“Sports massage is the term applied to the discipline of using massage for the specific benefit of all sports participants.  
It covers the management, manipulation and rehabilitation of the soft tissues of the body including muscles, tendons and ligaments.”  Copyright - Sports Massage Association

Sports massage can be used by anyone who is involved in leisure or sports activity.  It is suitable for elite athletes and for just about anyone maintaining an active lifestyle or hobby such as gardening, keep fit, walking or dancing.    
Whilst it is most well known as a massage form, used to aid injury recovery, sports massage has something to offer most individuals. It
is a useful tool to prevent injuries, restore flexibility, increase circulation and as a an aid to relaxation.  

Practitioners are able to alter their depth, speed and pressure in order to provide a massage that meets many different requirements and situations; whether you are preparing for a crucial local league football match, as part of a training programme or relief for day to day problems that we all experience, such as when lifting, carrying, sitting at a computer, driving or quite simply to de-stress.
When talking to people I often hear the phrase “but I’ve heard it’s painful”.  Although sports massage can result in temporary discomfort at times, it does not have to be painful to be effective.  By altering the depth and pressure and by tailoring the session to meet your needs, an effective massage can be given. After all the majority of sports massage is delivered to perfectly fit and healthy individuals.