Sports Massage

Contextual Care for Training, Recovery, and Performance

Sports Massage at Human Body Works is not a single technique or formula.
It is an integrated, assessment-driven approach to care that adapts to your training load, recovery capacity, and goals.

This work is designed for people who ask a lot of their bodies — whether that’s in sport, training, competition, or physically demanding work — and want care that meets those demands intelligently.

Sessions are guided by:

• Your activity level and training cycle

• Current workload and recovery status

• Injury history or areas of concern

• Timing relative to training or competition

Pressure, pacing, and techniques are chosen based on what will best support your body at that moment — not on a preset routine.

What This Work Supports

Sports Massage may support:

• Recovery between training sessions

• Adaptation during high-volume or high-intensity phases

• Injury prevention and early issue management

• Tissue resilience and movement efficiency

• Preparation for competition or demanding events

Depending on assessment and need, sessions may incorporate tools such as heat or ice, myofascial decompression (cupping), instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), or taping. These are used purposefully — never automatically.

All therapists offering Sports Massage at Human Body Works have advanced training and hands-on experience working with athletes and active populations.

Timing & Frequency

Planning Care Around Training

A common question we hear is:
“How often should I come in — and when?”

The answer depends on your training demands, recovery capacity, age, injury history, and where you are in your cycle.

Training is a balance of stress and recovery. The work you do in the gym, on the road, or in the pool only makes you stronger when the body has the opportunity to adapt and rebuild. Massage therapy is one tool that can help support that recovery process — alongside nutrition, hydration, rest, and smart programming.

General Guidelines

These are starting points, not rules:

• Once a month
  Appropriate for the average active person maintaining general health and movement quality.

• Every other week
  Common for athletes in a consistent, healthy training cycle.

• Weekly (or more)
  Often appropriate during heavy training blocks, high mileage, competition seasons, or when managing recurring issues.

Your body is unique. We’ll help you determine what level of care best supports your goals.

How This Looks in Real Life

Athlete A: Structured Training Build

Bob is training for a marathon with a 12-week plan that includes long runs, speed work, and progressive mileage. His goal is to complete the training cycle healthy and avoid the small setbacks he’s experienced in the past.

For Bob, we recommend Sports Massage every two weeks, ideally scheduled on or shortly after his largest training load of the week. During peak weeks, sessions focus on recovery and tissue adaptation. In the days leading up to the race, care shifts to lighter, system-ready work that supports movement and readiness rather than fatigue.

Athlete B: High-Volume, Long-Term Athlete

Becky is an experienced endurance athlete training multiple hours per day. She manages chronic areas of stress in her Achilles and hips and has no intention of slowing down.

For athletes like Becky, more frequent care — often one to three sessions per week — helps manage cumulative load, support tissue health, and adapt to ongoing demand. Sessions are adjusted continually based on how her body is responding.

Athlete C: Seasonal / Developing Athlete

Brett is a young, healthy high school or pre-collegiate athlete. He generally tolerates training well but feels the impact during sharp increases in workload and competition season.

A monthly session during the off-season supports maintenance and awareness. Frequency increases during peak training phases and competition weeks, with shorter, targeted sessions when appropriate.

How Sports Massage Fits at Human Body Works

At Human Body Works, Sports Massage is not about doing more work — it’s about doing the right work at the right time.

We see performance, recovery, and nervous system regulation as connected. Care evolves as your training evolves, and collaboration with other providers is encouraged when helpful.

This is thoughtful, athlete-centered care — built for longevity, not just the next workout.