Massage Therapy Journal Spring 2026

Spring 2026 • 67

ranging in age from 15 to 43 years old, which means a wide range of techniques is often needed. “We have a massage therapist who treats our athletes at the Center of Excellence and incorporates Muscle Activation Technique and movement into the treatment protocols for the athletes,” adds Hase. Additionally, the U.S. Ski & Snowboard team has a massage therapist

who travels with the team, and their athletic trainers and physical therapists are also trained in massage techniques. Massage therapy for athletes continues to be researched, with all signs pointing toward its benefits. As the Olympics continue, many of the athletes will likely turn toward massage to help recover from and prepare for their events.

What Some Recent Science Says About the Benefits of Sports Massage

exercise, the E group rated pain on a pain intensity scale at a three. The EM group rated their pain at just under two, while the EMC group rated their pain just over one. The study concluded that massage therapy both with a traditional topical oil and with lime essential oil can accelerate the DOMS recovery process as evidenced by the decrease in lactate levels and reduced pain after exercise. A second study 2 examined the effects of deep tissue massage therapy on muscle recovery and performance in athletes. The study used a randomized controlled trial design with 150 athletes between 18 and 45 years old. Each athlete received a bi-weekly, 40-minute deep tissue massage for eight weeks. Performance

A study 1 explored the effect of massage therapy with lime essential oil on the recovery of delayed onset muscle soreness in athletes. The study took 30 male boxers, aged 20–22, and divided them into three groups. An exercise (E) group was doing exercises and was not given massage therapy; the exercise massage (EM) group exercised and was then massaged with ordinary lotion as a topical oil; and the exercise massage with lime (EMC) group exercised and was given a massage with lime essential oil as the topical oil. The study found that the lactic acid rose post exercise in the E group, decreased in the EM group, and decreased even further in the EMC group. The pain intensity scale followed this same pattern. After

improvement, muscle recovery and flexibility were measured with objective and subjective assessments. The study found that team and strength athletes showed the greatest performance improvement compared to individual and endurance athletes. Bi-weekly massage sessions showed better recovery outcomes while longer massage sessions showed increased flexibility. The study concluded “deep tissue massage therapy improves athletic performance and muscle recovery, especially for team and strength sports. With regular and continuous massage sessions, flexibility and recovery are improved among athletes.”

References 1. Harahap NS, Manalu N, Siregar NS, Machrina Y. ‘Effect of Massage Therapy with Lime (Citrus Aurantifolia) Essential Oil on the Recovery of Delayed Onset of Muscle Soreness in Athletes.’ Med Arch. 2023 Feb;77(1):24-28. 2. Arsovski D. ‘Deep Tissue Massage Therapy: Effects on Muscle Recovery and Performance in Athletes.’ Int J Ther Massage Bodywork. 2025 Jun 12;18(2):40-51.

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