Sports massage was originally developed to enhance athletic performance and recovery from performance or athletic-related injuries. There are three contexts in which sports massage can be useful to an athlete: pre-event, post-event, and injury treatment.

Pre-event massage is delivered at the performance site, usually with the athlete fully clothed. Fast-paced and stimulating, it helps to establish blood flow and to warm up muscles. During the massage, the athlete generally focuses on visualizing the upcoming event. 

Post-event massage is also delivered on site, through the clothes. The intent here is to calm the nervous system and begin the process of flushing toxins and waste products out of the body. Post-event massage can reduce recovery time, enabling an athlete to resume training much sooner than rest alone would allow. 

When an athlete sustains an injury, skillful massage therapy can often speed and improve the quality of healing. Chinese Cupping combined with sports massage therapy is a very effective form of body work for the athlete.