Sports Massage in Southend, Leyton & Lewisham
Sports massage is a targeted, hands-on treatment designed to relieve muscle tension, reduce pain, and prevent injury. At Physio Answers, our qualified physiotherapists provide bespoke sports massage treatments that keep your body flexible, mobile, and ready for peak performance.
Sports massage isn’t just for athletes. Whether you train regularly, sit at a desk all day, or are recovering from an injury, it can help you feel looser, reduce stress, and restore balance to your muscles and joints.
What Is a Sports Massage?
Sports massage is a form of deep tissue massage used to treat overworked or tight muscles. By applying focused pressure and stretch techniques, it helps:
- Relieve muscle knots and tension
- Improve circulation and oxygen delivery
- Restore flexibility and range of motion
- Speed up recovery after activity or injury
Our physiotherapists tailor every massage to your body’s needs. Whether you need firm, deep pressure or a gentler approach, we adjust techniques to suit your preferences and goals.
Why choose a Physiotherapist for a Sports Massage?
A physiotherapist has extensive knowledge of anatomy, body tissues and injuries so can target the offending muscles and address specific problems. We do not believe in ‘one size fits all’ and adjust our technique depending on your exact requirements.
The repetitive nature of most sports means some muscles are worked harder or kept in shortened positions for long periods of time-all of which leads to them becoming shortened and tight. The imbalance this creates in the body makes muscles and joints more vulnerable to strain and injury.
If your lifestyle is more sedentary and you don’t participate in any sport, a deep tissue massage can reduce the stress and tightness caused by poor posture or prolonged sitting as with driving or long hours sat at a computer.
The intensity of your massage will depend on your preferences and what you want to achieve. It can range from deep, intense pressure to a more gentle and relaxing session.
So if you are not performing at your best due to stiffness, tight or aching muscles or knots and tension then call us to book a bespoke sports massage with one of our experienced physiotherapists and feel better fast.
Benefits of Sports Massage
Sports massage offers benefits for both active individuals and those with more sedentary lifestyles. Regular treatment can:
- Aid muscle recovery and healing
- Improve sporting performance
- Prevent injury and muscle strain
- Support better posture
- Reduce everyday pain, tension, and stress
If you are feeling stiff, sore, or restricted, a sports massage can help restore movement and ease discomfort.
How Sports Massage Works
When muscles are overused or injured, they often form painful trigger points (knots) that restrict movement and blood flow. Left untreated, this can reduce performance and cause ongoing discomfort.
Sports massage works by:
- Releasing trigger points and tight fibres
- Increasing circulation for better oxygen and nutrient delivery
- Flushing out toxins
- Calming nerve endings to reduce pain signals
This combination of effects makes sports massage effective for both recovery and long-term injury prevention.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a sports massage?
Sports massage also called deep tissue massage is a type of massage that is usually used to target specific tight muscles and is a stronger technique than a general relaxing ‘spa type’ massage. However a good practitioner will always discuss what a client’s issues are and what they want to achieve whether it is post injury or tight muscles during exercise. It can also be used as a general massage for tight neck and back muscles.
Can I exercise after a sports massage?
A strong sports massage can make the muscles quite sore afterwards so it is advisable to have some rest after your session and drink plenty of fluids to allow the muscles to recover and maximise the effects of the massage. So it is best to avoid very vigorous or strenuous exercise soon after
Can you have a sports massage when pregnant?
You should avoid massage when pregnant especially in the first trimester unless the practitioner is specifically qualified in pregnancy massage. Some points on the body can induce labour so must be avoided.
Does a sports massage hurt?
Depending on what the required outcome is from the sports massage it can be quite painful, both at the time of the massage and after. However a good practitioner will discuss with you what your requirements are and should ask for your feedback throughout. If you are not comfortable with the level of discomfort then you should inform your therapist and discuss how to continue.
Does sports massage improve performance?
Sports massage can improve your performance as part of your training program which should include strength and conditioning as well as stretching and technique improvement. Sports massage helps relax and elongate tight muscles, improve recovery from exercise and allow your stretching programme to be more effective.
How does sports massage complement other therapies and treatments?
Sports massage can assist other treatment therapies in several ways. It can work on the pain receptors in the body to reduce the sensation of pain. It assists the recovery of damaged muscles and tendons and assists in lengthening the muscles in conjunction with stretching programmes.
How does sports massage reduce pain and stress?
A sports massage can reduce pain in the body by stimulating the ‘good ‘ nerves which then block the signals from the ‘bad’ pain nerves.
It also improves blood flow to the tissues to promote healing and better muscle health. Massage can also reduce stress by stimulating the production of the feel good hormones to promote a feeling of relaxation and wellbeing.
How long is a sports massage?
Within reason a massage can be as short or long as required. We offer three lengths of massage, 30, 45 and 60 minutes depending on the clients requirements and what areas require treatment.
How much is a sports massage?
Our sports massage sessions are conducted by our fully qualified physiotherapists which can use their expertise in pain and injury and rehabilitation to provide expert treatment sessions.
Our costs are:
- 30 min £50
- 45mins £66
- 60 mins £79
How often should I get a sports massage?
Realistically there is no limit as to how often you have a sports massage. Elite sports people use massage as part of their regular training programme and have therapists on hand for any issues they have. For others it may be worth looking at having a session at least once a month as a maintenance programme and increasing the frequency if or when a problem arises.
How to prepare for a sports massage?
It is advisable not to have a sports massage immediately after a large meal or a strenuous exercise session before the muscles have rested and recovered. Before your session make sure you are well hydrated, make sure you have time to recover after and wear loose comfortable clothing.
Is sports massage good for lower back pain?
If you have back pain it is advisable to be assessed by a physiotherapist prior to any general treatment technique like a sports massage. There are many causes of low back pain and so it is vital to know the cause of the pain to decide on the most effective and appropriate treatment. The wrong treatment could aggravate the symptoms rather than help.
What does a sports massage do?
A sports massage is a massage that tends to be stronger than a relaxing ‘spa type’ massage and is used to relax and reduce tension in tight and/or injured muscles. It helps increase blood flow to the muscles, promote a reduction in pain, break down scar tissue and help remove waste products from the muscles.
What to wear to a sports massage?
The area that is to be treated needs to be free from clothing as much as possible. However, it is also important for the client to feel comfortable and relaxed so we use blankets to help cover areas we are not working on. Massage can be through clothing if absolutely necessary but is not ideal as it makes it difficult to work as effectively on the muscle tissue.
What's the difference between deep tissue and sports massage?
There is really no difference between the two. They mean the same type of massage usually which is a stronger, deeper massage and just differentiates the technique from a more general relaxing softer massage. You do not need to do sports to benefit from a sports massage.
Where to get a sports massage near me?
We offer sports massage at all our physiotherapy clinic locations in Leyton, Hither Green Lewisham and Southend on Sea.