The therapeutic methods used today come from one of two main traditions, Eastern and Western. Western traditions are most frequently used in this country in the form of hands-on active movements known commonly as Swedish Massage. Eastern traditions, stem from the folk medicines of India, Japan and China, known to us as Shiatsu, acupressure or reflexology. Today, massage can look to the observer like anything from a good rub down to movement above or around the body without actually touching the body. When referring to massage for animals, there are many who are advertising sports massage for the animal athlete.
Sports massage is an adaptation of the Western techniques of hands-on massage.
Sports massage focuses on the muscle groups used in the particular activity. This type of a massage is usually short in duration. There are specific benefits to be derived from sports massage techniques and some of these techniques are variations or adaptations of other forms of hands-on massage. Generally, sports massage techniques work to spread the muscle fibers to increase nutrient rich blood supply to the muscle, readying it for intensive use. It helps breaks down adhesions, which can restrict muscle efficiency, and help with the flushing of metabolic toxins from the muscles.