Reduces muscle tension and tightness
Repetitive training causes muscle fibres to tighten and develop knots. Sports massage works through these areas to help restore normal tissue length and function.
Kew · Gunnersbury Park · Moorgate
Sports massage in London
Sports massage in London for runners, cyclists, rugby, tennis and padel players, gym-goers and desk workers. Whether you are training for a marathon, recovering from a match or carrying tension from long days at a desk, our qualified sports massage therapists help ease muscle tightness and support your recovery at our clinics in Kew, Gunnersbury Park and Moorgate.
- 3 clinics
- Kew, Gunnersbury Park and Moorgate
- From £45
- 30 minutes at Kew and Gunnersbury Park
- No referral
- needed to book a session
- Qualified
- soft tissue therapists
The treatment
What is a sports massage?
Sports massage is a targeted soft tissue therapy that eases muscle tension, supports recovery and helps reduce the risk of injury. It combines techniques such as deep tissue work, trigger point release, myofascial release and muscle energy techniques, applied to the parts of your body under the most training load.
Unlike a general relaxation massage, sports massage is adapted to the demands of your sport. Your therapist looks at how you move, finds areas of tightness or imbalance, and focuses the session on the muscle groups that need it most.
Sports massage can be used at any stage of your training: as preparation before a race or event, for recovery after competition, as ongoing injury prevention, or alongside physiotherapy to support rehabilitation from a specific injury.
Benefits
What are the benefits of sports massage?
Supports recovery between sessions
Massage increases blood flow to working muscles and can help reduce the soreness you feel in the days after hard training, so you feel ready for your next session sooner.
Supports injury-risk management
Sports massage can help identify and address muscle tightness or restricted movement. It works best as one part of a wider approach that includes sensible training load, strength work and recovery.
Supports mobility during recovery
After a muscle tear or strain, the healed tissue and surrounding muscle can feel restricted. Appropriate massage techniques can support mobility as part of a structured rehabilitation plan.
Helps you move more freely
By easing tight muscles and fascia, sports massage can help you move more freely, which supports both performance and comfort in training.
Supports mental recovery
A session also gives you a focused break from a busy training schedule and helps reduce the physical effects of stress.
Who it is for
Sports massage for runners, cyclists and gym-goers
Every session is adapted to your sport, your body and your training phase.
Runners
From parkruns to marathon training, running loads the calves, hamstrings, quads and hips over and over. Sports massage helps manage the tension that builds during high-mileage blocks, and we can advise on the best time to book before and after a race.
View RunnersCyclists
Hours on the bike create tightness through the hip flexors, quads, IT band and lower back. Regular massage helps maintain flexibility and eases postural tension from long rides.
View CyclistsRugby players
Contact, sprinting and scrummaging place huge demands on the whole body. Sports massage supports recovery from matches and helps manage the muscle strain that builds up over a season.
Tennis and padel players
Repetitive overhead and rotational movements put strain on the shoulder, forearm and lower back. Massage helps manage these areas, both preventively and during intensive playing periods.
Gym users and CrossFit athletes
Heavy lifting and high-intensity training create significant muscle tension. Regular sports massage helps maintain tissue quality and reduce the risk of overuse injuries.
View Gym users and CrossFit athletesDesk workers
Many of our clients combine an active lifestyle with long hours at a desk. Sports massage addresses both the training load and the postural tension from sitting all day.
Choosing a massage
Sports massage vs deep tissue massage: which should you book?
Both use firm pressure, but the focus is different. A sports massage is built around your training: it targets the muscles under the most load and is adapted to your sport and training phase. A deep tissue massage works more slowly into deeper layers of muscle and is often the better choice for long-standing tension, stiffness from desk work or stress.
Not sure which to book? Choose a sports massage if you train regularly, and a deep tissue massage if tension builds up from daily life. Your therapist can adapt the session either way, and both share the same price list.
Fees
Sports massage prices.
Sports and deep tissue massage share the same price list.
View full price listKew and Gunnersbury Park
- 30-minute massage Sports or deep tissue
- £45
- 60-minute massage Sports or deep tissue
- £75
Block bookings save 10% on 4 sessions and 15% on 8.
Locations
Sports massage in Kew, Ealing and Moorgate
If your massage therapist spots something that needs further assessment, they can refer you directly to a physiotherapist in the same clinic.
Richmond
Kew, Richmond
283 Sandycombe Road, Kew, Richmond TW9 3LUSports massage in Richmond for runners, cyclists and club-level athletes, alongside our physiotherapy and strength training facilities.
Ealing
Gunnersbury Park, Ealing
Gunnersbury Park Sports Hub, Popes Lane, London W3 8LQSports massage in Ealing, inside Gunnersbury Park Sports Hub, convenient before or after training at the on-site facilities.
City of London
Moorgate, City of London
1 Dysart St, Moorgate, London EC2A 2BXSports massage in the City of London, within Eight Club Moorgate, with 30, 45 and 60-minute sessions that fit around your working day.
Google reviews
What our clients say about their sports massage
"I am glad that I found Q Sports Physio Kew for my sports massage. I have been visiting Zoe for a couple of months and I would like to mention that her massage is really on point. She is able to identify the knots on my calf and back which releases the tightness and allows me to continue training".
"Fantastic physio centre. Mike Saad provided great care, is highly knowledgeable and addressed a long standing (and painful) knee problem within 6 sessions through a mix of massage and exercise. Explained clearly the exercises I needed to do at home, and how they would benefit me which was highly motivating".
Frequently asked questions
Sports massage: frequently asked questions
Is sports massage only for athletes?
Sports massage is not only for athletes: it helps anyone with muscle tension, whether it comes from training, desk work, driving or day-to-day activity.
Does a sports massage hurt?
A sports massage can feel intense on tight areas, but it should never be more than you can comfortably tolerate. Your therapist adjusts the pressure if you ask, and mild soreness for a day or two afterwards is normal.
How often should I get a sports massage?
Most regular runners and gym-goers benefit from a sports massage every two to four weeks, and more often during heavy training blocks or in the weeks before an event.
Should I have a sports massage before or after a race?
A sports massage can help both before and after a race: a lighter session a few days before helps you feel loose, and a session a few days after supports recovery. Avoid deep massage in the final days before an event.
How long is a sports massage appointment?
Sports massage appointments at Q Sports Physio last 30, 45 or 60 minutes. Choose 30 minutes for one or two areas, such as calves or back, and 60 minutes for a full lower or upper body session.
Do I need a referral for a sports massage?
You do not need a referral for a sports massage: you can book directly online, by phone or via WhatsApp. If your therapist thinks you need a physio assessment, they can refer you within the same clinic.
Is a sports massage the same as a deep tissue massage?
A sports massage is not quite the same as a deep tissue massage: sports massage is tailored to your training and sport, while deep tissue massage focuses on long-standing tension in deeper muscle layers. Both cost the same at Q Sports Physio.
What should I wear to a sports massage?
Wear or bring comfortable clothing such as shorts and a sports top to a sports massage; your therapist will ask you to remove clothing only from the areas being treated and will keep you covered with towels throughout.
Is sports massage good for back pain?
Sports massage can help ease back pain caused by muscle tension, such as stiffness from desk work or heavy training. If your back pain is severe, came on after a fall or comes with numbness or leg pain, book a physiotherapy assessment first.
Where is sports massage available?
Sports massage is available at all three Q Sports Physio clinics in London: Kew in Richmond, Gunnersbury Park in Ealing and Moorgate in the City of London.