| Sports massage was originally used for athletes | | | | Based on both observation and experience, many |
| but is actually helpful for anyone with injury, | | | | benefits have been reported from sports |
| chronic pain or range-of-motion problems. Its | | | | massage, including: |
| purpose is to relieve swelling, drain away fatigue, | | | | ~Increased range of motion |
| reduce tension in muscles, increase flexibility and | | | | ~Increased blood flow |
| prevent injuries. Massage has become a major | | | | ~Increased flexibility |
| part of an athletic program within sports medicine | | | | ~Better sense of well-being |
| clinics, college training room, Olympic training and | | | | ~Less muscle tension |
| professional locker rooms, providing benefits | | | | ~Nerves becoming more relaxed |
| physiologically, physically and psychologically. Any | | | | ~Decreased risk of injury |
| man or women who regularly stretches his or her | | | | ~Better overall body condition |
| physical limits through movement of cycling, | | | | ~Enhanced performance |
| running, hiking, dancing, swimming, tennis, aerobics | | | | ~Recovery time between workouts decreased |
| or strength training can benefit from sports | | | | ~Less muscle spasms |
| massage. | | | | Massage has been used as a form of physical |
| There are numerous sports activities with each | | | | therapy for more than 3000 years by many |
| one using different muscles and joints. Many of | | | | different cultures. It is only recently that |
| the techniques used are targeted to those | | | | communications and travel enabled other |
| muscles and joints in that sport. This helps to | | | | civilizations to meet; therefore developing many |
| increase the overall effectiveness of the massage | | | | forms of massage. This form needs to be a key |
| in a particular sport for an athlete. These types of | | | | part of a training curriculum. It should also be used |
| treatments enable the body to extend its range | | | | on a regular basis to help lessen injury. There are |
| of performance. Increasing the flexibility of the | | | | many athletes that believe their sport life is |
| muscles and joints is critical to elevating | | | | expanded due to receiving regular sports |
| performance and minimizing the possibility of | | | | massages. |
| injury. | | | | |