Sporting events produce short-term changes in physical performance. The effect of sports massage can be very important because it can help to improve the blood flow. The increased blood flow reduces swelling and muscle tension, allowing more oxygen-rich blood to reach the muscles. The increased circulation allows more nutrients to reach the muscles and reduce the amount of lactic acid built up in the muscles during workout. Because of this, the athlete or participant may experience increased muscle performance, flexibility, endurance and strength.

The athlete or participant receiving a sports massage will typically experience emotional, physiological and physical changes after the massage. For the most part, lactic acid is eliminated because lactic acid is generated when muscles are stressed or injured. For a lot of people, lactic acid is eliminated by perspiring, which then clears the skin of lactic acid and allows the circulation of fresh blood into the affected region. Once an athlete or participant demands relief from tension, increased circulation, improved flexibility and reduction in soreness, lactic acid is removed from the skin together with the waste products it produces. The massage has the effect of eliminating strain, improving mobility, increasing muscle tone, and decreasing soreness, all of which have physiological and psychological effects.
Physical benefits of sports massage techniques can also extend to mental advantages. Mental preparation and mental focus are related to physical abilities. When the mind is centered on a specific job or activity, its cognitive processes are not as likely to be slowed down by distractions. Similarly, individuals who have the ability to concentrate deeper and longer hold a greater advantage over competitors who cannot stay focused. Greater focus on a task leads to greater memory feature, and the consequences of prolonged brain activity may impact performance.
Lots of people who suffer from trauma are often unaware that they may benefit from sports massage as a preventative measure. One common reason for this is that an athlete or participant who receives regular treatments has less probability of getting another injury during the exact same activity. Sports massage is not a cure-all but can benefit an athlete or player by reducing the possibility of further injuries. Whether an athlete is aware of the benefits of regular massage practices is not established, but the benefits of the practice are apparent to those who have profited from it.
There are numerous other benefits of sports massage therapy for athletes and active people. Athletes who sustain trauma, particularly to the neck and spine, may experience lessening of symptoms like pain and numbness. Preventing damage to the soft tissue is another obvious advantage. Prevention of further injury and pain is another obvious benefit. Long term treatment may also decrease the risks of arthritis and atherosclerosis in athletes.
In recent years, there has been increased interest in sports massage among professional athletes. Among these athletes is football player LaDanian Tomlinson, who suffered a sprain in his lower back in 2021. Sports massage has been proven to be beneficial in reducing pain and injuries in athletes and active people. The practice has also shown benefit in helping rehabilitate an injury and healing chronic swelling and pain in athletes and active individuals.
Sports massage techniques provide many health benefits to individuals of