Manual therapy & rehab

Sports & deep tissue

นวดนักกีฬา

Massage adapted to people who train or play sport, used before or after effort and during training periods to help with soreness and flexibility.

IntensityFirm

Origin

Europe

History

Builds on classical European massage strokes, named by the Dutch practitioner Johann Georg Mezger

Licence in Thailand

Not required

Where it comes from

Massage is one of the oldest forms of care, with traces in ancient Egypt, China, India and Greece; Hippocrates wrote that a physician must be experienced "in rubbing". Sports massage grew out of the classical European tradition, often called Swedish massage.

The basic strokes of that tradition, effleurage (gliding), petrissage (kneading), friction, tapotement (tapping) and vibration, were named in French by the Dutch practitioner Johann Georg Mezger. The Swede Per Henrik Ling is often credited with inventing Swedish massage, but that attribution is disputed.

Massage is now very common in elite sport and increasingly in amateur sport. Sports massage is less a single method than an application of these strokes, combined with stretching and pressure techniques, to the needs of active people.

The principle

A sports massage therapist adapts pressure, rhythm and timing to the sport and to the moment: shorter, livelier work before an event, slower and deeper work after it, and regular sessions during training. The focus is on the muscles that carry the most load in that sport.

The evidence is modest. A 2020 meta-analysis of 29 studies found no evidence that massage directly improves strength, sprint, jump, endurance or fatigue, but it was linked to small improvements in flexibility and delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS). A 2018 meta-analysis of recovery methods found massage among the most effective options for reducing DOMS and perceived fatigue.

What people come for

Less muscle soreness in the days after hard exercise
Feeling more flexible and loose
Recovery routines between training sessions
Warming up and preparing before an event
Relaxation and a sense of well-being after effort

How it works on the body

Sports massage works on muscles, tendons and the surrounding soft tissue, with pressure adapted to the athlete and the timing.

A session, step by step

01
Quick check-in
The therapist asks about your sport, recent training, any injuries and what you want from the session.
02
Positioning
You lie on a massage table, usually in shorts or underwear and covered with towels; oil or cream is often used.
03
Warm-up strokes
Lighter gliding strokes warm up the tissues before deeper work.
04
Targeted work
Kneading, friction and sustained pressure focus on the busiest muscle groups. Pressure should stay tolerable, tell the therapist if it is too strong.
05
Stretching and advice
The session may end with stretches and simple advice on hydration, rest and self-care.

Precautions

Do not massage a limb with a suspected blood clot (deep vein thrombosis): swelling, pain and warmth in a calf need a doctor first.
Ask a doctor first if you take blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder, as deep pressure can cause bruising.
Avoid massage with a fever or infection, over open wounds, or over a fresh injury such as a suspected fracture or a large bruise.
Older adults, pregnant people and people with cancer should ask for adapted, lighter pressure; rare serious injuries have mostly followed vigorous massage.
Massage should not delay seeing a doctor or physiotherapist for pain that persists, gets worse or follows an injury.

Complementary practice: does not replace medical advice.

In Thailand

In Thailand, sports massage is offered by massage therapists and spas as well as some sports and physiotherapy clinics. We found no separate licence for "sports massage" as such. Massage practitioners and establishments fall under the Ministry of Public Health: therapists register with the Department of Health Service Support after recognised training (traditional Thai massage requires at least 800 hours), and venues can be certified by the same department. Physiotherapists, licensed by the Physical Therapy Council, also use hands-on soft-tissue techniques and are the right choice if you have an injury. It is reasonable to ask a therapist about their training and certificate.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to be an athlete?

No. Anyone who exercises regularly, runners, gym-goers, weekend players, can book a sports massage.

Should it hurt to work?

No. It can feel firm and sometimes uncomfortable, but it should stay tolerable. Stronger pressure is not proven to work better.

Will it make me faster or stronger?

Current research finds no direct effect on strength, speed or endurance. It may help a little with soreness and flexibility.

When is the best time?

Before an event, keep it short and light. After hard effort, wait until you have cooled down and rehydrated. During training, regular sessions fit easily into a routine.

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