A sports massage costs $75 to $125 per hour on average. Mobile, in-home sports massage costs $100 to $130 per hour. Prices vary greatly by location and the therapist's experience and reputation. Some therapists offer special rates for first-time customers. If you're looking for ongoing therapy, you can typically save on the cost per session by purchasing multiple sessions at once.

Tipping 15% to 20% for a sports massage, or for any type of massage or spa treatment, is common in most areas. If your therapist works in a non-medical office or spa, part of your fee goes to the facility instead of the therapist. As such, while tipping is not necessarily required, doing so can make a significant impact on a therapist's take-home pay.

• Tip in cash when possible so your therapist receives it right away instead of having to wait for it in their paycheck.
• If you are using a gift certificate or discount coupon, be sure to calculate your tip based on the full price of the service.
• Consider tipping more during the holiday season, especially if you see the same therapist on a regular basis.

Sports massage is a therapeutic massage that can help increase circulation, reduce pain, promote quicker recovery, and improve mobility. The therapist uses a combination of deep tissue techniques, including kneading, wringing, trigger point therapy, compression massage, muscle stripping, and assisted stretching to release muscle tension and promote relaxation, which can, in turn, improve performance and prevent injury.

• Sports massage is often focused on the specific muscles that are used in a sport.
• A sports massage therapist may use different techniques depending on whether the treatment is before, during, or after training or a sporting event.

For sports massage focusing on the upper half of the body, massage therapists typically recommend removing any clothing on your top half if you are comfortable doing so, as it allows them to work into the muscles more smoothly. The therapist should keep you covered with a sheet or towel during the session and only expose the area on which they are working. You may also leave a bra on that you or the therapist can unclip to access your back when you are laying on the table, and then re-clip once they are finished in that area.

For sports massage focusing on the lower half of the body, short tights or sports shorts that can be rolled up work well. Alternatively, you can wear underwear. Again, your therapist should keep you covered during the session and only expose the part of the body they are working on at the moment.

Avoid wearing full-length sports tights or a sports bra that does not clip, as these items make it very difficult for the therapist to access your muscles.

When searching for sports massage near you, be sure to:

• Look for a sports massage therapist or company with a sports massage therapist on staff that is licensed and insured.
• Verify the therapist's massage license information. Most states have a database where you can look up the therapist and see their licensing status.
• If your state does not regulate massage therapy, look for a therapist who has at least 500 hours of training from a reputable massage therapy program and who has specialized training in sports massage.
• Look for an active member of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) or the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP).
• Check out their reviews on Thervo and Google.

Asking the right questions can help you choose best sports massage therapist near you:

• Are you licensed and insured?
• How long have you been a massage therapist?
• Do you have special training in sports massage?
• What other types of massage do you specialize in?
• Do you have experience with my specific issue?
• When and how often do you recommend getting a sports massage?
• How long should I wait after the massage to start training again?
• Do you require a health questionnaire?
• Do you offer first-time customer or package deals?