The term massage comes from the French verb” Masser” which means to rub. In Greek, it comes from the word “Masso” which means to rub with the hands. Massage Therapy has been very common among different nations since antiquity. In Iranian traditional medicine, the word “Dalk” has been used with the meaning of massage. Among various functions known for giving massage that used for the athletes referred to as sports massage, is of utmost importance. It is so crucial that nowadays almost all sport teams have professional sport masseurs. Centuries ago and before the spread of sport massage, the great Iranian physician Avicenna in his famous book “The Canon of Medicine” had some suggestions for people involved in sports. A comparison of Avicenna’s view on massage in the book “The Canon of Medicine” and the new western sources shows the effects of Avicenna on modern western viewpoints. It is worth mentioning that the “The Canon of Medicine” is still being taught in renowned universities around the world. In this study, a comparison is made between Avicenna’s view points on the function of massage and those found in the new discipline of sports massage.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of three recovery methods (active, passive, sport massage) on 800 m and 1500 m records in collegiate middle distance runners. For this purpose, 20 male middle distance runners aged between 19 and 25 participated in this study voluntarily. The study performed for 2 weeks and 7 sessions. Between bouts and in the first and fourth sessions of 800 m and 1500 m running, passive recovery was used; in the second and fifth sessions, active recovery (stretching) was used and in the third and sixth sessions, sport massage recovery (in quadriceps, hamstring, gluteus and gastrocnemius muscles) was used. For statistical analysis of data, analysis of variance with repeated measures and LSD post hoc tests were used. Data analysis showed that sport massage, active and passive recovery had a significant effect on increasing 800 m and 1500 m running time records (P0.05). Also, there was a significant difference in received records between passive and sport massage recovery and also between passive and active recovery (P0.05). As subject's time record in 1500 m running was better after sport massage and active recovery compared with passive recovery and their time record in 800 m running was betterafter sport massage compared with active and passive recovery, it is suggested that rest intervals such as sport massage recovery be used in 800 m running and in exercises with higher activity time, active recovery and sport massage be used. Furthermore, the time of recovery must be considered as well.

The trigger point is the irritable point associated with a tight band of skeletal muscle which is painful against stress and strain. The real goal in treating trigger points is to achieve a degree of pain relief so that the sufferer can return to his usual activities and functions in spite of some pain. This study was carried out to compare of two methods of sports massage and cold stretch on the threshold of pain in passive trigger points in shoulder girdle muscles of the female volleyball players.
In this quasi-experimental study, 32 females national volleyball palyer who has a latent trigger point in the shoulder girdle region were non-randomly divided into to three groups of sports massage (n=11), stretching along the cold (n=11) and control (n=10) groups. Threshold of pain test was carried out in two steps, prior and immediately after sports massage and stretching along the cold.
The mean of pain threshold prior and immediately after the study in control group was 38.84±11.348 and 35.16±9.311, respectively. The mean of pain threshold prior and immediately after the study in sports massage group was 39.40±9.88 and 43.54±9.63, respectively. This differernce was not significant. The mean of pain threshold prior and immediately after the study in stretching along the cold group was 39.22±10.57 and 41.10±10.95, respectively. This differernce was not significant.
Sports massage and stretching along the cold did not significant effect on the threshold of pain in passive trigger points in shoulder girdle muscles of the female volleyball players.

Massage therapy is one of the methods used to improve and prevent sports injuries. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an athletic massage after acute eccentric exercise on physical performance and perceived recovery in male body building athletes. Thirty male body building athletes were selected and randomly divided into two groups of experimental (n = 15) and control (n = 15). They performed 5 sets of ten maximal eccentric contractions at a level of 80 ± 5% of a one-repetition maximal contraction of the knee flexors and extensors at maximal angular velocity. The experimental group received athletic massage using massage techniques for 30 minutes immediately after exercise, whereas the control group was instructed to maintain their current lifestyle. Physical performance and perceived recovery were assessed using the Sargent jump test and perceived recovery questionnaire before and immediately after exercise, and at 2, 24, 48 and 72 hours after exercise. The obtained data was analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA).. : Significant reductions in physical performance as well as significant increments in muscle soreness were observed in both groups after acute exercise. However, the results showed significant improvements in physical performance and perceived recovery in the experimental group compared with the control group 24 hours after massage therapy (P < 0.05). These results suggest that a massage therapy session may improve the physical performance and perceived recovery following acute eccentric exercise in male body building athletes. However, it may not be beneficial in the treatment of strength and functional declines.

The present study aimed at investigating the effect of effleurage sports massage on some immune indices in elite wheelchair basketball players after one session of specific intensive exercise. 16 physically disabled subjects were homogenized based on the disability rating (IWBF) and divided into two groups of control and experimental (each group 8 subjects). Subjects performed a session of specific intensive basketball exercise with wheelchair for 40 minutes with maximum intensity (heart rate control). Then, the experimental group received massage for 20 minutes and control group rested at the same time. Blood serum samples were taken by laboratory experts at four steps. Results indicated no significant differences in the immunoglobulin A (IgA) between the experimental and control groups immediately after massage and after 24 hours (P>0.063) (P>0.057) respectively. The number of neutrophils significantly decreased immediately (P<0.008), and 24 hours after the massage (P<0.030). Overall, due to a decrease in the neutrophils, it seems that 20 minutes of effleurage sports massage can have beneficial effects on the immune system of wheelchair basketball players. Therefore, coaches and athletes are advised to use effleurage sports massage following intensive workouts.

Massage therapy is widely used by athletes for various reasons such as recovery from fatigue, preventing injury, and relaxation. It is believed that massage improves the performance of the athletes by increasing their blood flow, removing lactic acid, and stimulating the nervous system. This review study aims to investigate the physiological and neurophysiological effects of sports massage on the athletes’ performance, to find out whether the clinical beliefs of sports physiotherapists about the effects of sports massage on sports injuries are supported by scientific evidence or not.

In this review study, a search was conducted in Google Scholar PubMed, and ScienceDirect databases on studies published in English from 1975 to 2020 using the keywords: Sports massage, sports injuries, physiological mechanisms, neurophysiological mechanisms, and performance of athletes. Fifty articles about the effects of sports massage were assessed for eligibility. Finally, 14 clinical trial studies and one case report study were included in the review.

Few studies have been conducted on the effect of sports massage on the athletes’ performance. The existing studies are heterogeneous, i.e., they have examined the effect of massage on different factors and reported contradictory results. It seems that the effects of sports massage on the athletes’ performance are more due to its psychological effects rather than its clinical effects. The effects of sports massage on athletes’ performance have not yet been supported by scientific evidence.

Many scholars consider that the effects of sports massage are due to increasing blood flow, but there is insufficient scientific evidence. In treatment of tendonitis and muscle strains, there is insufficient evidence that sports massage can reduce pain and accelerate healing. It seems the therapeutic effects of sport massage are more psychological and less physiological.

Finding the best way for improving performance is one of the most critical aims of sport activities. So the aim of this study was the comparison of the immediate pre-competition message, core stability exercises and combination of them on performance in elite women karate player.

This was a semi-experimental study (pre and post-test). 60 elite women karate player involved in this study and randomly divided into 4 groups (ie sport massage group, Core stability exercises, combined and control (number of each group was 15). The massage group received one session of sport massage, and core stability group performed one session of core stability exercise and the mixed group performed both of this intervention. Before and after applying interventions, performances were tested by the following tests: Y balance test, Triple Hop and Figure-eight Hop tests. ANCOVA and paired t-test were used to examine the differences between groups.

The results show that all three intervention groups reach a significant improvement in all performance tests (p<0.05). Also, between three interventions' effect, the most improvement was found in the mixed group, Massage and core stability exercise group, respectively.

finally results of this study show that combined training (i.e. Massage therapy and core training) has the best way to improve karate players' performance, so coaches and trainers should pay more attention to them during training sessions.

The aim of this study was to compare dynamic movement, dynamic stretching and preexercise massage protocols on Explosive power of elite sprinters.

Eighteen volunteer male, selected in dynamic movement, stretch and massage groups randomly. In pretest state, athletes ran ten minutes on treadmill and performed both treadmill and specific warm up for 20 minute in post test. Margarya-Kalaman test used before and after (first and tenth minutes) protocols for explosive power measurement. For data analysis both mixed ANOVA with repeated measures and one way ANOVA method were used.

Results showed that explosive power in three groups in first minute increased significantly (p<0/05). But this index only in massage was significant in tenth minute (p<0/05). Also, explosive power in between dynamic movement and pre-exercise massage groups in first minute differed significantly (p<0/05). But this index didn’t differ between groups in tenth minutes significantly (p>0/05).

Therefore, dynamic stretching and massage were best interventions (warm up protocols) for explosive power in first and tenth minute orderly.

The role of recovery can be effective in reducing post-exercise fatigue. This study aimed to compare the effects of active recovery and sports massage on cortisol hormone activity and blood lactate levels in semi-professional male runners. In this semi-experimental study, 20 semi-professional runners were randomly selected and divided into two groups: the active recovery group and the massage recovery group. Initially, blood samples were taken from the participants after a 12-hour fasting period to examine the variables in the pre-test. Then, both groups participated in a 1500-meter race, after which the recovery methods were applied. After blood collection, the participants underwent a post-test. The obtained data were analyzed using paired t-test and independent t-test with a significance level of less than 0.05. The results showed that cortisol levels after massage recovery did not significantly differ from the pre-test levels (P=0.67). However, lactate levels in the post-test following massage recovery were significantly higher than the pre-test levels (P=0.001). The cortisol levels in the active recovery group were significantly higher than the pre-test levels (P=0.04), and the cortisol levels in the post-test were significantly higher than the pre-test levels in the active recovery group (P=0.001). There was no significant difference in cortisol (P=0.48) and lactate (P=0.45) levels between the massage recovery and active recovery methods in semi-professional runners. The results indicated that at this level of exercise intensity, there was no significant difference in the changes of lactate and cortisol hormones between the two recovery methods (active and massage).