Sports massage is considered an essential part of recovery after an intense period of exercise. But any athlete knows that how you prepare for an event drastically affects performance and recovery, and sports massage pre-event is an important ritual for many athletes. And it’s not just for the top echelons of sportspeople either, if you are preparing to undertake any significant physical challenge, it’s wise to consult a sports massage therapist beforehand. Not only can they perform massage techniques on you to help prepare the body for the upcoming exercise, but they can also offer advice and guidance on steps you can take yourself to care for your body in the run up to your event. If you need proof of how important pre-event massage is, Billingshurst FC are a great example, they worked with our sports massage therapist, Emma, in the run up to their FA Cup bid earlier this year to make sure they were on top form.