Sports massage was originally developed to help athletes prepare their bodies for optimal performance, recover after a big event, or function well during training. Sports massage emphasizes prevention and healing of injuries to the muscles and tendons. But you don’t have to be in the Olympics to benefit from sports massage. Sports massage is also good for the weekend warrior or people just starting into an exercise program people with injuries, chronic pain or restricted range of motion. The massage therapist generally concentrates on a specific problem area. (Sore neck, shoulders, hip, back etc…)
A sports massage is a good choice if you are starting to have a specific problem — a tender knee from running, for instance. It is also be a good idea to see a therapist, who can help you identify and correct the movement pattern that might be causing your injury in the first place. The therapist generally focuses in on the problem area — a frozen shoulder or pulled hamstring, for instance — rather than giving a full-body massage.