massaging the area, an increase in movement and temperature within the soft tissues will increase lymph flow, leading to fluids being reabsorbed into the circulatory system
• Reduce discomfort from DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) as a result of vigorous exercise.

Physiological benefits are:-

• Increases blood & lymph flow
• Increases supply of oxygen & nutrients to the soft tissue
• Removes waste products ie lactic acid and carbon dioxide.
• Relieves pain – pain relief works on the principle of the ‘pain-gate theory’. It is known that rubbing the painful area stimulates the cutaneous mechanoreceptors (sensory nerve endings situated in the skin), creating afferent signals that block the transmission of the pain signals to the spinal cord
• Stimulates the nervous system

Psychological benefits are:-

• Relieves tension & anxiety – the pleasant feeling (physiological response) of appropriate massage techniques helps with the process of mentally ‘letting go’ (psychological response), which in turn helps the muscles to relax
• Pain relief