At SHARC in Irvine, massage therapy is an essential part of a functional movement therapy program. Whether you're a high-level athlete or someone working toward pain-free movement, targeted soft tissue work helps unlock mobility, restore balance, and prevent injury before it starts.
Our approach is different from traditional chiropractic clinics. We assess, correct, and coach you through a structured performance-based plan. That includes integrating massage therapy into a larger system that also uses Active Release Technique (A.R.T.), SFMA/FMS assessments, and precision corrective exercise programming.
What Is Sports Massage Therapy?
Sports massage is a focused, hands-on treatment aimed at reducing muscle tension, restoring joint function, and supporting movement efficiency. At SHARC, we use massage not for relaxation, but as a way to actively release soft tissue restrictions that interfere with how your body moves and performs.
This technique fits seamlessly into our functional movement therapy model. It’s a complement to our assessments and rehab strategies, targeting exactly where your body needs release in order to activate properly during exercise or daily activities.
Whether you’re dealing with recurring hamstring tightness or recovering from a shoulder strain, sports massage becomes a highly specific intervention, not a general treatment.
After intense training, your body needs to repair and reset. Massage therapy helps speed up this process by increasing circulation, reducing inflammation, and promoting lymphatic drainage. The result? Less soreness, quicker recovery, and more productive training sessions.
At SHARC, massage is often used strategically after FMS or SFMA movement assessments. For example, if your overhead mobility is limited due to lat or pec tension, soft tissue work can create the space needed for better activation and control during corrective exercises.
Our clinical team, made up of physical therapists and chiropractors, uses massage to complement your movement-based rehab. It’s not about feeling good temporarily; it’s about recovering smarter and reinforcing the results of your functional training.
Massage therapy also plays a major role in injury prevention. Tight, overused muscles and poor movement patterns can set the stage for breakdowns like strains, tendonitis, or joint pain. That’s where regular, intentional soft tissue work comes in.
Through A.R.T. and massage, we release adhesions and break up scar tissue that can restrict motion or alter your biomechanics. Combined with a corrective movement program, this helps rebalance your system and reduce the risk of recurring issues.
SHARC's model is proactive, not reactive. We don’t wait for pain to show up. Our approach helps you maintain better movement quality so you can perform at a high level without constant setbacks.
At SHARC, massage therapy isn’t offered in isolation. It's part of a complete system designed to get you moving the way you were built to.
We begin with a thorough movement assessment using FMS or SFMA protocols to pinpoint dysfunctions and figure out why you hurt. From there, massage is used to address the soft tissue components of those dysfunctions so your body can better accept corrective training.
Each session is part of a larger, individualized care plan that may include A.R.T., manual therapy, progressive rehab exercises, and performance coaching. Massage fills a critical gap in this model, helping to restore the mobility you need to train with purpose and progress without compensation.
When you come in for massage therapy at SHARC, you’re getting targeted clinical care.
Your therapist will first assess your movement patterns and current training demands. Whether you’re in the middle of a sport season or coming off an injury, your session will be tailored to your specific goals and limitations.
Treatment often includes a combination of deep tissue work, trigger point therapy, and A.R.T., focused on the areas that matter most to your movement. Post-session, you’ll receive guidance on hydration, mobility drills, or strength work to reinforce your results.
Massage at SHARC is a key piece of a bigger system that helps you move better, perform stronger, and live pain-free.