Sports Massage is reported to have many beneficial effects in athletes. Sports massage can be used pre - performance, post- performance, during training, or for rehabilitation. From elite athletes to recreational exercisers, it is a popular choice. Sports massage is a systematic manipulation of the soft tissues of the body that focuses on muscles relevant to a particular sport. Runner Paavo Nurmi, known as the "Flying Finn" was one of the early users of sports massage. Nurmi is said to have used sports massage during the 1924 Olympics in Paris where he won five gold medals. Jack Meagher is thought to be the father of sports massage in the United States. Many different movements and techniques are used in sports massage. Example of these techniques includes; Swedish style massage, effleurage ( stroking). petrissage ( kneading), compression, friction, tapotement ( rhythmic striking), vibration, gliding, stretching, percussion, and trigger points. These movements and techniques are used to try to help athlete's body achieve maximum performance and physical conditioning with a decrease chance of injury or pain and a quicker recovery.

Relaxation may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about sports massage, but it is an exceptional important part of maintaining the health of an athlete. Sports massage is used as part of a specific recovery or enhancement program and can also be on-going if a body requires it. Athletes in the off-season benefit from sports massage with significant decreased tension in the muscle that have been stressed or over - extended throughout the season. For those who play and train rigorously year round it is a way to help the body sustain physical stress without damage, to quickly and fully recover from injury. Massage therapy is helpful in balancing chemistry and helping to stabilize overall mood. Mood can have an impact on how effective the body is during physical activities.