It is explicitly developed for people involved in physical activity (not necessarily professional), centered on the prevention and treatment of injury as well as on the enhancement of athletic performance. Sports massages help athletes prepare their bodies for optimal performance, recover after a big event or function well during training. It emphasizes prevention and healing of injuries to the muscles and tendons . It is also good for people with injuries, chronic pain or restricted range of motion. The massage therapist generally concentrates on a specific problem area. Sore neck and shoulders anyone? This is the type of sports massage that you see in the spa. Watch a video on sports massage.

Sports massage is a type of Swedish massage that stimulates circulation of blood and lymph fluids. Some sports massage movements use trigger point therapy to break down adhesions (knots in the muscles) and increase range of motion. There are four types of sports massages: pre-event, post-event, restorative and rehabilitative.

A sports massage is a good choice if you have a specific problem like a tender knee from running, for instance. It is also be a good idea to see a movement therapist, who can help you identify and correct the movement pattern that might be causing your injury in the first place.

Sometimes, men that have never had a massage before are more comfortable getting a sports massage because it sounds more masculine. That's fine, even if they don't have an injury.