Sports Massage

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Sports massage at Altius is hands-on treatment from a physiotherapist or sports therapist, not a spa therapist. Every clinician on our team can deliver it. You can book it on its own for training recovery or general tightness, or as part of a wider injury plan.

Sports massage at Altius Healthcare

What is sports massage?

Sports massage is a firm, targeted massage aimed at the muscles and soft tissues you actually use. Your therapist works on the areas that feel tight, restricted or overloaded, rather than giving the same routine to everyone. You don’t need to play sport to benefit. Runners, gym-goers, cyclists, desk workers and people in physical jobs all book it.

Techniques your therapist may use include:

  • Deep tissue work on tight or overworked muscle groups
  • Trigger point release on specific knots that refer pain elsewhere
  • Soft tissue release and assisted stretching to improve range of movement
  • Deep transverse frictions over tendons and older soft tissue injuries

Looking for lymphatic or therapeutic massage after surgery or injury? See our massage page.

Who it helps

  • Training recovery after a hard block, a race or a heavy week in the gym
  • Event preparation in the days before a marathon, sportive or match
  • Ongoing tightness in calves, hamstrings, hips, back, neck and shoulders that stays however much you stretch
  • Work-related aches from desk work, driving or physical jobs
  • Maintenance, as many of our patients first came in with an injury and now book a regular session to stay on top of things

Sports massage or physiotherapy?

Book a sports massage if you know what you want: tight muscles worked on and loosened off. Book a physiotherapy assessment if you have pain you can’t explain, a recent sports injury, swelling, pins and needles, or something that is getting worse. Our team are physiotherapists and sports therapists, so if anything during your massage needs more than massage, they’ll tell you and explain your options.

What happens in a session

Your therapist will ask a few questions about your training, work and any aches, then focus the session on those areas. Pressure is adjusted to suit you. Firm doesn’t mean painful, and you can ask for lighter or deeper pressure at any point. Wear or bring shorts and a loose top. Afterwards you may get some simple stretches or advice on managing your training.

It’s normal to feel a little sore for a day or two after a deeper session, much like after a workout.

Sports massage prices

  • 30 minutes: £40
  • 45 minutes: £60
  • 60 minutes: £75

30 minutes suits one area, such as calves or back. 60 minutes covers a full lower body or several areas. If you have health insurance, please call the clinic on 0161 401 1000 before your appointment to check whether your policy covers it.

Built on elite sport

Altius was founded by Doug Jones, whose background is in elite sport, including Sale Sharks and England Rugby. The same approach of hands-on treatment backed by clinical reasoning that we use with professional athletes is applied to every patient who books.

Where to book sports massage

Common questions

How often should I have a sports massage?

It depends on how much you train and how tight you get. Many people book every two to four weeks during a heavy training block and less often outside it. Your therapist can suggest a rhythm that suits you.

Should I have a sports massage before or after an event?

Lighter work a few days before an event, and recovery work two to three days after, suits most people. Avoid a first-ever deep session the day before a race.

Is sports massage the same as deep tissue massage?

They overlap. Deep tissue is one of the techniques used in sports massage, but sports massage is planned around how you train and move, and the pressure is set for you, not always deep.

Is sports massage painful?

It can feel intense on tight areas, but it shouldn’t be painful. Tell your therapist and they’ll adjust.

Can I book without an injury?

Yes. You don’t need an assessment or a referral. Choose a sports massage or sports therapy appointment at your nearest clinic.

Where to book Sports Massage at Altius

Clinics Across Greater Manchester