Sports massage is a specialised manual therapy that addresses the unique demands placed on a body that endures regular physical activity. This type of massage implements various techniques like facilitated stretching, tapotement, and myofascial release to improve flexibility, increase circulation, reduce pain, and promote mental and physical wellbeing (Davis et al., 2020; Warren et al., 2020). Though research suggests that sports massage alone can’t enhance athletic performance, it does suggest there are several indirect benefits that can set athletes up for success in their training. A review of over 100 sports massage studies by Dakić et al. (2023) reported benefits such as:
- Increased flexibility, blood flow, and focus
- Decreased stress, depression, anxiety, and fatigue perception
- Improvements in muscle force and strength in certain muscle groups 48 hours post-massage
- Reduction in severity and duration of pain from delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS)
Proper recovery reduces the risk of overexertion and sports injuries (Dakić et al., 2023). By incorporating regular sports massage into training routines, athletes can reduce pain, fatigue, and stress that would normally keep them out of the gym, as well as reduce their risk of injury. Whether you run ultra marathons or like lifting weights in your spare time, sports massage can benefit athletes at any stage of their training.
References
Dakić, M., Toskić, L., Ilić, V., Đurić, S., Dopsaj, M., & Šimenko, J. (2023). The Effects of Massage Therapy on Sport and Exercise Performance: a Systematic Review. Sports, 11(6), 110. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports11060110
Davis, H. L., Alabed, S., & Chico, T. J. A. (2020). Effect of sports massage on performance and recovery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 6(1), e000614. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7228568/
Warren, A. J., LaCross, Z., Volberding, J. L., & O’Brien, M. S. (2020). ACUTE OUTCOMES OF MYOFASCIAL DECOMPRESSION (CUPPING THERAPY) COMPARED TO SELF-MYOFASCIAL RELEASE ON HAMSTRING PATHOLOGY AFTER A SINGLE TREATMENT. International journal of sports physical therapy, 15(4), 579–592. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7735689/