Sports Massage
Sports Massage
Breeze Academy
30 April 2026
At some point as a sports massage professional, you may come across clients that have received another intervention shortly before their appointment with you, in which case you might wonder whether you should go ahead with the treatment. Or, they may ask whether it is safe to have another intervention after their massage. This, of course, depends on the intervention at hand, but in this article, we discuss the consequences of having a massage before acupuncture.
So, can you get a massage before acupuncture? Yes, some clients find that massage before acupuncture helps to relax the body, which is a great state to be in to begin treatment. However, if a client is sore after a massage, it may be best to recommend that they wait to have acupuncture.
Read on to learn more about massage before acupuncture.
It is perfectly fine to have a massage before, and after, acupuncture. What clients need to ask themselves, however, is how they feel after a massage; this can have a knock-on effect to their acupuncture treatment and may impact the outcome.
Some clients find that having a massage before acupuncture helps the body to relax, essentially preparing them for their acupuncture appointment. A relaxed body will take better to acupuncture and may reap more benefits.
However, if a client typically leaves a massage feeling sore or stiff, it may be best to recommend that they do not go ahead with acupuncture immediately after. Alternatively, you could recommend having acupuncture first, then massage, in this case.
Clients also need to account for their lifestyle when making the decision of whether they should have a massage before acupuncture. If they workout regularly, play sports, or just have a hectic life, a massage may be beneficial to help them wind down and relax. But, if they have a more sedentary lifestyle without a lot of stress, they may find that massage after acupuncture is more beneficial.
Ultimately, the decision is completely down to your client; massage before or after acupuncture will not harm them, but it can somewhat impact its potential benefits. That said, some massages are likely to have more of an impact on the body than others, so type of massage would also need consideration.
A regular massage, and by that we mean not a sports massage or deep tissue massage, shouldn’t have too much of an impact on the body, making them a suitable choice to have before or after acupuncture. Examples include:
Swedish massage
Hot stone massage
Aromatherapy massage
Shiatsu massage
Sports massages and deep tissue massages tend to leave clients feeling sore afterwards (a little like after a workout), therefore they may not be a good option to have before acupuncture, unless clients know that the onset of soreness will appear well after their acupuncture session.
Combining acupuncture and massage in the same treatment may not be wise. The various techniques used in massage therapy have the potential to unintentionally stimulate the needles, which may have negative effects. Instead, it is safer to recommend that clients schedule individual treatments, taken one after the other.
We’ve already mentioned that integrating acupuncture and massage therapy can enhance benefits, but what are the benefits of integrating acupuncture and massage therapy?
Pain Relief – Both massage therapy and acupuncture claim to benefit pain relief individually, but together they create a synergy that has the potential to enhance pain relief.
Relaxation – Massage leaves the body feeling relaxed, which can make acupuncture more effective.
Recovery and/or Rehabilitation – Both treatments work well individually to aid recovery or rehabilitation; however, when used together treatment may be more effective. What’s more, massage helps to increase circulation, whilst acupuncture aids in reducing inflammation, accelerating the healing process.
Better Quality of Sleep – A study found that combining acupuncture with massage has the potential to improve the quality of sleep in those with insomnia.
Enhanced Sense of Wellbeing – Both massage and acupuncture are praised for their contribution to an individual’s sense of wellbeing. When used in conjunction with each other, this sensation may be enhanced.
Acupuncture cannot be performed by just anyone. Most people wishing to practice acupuncture would need to study an accredited long-term course such as a 3-year degree in a suitable subject, or a course provided by a professional organisation. However, healthcare professionals, including level 4 massage therapists, can study an accredited CPD course to become qualified to practice acupuncture.
Learn more about how to train in acupuncture in our recent blog here.
Whilst, traditionally, acupuncture is not a part of massage therapy, the two therapies work together incredibly well to enhance results. As such, if you’re a massage therapist wondering whether to introduce acupuncture as part of your clinical offering, perhaps now is the time to complete a foundation course in acupuncture and dry needling with Breeze Academy. We have course dates across the UK, both for beginners, as well as those having already completed their foundation course, such as acupuncture for women’s health, and acupuncture for headaches and neck pain. Please get in touch to find out more.