What Is Sports Massage? A Canadian Patient's Guide
What is sports massage therapy?
Sports massage is a style of massage therapy aimed at people involved in sports and physical activity. Like all massage, it works by manipulating the soft tissues of the body — the muscles, tendons and other structures beneath the skin — and it is used to help prevent or treat injuries, not simply to relax. Massage has been practised in most cultures throughout human history and was one of the earliest tools people used to try to relieve pain. [6] [1]
Massage therapy is an umbrella term that covers many techniques and is used broadly to help manage health conditions or enhance wellness. In Western countries the most common variety is Swedish massage, which forms the core of most massage training programs. [1]
Sports massage sits alongside it as a distinct type of massage, as do clinical massage aimed at specific goals and Eastern traditions such as Shiatsu and Tuina. In short, sports massage is not a separate profession: it is a set of techniques offered within massage therapy. Clinical massage, for example, may be used to release muscle spasms. Surveys from the United States show how mainstream the field has become, with 10.9 percent of adults reporting massage use in 2022 — more than double the share two decades earlier. [1]
How sports massage differs from Swedish and deep tissue massage
Swedish massage is a gentle style that uses long strokes, kneading, deep circular movements, vibration and tapping. It is designed to help you feel relaxed and energized, which is why it is often chosen for relaxation rather than for injury work. Massage in general is also associated with improved circulation, energy and alertness. [6]
Deep tissue massage, often listed simply as deep massage, uses slower, more forceful strokes to reach the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue. It is commonly used for muscle damage from injuries, which is one reason people sometimes confuse it with sports massage. [6]
Sports massage is often described as a type of massage similar to Swedish massage, but geared toward people involved in sport activities to help prevent or treat injuries. The key difference is intent: Swedish massage prioritizes relaxation, while sports massage prioritizes the demands of the sport — preparation, recovery and staying as injury-free as possible. [6]
You may also come across trigger point massage, which focuses on tight areas of muscle fibers that can form after injuries or overuse, and clinical massage, which may use techniques that release muscle spasms. Each is a distinct type of massage within the same field. [6] [1]
What sports massage is commonly used for
In athletic settings, sports massage is used to support everyone from competitive athletes to weekend warriors. The benefits commonly associated with this type of massage include muscle recovery, improved flexibility and mobility, injury prevention, mental relaxation and athletic performance, along with help staying focused on training. Some research also suggests massage can reduce muscle soreness and support faster recovery. [2]
Timing shapes the treatment. Event-day sports massage helps prepare an athlete for competition, sports massage during training supports the body's work, and post-event sports massage focuses on recovery, aiming to jump-start the body's recovery process after exertion. [2]
Sports massage is also used outside competition. Massage therapists help people recover from injury, manage stress, recover after surgery and improve flexibility and range of motion, tailoring treatment for acute and chronic conditions. In Ontario, registered massage therapists are described as part of the sports rehabilitation team, assessing and treating physical dysfunction and pain of the soft tissue and joints through hands-on manipulation. [3]
What does the research show? Most studies have examined massage therapy as a whole rather than sports massage specifically. For low-back pain, a 2015 review of 25 studies found only weak evidence that massage helps, although some people report short-term improvement, and US clinical practice guidelines from 2017 listed massage as an option for acute and subacute low-back pain but not for chronic low-back pain. [1]
For neck and shoulder pain, massage was more helpful than doing nothing, but benefits were generally short-lived; one review found short-term neck relief only when sessions were long and frequent enough. A small number of knee osteoarthritis studies suggested short-term pain relief — though two of the positive studies combined massage with aromatherapy — while headache studies have given inconsistent results. [1]
When you have a sports injury such as a sprain or strain, physiotherapists can also help. In the United Kingdom, for example, physiotherapy is used for bone, joint and muscle problems including sports injuries, and may combine hands-on manual therapy with exercise, advice and treatments such as ultrasound or hydrotherapy. Physiotherapy is a regulated profession with its own training pathway and often includes exercises to do at home to help with recovery, so the right choice depends on your situation. [4]
What happens during a sports massage session
A sports massage session normally begins with an assessment. The therapist will look at your posture, flexibility and range of motion, feel the soft tissue, and then decide on a course of treatment. An intake interview covering your activity, medical history and goals is a standard part of sports massage practice. [3] [2]
The treatment can include soft tissue manipulation, stretching, remedial exercise and education. Throughout the session the therapist checks in to make sure you are comfortable with the pressure, and your consent can be withdrawn at any time — at which point the session may be modified or stopped. [3]
First visits to other manual therapy professionals look similar. In the United Kingdom, the NHS describes a first physiotherapy appointment in which the therapist asks about your symptoms, medical history and lifestyle, feels the affected area, checks your strength and balance, and then discusses treatment options and advises you on how many sessions may be needed. [4]
Possible side effects and safety considerations
The risk of harmful effects from massage therapy appears to be low. Still, there have been rare reports of serious side effects, including blood clots, nerve injury and bone fracture. Some reported cases involved vigorous types of massage, such as deep tissue massage, or people at higher risk of injury, such as older adults. [1]
Massage is not a substitute for medical care. Don't use it to postpone seeing a health care provider about a medical problem, and if you are unsure whether sports massage is appropriate for you, discuss your concerns with your provider first. A responsible practitioner will ask about your health history before beginning, so be ready to describe any conditions or recent injuries. [1]
Some health conditions call for adjustments. With appropriate precautions, massage can be part of supportive care for people with cancer, although the evidence that it relieves pain and anxiety is not strong, and therapists may need to use less pressure than usual in sensitive areas. Sharing your health history helps the therapist adapt the session to you. [1]
Do you have to be an athlete to get a sports massage?
No. Sports massage is geared toward people involved in any sport, and that covers everyone from competitive athletes to weekend warriors. You don't need to compete at any level for the techniques to be relevant — regular training, recreational activity, recovery after a sports injury and recovery from exercise all count. [2] [6]
Recreational sports are a normal part of the practice. Sports massage therapists work with golfers, for example, to help manage pain, improve movement and support recovery, using an understanding of the golf swing to find physical restrictions that affect comfort and performance. If you play a sport, this style of massage may be worth considering whether you compete or not. [5]
Sports massage in Canada: who provides it and what to ask
In Ontario, RMTs provide massage therapy services. They assess and treat physical dysfunction of the soft tissues and joints, mostly through hands-on manipulation, and support recovery with treatments tailored to your situation. Their work can include orthopaedic and neurological testing, soft tissue manipulation, hydrotherapy, remedial exercise programs and client education, with deep tissue and Swedish massage the techniques used most often. [3]
Coverage in Ontario follows provincial rules: massage therapy from a registered massage therapist is not covered by OHIP. Extended health insurance plans may pay for part or all of the cost, but coverage varies by carrier and plan, so check your policy to see what applies to you. [3]
The Ontario example may not match every province, so when you look for a practitioner, ask about their training, experience and credentials. It is also reasonable to ask how many treatments might be needed, what the sessions will cost and whether your insurance covers them. If you are unsure whether massage is right for you, your health care provider can help you decide and may help you select a practitioner. [1]
