Sports massage is the manipulation of soft tissue that is used to benefit the active individual. The sports massage therapist uses a combination of different massage strokes and techniques such as deep slow strokes, compression, cross friction, trigger point, stretching, and quick sweeping or flicking strokes. The use of a massage stroke is dependent on the need of the client that is specific to the activity that they are involved in. To help their clients a sports massage therapist understands what muscles are used in the specific sport of their client, as well as the physiology of exercise and human anatomy. Also, what sets a sports massage therapist apart from other massage therapists is their understanding of the care and rehabilitation of injury. Sports massage can be used before and after activity to enhance performance and decrease the risk of injury. Benefits of sports massage include:

·Decreased muscle tension
·Improved flexibility
·Increased blood circulation to promote recovery and lymph flow
·Decreased recovery time between workouts
·Correction of problems and imbalances in soft tissue