Massage Therapy for Sports Injury

In the world of competitive sports, athletes use every available technique available to them in order to perform at their best and when injured to be able to heal quickly and completely. Massage therapy is increasingly becoming one of those tools in the athlete’s arsenal. Typically, sports injuries involve the musculoskeletal system and this is precisely what massage therapy treats.

What is Therapeutic Massage?

Any injury involving the soft tissue including aches and pains resulting from those injuries can be addressed with therapeutic sports massage. This type of massage involves applying pressure to the injured tissue and its surrounding areas in a specific set of movements. The pressure of the massage has a two-fold effect on the athlete:

• Therapeutic massage results in an improvement in muscle flexibility and assists in improving the range of motion for the joint and tissues in the injured area.


• The pressure of therapeutic massage also helps blood flow throughout the body. This increases blood flow to the injured area and warms the affected muscles promoting quicker healing. Massage has also been shown to reduce heart rate and cortisol levels in the body that can inhibit healing. Cortisol is a stress hormone, eliminating it from the body or significantly reducing it aids in the feeling of well being and has been shown to assist in quicker healing.

Who can Perform Therapeutic Sports Massage?

Many sports trainers are additionally trained and skilled in this type of beneficial sports massage. It is important to find a massage therapist who understands these types of musculoskeletal injuries and how they affect the rest of the body and the athlete’s performance. You can check with the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork and they will provide you with a list of qualified massage therapists who are in your area.