When you call to make a massage appointment with your massage therapist, you may be given a list of massages that are offered and hear about their sports massage option. If you’ve never heard of a sports massage, this one in which you can help your body to recover faster after training or an athletic event.

It works to rehabilitate your muscles and tendons through a soft tissue technique. This will be different than just getting a pamper spa experience and will likely be painful while it works out the kinks. Take a closer look at what you can expect from a sports massage compared to other massages.

Sports massage vs. a regular massage

A sports massage is meant for those that are physically active and your therapist will use techniques that deep and meant for rehabilitating your body. A regular Swedish massage is meant to relax and refresh your body rather than to heal stressed tendons or to help you prevent muscle injury.

While almost anyone can get a regular relaxing massage, only certain lifestyles would need a sports massage, such as athletes, gym-goers, or those that sit at a desk most of the week.

There are four types of sports massages which include those that are before or after an event, one that is meant to rehabilitate an injury, and one that’s meant to restore your body and help avoid injury. A massage before an event can help your body to perform well when you go to exert yourself during an event. The one after an event will be used to aid your tissues and bring balance. 

Your first appointment

At your first sports massage appointment, you’ll talk to your massage therapist about why you’re here for this type of treatment. This will help him or her to understand your problem areas or where you plan to exert yourself to help your body prepare. You’ll want to discuss any medications you take and lifestyle or past injuries that could be helpful to your massage therapist.

The massage

Once it’s time for your massage, your massage therapist will use this first session to assess your posture, range of motion, and learn where your pain areas are located. There will be various techniques and stretches, and often in sports massage, you’ll have discomfort from the deep pressure.

Of course, you can let your therapist know if at any point it’s too much pressure. With a sports massage, there may be guidance at the end for some stretches you can do at home to help with recovery.

Who should get a sports massage?

Sports massages can work for almost anyone but are often used by athletic and active people. Alternatively, anyone that experiences aches and pains, goes to the gym regularly, suffers from posture issues, or wants to improve their blood circulation could benefit from a sports massage. Even pregnant women can seek a sports massage as this is a good way to help with the aches and pains that come with the strain of pregnancy. Just make sure you rest up and hydrate after your massage.

If you want to improve your range of motion, improve your scar tissue, improve your blood circulation, heal your muscles and tissue, and improve your recovery time from physical activity, a sports massage is the way to go. If you are looking for something more than a relaxation session, check out sports massage to really heal those trouble spots and improve how your body feels going forward.