From Sideline to Recovery: How Massage Helps Heal Sports Muscle Strains - Techniques & Modalities Series
Whether you're a weekend warrior, a dedicated athlete, or simply active with your kids, muscle strains can happen suddenly and throw everything off course. That sharp pull mid-sprint, the ache after a misstep on the field, or the tightness that builds up from overuse — muscle strains are one of the most common sports-related injuries, and they range from mild to seriously disruptive.
At BSPOKR Remedial Massage, we regularly support clients in recovering from sports injuries with a tailored, hands-on approach. Massage is more than just a feel-good session — it’s a clinically informed method of helping the body recover, rebuild, and return to function.
A muscle strain occurs when muscle fibres are overstretched or torn, usually from a sudden load or excessive tension during movement. Strains can affect various parts of the body, but we most often see them in the hamstrings, calves, adductors, and quads — especially in clients who run, cycle, play team sports, or train intensely at the gym.
In the early stages of a muscle strain, pain, swelling, and inflammation dominate. This is the body’s natural response to injury, and during this phase, treatment needs to be gentle, supportive, and focused on encouraging blood flow without aggravating the damage. Techniques like lymphatic drainage, passive soft tissue release, and heat application (when appropriate) can make a big difference in calming the tissue and preparing it for deeper work later.
As the injury moves into the repair phase, massage becomes an essential tool for realigning scar tissue, preventing adhesions, and restoring proper muscle length and function.
We begin introducing deeper techniques
such as trigger point therapy, myofascial release, and stretching - to target lingering tightness, improve range of motion, and reduce the risk of re-injury. This is where remedial massage shines: it’s not just about easing discomfort, but about actively contributing to functional recovery.
This is a key component to what sets BSPOKR apart is that we don’t treat the injury in isolation. A strained hamstring, for example, might be linked to poor hip mobility, tight quads, or low glute activation. That’s why we assess your whole movement pattern, not just the painful area. We aim to understand how the injury happened — and more importantly, how to prevent it from happening again.
Massage also plays a key role in helping athletes maintain peak performance between games, training sessions, or events. Regular treatment supports muscle recovery, clears metabolic waste, reduces delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and keeps the soft tissue system more supple and responsive. For athletes in heavy training blocks or those coming back from injury, this is a game-changer.
At BSPOKR, we’ve worked with everyone from junior soccer players to parents training for fun runs, golfers with shoulder strain, and teens recovering from dance or gym injuries. Andrea has worked with Professional Teams including The British & Irish Lions in 2013, which was a career highlight! Other notable professional sports are, Rugby Union, Rugby League, AFL.
The common thread is always the same — the need for smart, supportive care that adapts to each stage of recovery.
If you’ve recently strained a muscle or you’re dealing with recurring tightness or weakness from a past injury, now’s the time to get it seen to. Massage can help reduce pain, restore movement, and give you the confidence to return to your sport without fear.
Recovery doesn’t have to mean complete rest, with the right treatment, it can mean smarter movement, stronger performance, and fewer setbacks.
Ready to get back on the field, track, court, or just back to your active life, feeling stronger and more mobile? Let’s make a plan that supports your recovery and keeps you moving well.
Book your tailored sports recovery massage here or reach out to ask which treatment is best for where you’re at right now.