People ask us this all the time, so here’s the short answer: a sports massage is hands-on therapy focused on the muscles and tissues you use to train and compete. The goal is to help you perform better, recover faster and stay ahead of injuries.
There are plenty of massage styles out there, from Swedish to Thai. Sports massage stands apart because it’s goal-driven. It is built around your sport, your training and whatever is currently holding you back.
How a sports massage works
Every sports massage starts with an assessment. Your therapist asks what you’re training for, where you’re tight or sore and whether any old injuries are acting up. They may watch how you move or check your range of motion.
From there, the session blends several techniques. At Total Muscle Therapy that can include:
- Deep tissue massage for tight, dense muscle
- Trigger point therapy for knots that refer pain elsewhere
- Cupping to lift and decompress tissue
- Graston Technique, Gua Sha and other instrument-assisted scraping
- Percussive therapy with a TheraGun
- Marc Pro electrical muscle stimulation
- Assisted recovery stretching
Many of these are done while the muscle moves through its range of motion, so tissue is treated the way it actually works when you run, lift or throw.
The benefits
Less soreness, faster recovery. Sports massage increases circulation to worked muscles and helps relieve the tightness that builds up after hard sessions. Many athletes report feeling less sore and bouncing back sooner.
Better range of motion. Releasing tight muscle and restricted fascia helps joints move more freely, which matters for everything from a squat to a golf swing.
Fewer nagging injuries. Regular work helps you and your therapist catch small problems, like a tight calf or a hip that’s not moving right, before they turn into time off.
It feels good to be taken care of. Training is stressful on your body and your nervous system. A session dedicated to recovery helps you reset.
Pre-event, post-event and maintenance
Sports massage isn’t one thing. It changes with your calendar:
- Pre-event: lighter, faster work in the days before a race or game to help you feel loose without leaving you sore.
- Post-event: recovery-focused work after competition, once your body has had a little time to settle.
- Maintenance: regular sessions during a training block to keep tissue healthy and address issues early.
How often should you get one?
It depends on how hard you’re training and what you’re dealing with. A common rhythm for athletes in a heavy training block is every two to four weeks. If you’re working through a specific injury, your therapist may suggest a few sessions closer together, then spacing them out once things improve.
We’ll always give you an honest recommendation. Our clients tell us they appreciate that we don’t push extra visits. Once the problem is fixed, it’s fixed.
Do you have to be an athlete?
Not at all. Sports massage was designed with athletes in mind, but anyone who exercises regularly, has a physical job or just wants to move better can benefit.
Ready to try it?
Total Muscle Therapy offers sports massage in Lehi and Pleasant Grove, Utah. Our therapists have worked with NFL and NBA athletes, collegiate athletes, triathletes, runners and plenty of weekend warriors. Learn more about our sports massage or book a session online.
