Sports massage differs from other forms of massage in that it focuses on the prevention of future muscle injury not just the cause of muscle injury and its relief. Sports massage utilizes classic Swedish massage techniques, which is a vigorous massage intended to energize and invigorate the muscles.  The specific strokes used in sports massage are designed to break up muscle adhesions^† in order for muscles to be restored to their proper function.

^† Adhesions are "clumps" of tissue that restrict the proper shortening and lengthening of the muscle tissue.