Sports massage therapy
Specialised sports massage that keeps you at your peak. Prevent injuries. Accelerate recovery. Enhance your performance naturally.
Sports massage at Atma Wellbeing isn’t generic bodywork. It’s specialised therapeutic treatment developed for athletic performance, injury prevention, and rapid recovery. Whether you’re training for competition or staying active, this is care designed for bodies in motion.
Here’s what makes sports massage + lymphatic drainage tailored for lifters and athletes different from regular relaxation massage: it’s strategic, targeted, and timed around your training schedule to get the most from your body’s performance and recovery.
Whether you’re hitting new personal bests or perfecting your physique, your body needs the right care. Our combined sports massage and targeted lymphatic drainage services are designed to help you train harder, recover faster, and look your best.
Your body works differently when you’re pushing it athletically. That weekend run that left your calves screaming? Training sessions creating persistent muscle tightness? The nagging shoulder that flares up mid-workout? Sports massage addresses the specific demands athletic activity places on your muscles, tendons, and joints.
Using deeper pressure, dynamic stretching, and targeted techniques like trigger point therapy and myofascial release, we work on muscle layers that regular massage doesn’t reach. Pre-event sports massage prepares your body for peak performance by increasing blood flow, warming muscles, and improving flexibility. Post-event treatment speeds recovery by flushing metabolic waste like lactic acid, reducing inflammation, and releasing tension that builds during intense activity. Maintenance sports massage between training sessions prevents minor issues from becoming injuries and keeps your body functioning at its peak.
We’ve crafted a treatment that targets muscle recovery and body definition in one session. This is therapeutic care for active bodies that need to perform consistently, recover quickly, and stay injury-free.
Real results, real confidence: See it for yourself
Atma Wellbeing has been Northern Beaches’ choice for sports massage that genuinely enhances athletic performance and recovery. Our therapists understand the demands of training and competition because we work with active bodies every day. When you choose us, you’re choosing proven expertise in keeping athletes moving at their best.
Who benefits from sports massage therapy?
Whether you’re training for marathons, hitting the gym regularly, playing weekend sports, or sculpting your physique, sports massage delivers performance enhancement, faster recovery, and visible body definition from your first session.
The moment you finish treatment, you’ll notice the difference. Muscles feel looser. Movement flows easier. Soreness reduces. Your physique looks tighter and more defined. Sports massage works for competitive athletes optimising performance, gym enthusiasts and bodybuilders enhancing muscle definition, weekend warriors managing muscle fatigue, runners addressing overuse issues, and anyone whose active lifestyle demands their body performs consistently and looks its best. Each session is tailored to your sport, training schedule, and aesthetic goals because generic massage doesn’t meet athletic demands.
Physique Definition
Reveal sharper muscle lines and enhanced definition by combining sports massage with lymphatic drainage. Flush excess water weight, tighten skin over muscles, and boost vascularity for that lean, sculpted look you've worked hard for.
Injury Prevention
Address minor muscle imbalances and tension before they become serious injuries. Maintain healthy tissue function and reduce your risk of strains, tears, and overuse problems.
Performance Enhancement
Optimise your athletic output with sports massage that increases flexibility, improves range of motion, and prepares muscles for peak performance during training and competition.
Faster Recovery
Accelerate your body's natural healing by flushing lactic acid, reducing inflammation, and releasing post-exercise tension. Get back to training sooner with less soreness.
Pre-Event Preparation
Prepare your body for optimal performance with sports massage that warms muscles, increases circulation, and gets you mentally and physically ready for competition.
Post-Event Care
Support recovery after intense competition or training sessions. Reduce muscle soreness, address tightness immediately, and maintain your training schedule without extended downtime.
Athletic excellence: sports massage sessions & prices
Sports 40
Focused session targeting specific problem areas and muscle groups requiring attention.
– 40 min session
Sports 60
Comprehensive treatment for thorough recovery and performance optimisation throughout your body.
$155
– 60 min session
Peak Performance
Sports massage plus compression boots or LED therapy for maximum recovery enhancement.
$195
– 60min session with add-on
A $75 deposit is required to secure your appointment. The remaining balance is due on the day of your service. Additional booking options will be available before checkout.
At Atma Wellbeing in Dee Why, we’ve created something different. Sports massage combined with lymphatic drainage that targets both muscle recovery and body definition in one powerful session. Why choose between feeling better and looking better when you can have both?
Here’s what actually happens when you’re training hard. Your muscles work harder, building strength through micro-tears and adaptation. That’s the good part. The challenging part? Metabolic waste builds up. Lactic acid lingers. Excess fluid accumulates around your muscles, masking all that definition you’ve been working towards. Fascia tightens from repetitive movements. This is where most people hit a wall, feeling sore for days and not seeing the physical results their effort deserves.
Our approach addresses both sides. Sports massage uses deep tissue work and trigger point therapy to release chronic tension, improve flexibility, and speed recovery so you can train harder more consistently. Lymphatic drainage flushes that excess water weight and metabolic waste, revealing sharper muscle lines, boosting vascularity, and bringing out the physique you’ve earned. You’re not choosing between performance and appearance. You’re getting a treatment designed specifically for bodies that need to recover faster and look more defined.
Whether you’re prepping for competition, managing shoulder pain from heavy lifts, dealing with tennis elbow, or simply want to see better muscle definition, we tailor every session to your goals. No generic routines. No separate appointments for recovery and body sculpting. One treatment that understands what your body needs to perform at its peak and look its absolute best. Since 2008 working specifically with active bodies that demand real results.
Our frequently asked questions
What is sports massage and how does it help performance?
Sports massage is specialised therapeutic treatment designed for athletes and active individuals. It uses targeted techniques like deep tissue work, trigger point therapy, myofascial release, and dynamic stretching to enhance performance, prevent injuries, and speed recovery. Unlike relaxation massage, sports massage addresses the specific demands athletic activity places on muscles, tendons, and joints. It improves flexibility and range of motion, increases blood flow and nutrient delivery, releases muscle tension before it causes injury, removes metabolic waste products faster, and prepares your body for optimal performance during training and competition.
How is sports massage different from remedial massage?
While both are therapeutic rather than relaxation-focused, sports massage is calibrated for athletic activity and performance demands. Sports massage emphasises injury prevention, performance optimisation, and rapid recovery for people training regularly. Remedial massage focuses more on treating existing musculoskeletal problems and chronic pain conditions. Sports massage timing matters. Pre-event, post-event, maintenance, all coordinated around your training schedule. Techniques in sports massage are more dynamic, incorporating movement and stretching. Both are valuable therapeutic modalities, but sports massage serves bodies engaged in regular athletic activity requiring consistent peak performance.
When should I schedule sports massage around training?
Timing depends on your goals. Pre-event sports massage works best two to three days before competition to prepare muscles without causing soreness. Avoid deep work immediately before performance. Keep it light and stimulating within 24 hours of competing. Post-event sports massage is most effective within 24 to 72 hours after intense activity to speed recovery and reduce soreness. Maintenance sports massage during regular training cycles typically works best weekly or fortnightly to prevent issues and optimise ongoing performance. For injury management, coordinate with your training load. Work deeper during lighter training weeks and lighter during peak training. Your therapist will help plan optimal timing for your specific sport and schedule.
Will sports massage hurt?
Sports massage uses firmer pressure than relaxation massage and can cause temporary discomfort, especially when addressing trigger points or areas of chronic tightness. However, this should be productive discomfort, that “good hurt” feeling when tight tissue releases, never sharp or unbearable pain. Different techniques involve different sensations. Deep tissue work feels intensely pressured but shouldn’t cause you to tense up defensively. Trigger point therapy can be briefly uncomfortable as we release specific knots. Stretching should feel challenging but controlled, never forced. Our therapists constantly communicate with you throughout treatment, adjusting pressure and technique to keep it effective yet tolerable. Remember, any brief discomfort during treatment delivers lasting relief and improved performance afterward.
Can sports massage prevent injuries?
Absolutely. Regular sports massage is one of the most effective injury prevention strategies for athletes and active individuals. It prevents injuries by identifying and addressing muscle imbalances before they cause problems, maintaining healthy tissue flexibility and function, reducing excessive muscle tension that limits movement quality, improving biomechanics through better range of motion, flushing metabolic waste that contributes to fatigue and breakdown, and keeping you aware of your body’s condition so you can adjust training accordingly. Many common sports injuries like muscle strains, tendonitis, and overuse problems develop gradually from accumulated tension, poor recovery, and minor imbalances. Sports massage catches these issues early when they’re easy to address rather than waiting until they sideline you completely.
How often should I get sports massage?
This depends on your training intensity, competition schedule, and injury history. Serious athletes training daily or competing regularly benefit from weekly sports massage. Recreational athletes training three to five times weekly typically need fortnightly sessions. Weekend warriors or casual gym-goers might maintain with monthly treatments. Increase frequency during heavy training blocks or competition season. Many athletes schedule more frequent lighter sessions during intense training and less frequent deeper work during recovery weeks. Your therapist will assess your needs during your first session and recommend an optimal schedule. Consistency matters more than frequency. Regular maintenance prevents problems better than occasional intensive treatment.
Can I train the same day as sports massage?
It depends on the type and intensity of massage you receive. After deep sports massage, avoid intense training that day. Stick to light activity or rest to let your body integrate the work. After lighter pre-event or maintenance sessions, you can typically train normally. Post-event recovery massage is fine the same day as training since you’ve already completed your workout. Always discuss your training schedule with your therapist so we can calibrate intensity appropriately. If you have important training that afternoon, mention it so we adjust pressure accordingly. Generally, schedule intense sports massage on rest days or lighter training days, reserving your hardest sessions for when you’re fresh rather than immediately after deep tissue work.
Can sports massage help with muscle soreness after training?
Definitely. Post-exercise muscle soreness, what we call DOMS, results from micro-tears in muscle fibres, inflammation, and metabolic waste buildup. All things sports massage addresses effectively. Treatment within 24 to 72 hours after intense activity significantly reduces soreness duration and intensity by improving circulation to damaged tissues, flushing lactic acid and other metabolic waste faster, reducing inflammation through lymphatic drainage, releasing protective muscle tension that develops after hard training, and promoting nutrient delivery for faster tissue repair. Many athletes schedule post-event or post-training sports massage for this purpose. While some soreness is normal and even beneficial as part of adaptation, excessive soreness limits your next training session’s quality. Sports massage helps you recover faster so you can maintain training consistency without excessive downtime.
Is sports massage covered by health insurance?
Sports massage may be covered under your private health insurance extras policy depending on how it’s provided and your coverage. When performed by qualified remedial massage therapists as therapeutic treatment for specific conditions or injuries, it’s typically claimable as remedial massage through HICAPS. Coverage varies by health fund and policy level. Check your extras benefits for remedial or massage therapy coverage. We accept all major Australian health funds via HICAPS for instant rebates. However, purely performance-enhancement sessions without specific injury or condition treatment may not be covered. Bring your health fund card and we’ll check your eligibility and process claims where appropriate. Even without insurance coverage, many athletes find sports massage worth paying for given its impact on performance, injury prevention, and training consistency.
Will I see results immediately?
Yes, many of our clients feel noticeable relief and improved muscle definition right after their first session. The more consistent you are, the more pronounced the long-term benefits.