Target Muscle Groups It's a full-body treatment, and the therapist may adjust the focus based on the client's needs and preferences. Conversely, a sports massage is often more localised, focusing on specific muscle groups that are stressed during athletic activities.

Generally speaking, both men and women should wear loose-fitting clothing to a sports massage which gives easy access to the area that will be worked on.

Sports massage often involves kneading and grasping of muscles and other soft tissues. Your sports massage therapist or physiotherapist may use techniques such as: effleurage — strokes with the palm of the hand. petrissage — lifts soft tissues.

'Regular sports massages can help to identify potential areas of tension or weakness within the musculoskeletal complex (muscles, tendons and ligaments). Addressing these early on can assist in preventing the development of an injury and also assist with improving muscle mechanics,' she says.