Searching for a sports massage in Jacksonville usually starts with a sore spot: tight calves after a long run, a stiff back after a weekend of pickleball, or shoulders that will not loosen up after a hard week in the gym. A sports massage is bodywork aimed at the muscles you actually use, with pressure and techniques chosen to help them recover and move well.
At RE Spa in Julington Creek, Sports and Trigger Point are two of the nine massage types on the menu, and they cost the same as a Swedish or deep tissue session because you pay only for the time, not the type. This guide covers what happens in the room, who it suits, when to book around training and races, and what it costs.
What is a sports massage?
A sports massage is planned around the way you train. Instead of working the whole body evenly, your therapist spends most of the session on the muscles your sport loads hardest: calves, hamstrings and hips for runners, forearms and shoulders for golfers and tennis players, lower back and glutes for cyclists and lifters.
The techniques overlap with deep tissue work, but the goal is different. Deep tissue massage releases chronic tension wherever it lives. Sports massage helps a specific set of muscles recover, stay flexible and feel ready for the next workout. Sessions are often more active, with your therapist moving a limb through its range while working the tissue, and the pressure is matched to where you are in your training week. It is not only for competitive athletes: if you walk the trails at Julington-Durbin Creek Preserve every weekend or just started a gym routine, the same approach applies.
What happens in the room
Your session begins with a short conversation. Tell your therapist what you do, how often, and where you feel it. A runner training for a spring race and a parent who pulled something coaching Little League get very different sessions at the same length. From there, a typical 60-minute sports massage looks like this:
- Warming strokes over the main muscle groups to bring blood to the area.
- Focused work on your problem spots with firmer pressure, cross-fiber strokes and sustained holds on tight bands of muscle.
- Stretching and movement of the limb while the tissue is worked, where it helps.
- Lighter finishing strokes and hot towels, which are included with every massage.
You stay in control of the pressure the whole time. Sports massage can be firm, but it should never be something you grit your teeth through. If a spot is too tender, say so.
All the massage therapists are wonderful.
An RE Spa guest, from our Google reviews
Who should book a sports massage
A sports massage suits anyone whose aches come from activity rather than from sitting still. Common reasons guests in Julington Creek and Fruit Cove book one:
- Runners building mileage for a half marathon, with tight calves, hamstrings or IT bands.
- Cyclists and spin regulars with a stiff lower back, hips and neck.
- Golfers, tennis and pickleball players with sore forearms and shoulders.
- Gym members who lift several times a week and feel it in their traps, glutes and quads.
- Weekend athletes who did too much on Saturday and want to walk normally on Monday.
If your tension comes from a desk or stress rather than training, Swedish or deep tissue is probably the better fit; our guide to deep tissue versus Swedish massage explains the difference. New to the spa? Our first visit guide covers what to expect when you walk in.
If you are new to RE Spa, your first 60-minute massage is $89.95 with the new guest offer, and you can ask for a sports massage at that price.
Sports massage vs deep tissue, Swedish and trigger point
Four of the massage types on our menu are close cousins. Because they all cost the same at RE Spa, the choice is about what you need, not price.
| Massage type | Best for | Pressure | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sports | Recovery and flexibility for people who train | Moderate to firm | The muscles your sport uses most, with movement |
| Deep Tissue | Chronic tightness and knots anywhere | Firm and slow | Deeper layers of muscle across the body |
| Swedish | Relaxation, stress and first-time guests | Light to moderate | Long, flowing strokes over the whole body |
| Trigger Point | A specific knot that refers pain elsewhere | Firm, sustained pressure on one point | Small, precise areas rather than whole muscle groups |
Many sessions blend two of these: sports massage on the legs, say, with trigger point work on one stubborn spot in the hip.
When to book around training and races
Timing matters more here than with a relaxation massage. A deep session the night before a race can leave your legs heavy; the same session two days after is what tired muscles want.
| Situation | Best timing | What to ask for |
|---|---|---|
| Before a race or big event | Three to five days before | Lighter pressure, no deep work on race muscles |
| After a race or hard weekend | One to three days after | Moderate pressure on the muscles you used most |
| During a training block | Every two to four weeks | Firmer maintenance work on your usual tight spots |
| Off season or new routine | Monthly | A full-body session with extra time on whatever is stiff |
If you train year-round, a monthly rhythm fits the RE Spa membership: $89.95 a month includes one 60-minute massage, with extra sessions at member rates. Our post on whether a massage membership is worth it does the arithmetic.
How much is a sports massage in Jacksonville?
At RE Spa, a sports massage costs the same as every other massage. You choose the length; the type is up to you and your therapist.
| Length | Non-member | Member |
|---|---|---|
| 30 minutes | $69.95 | $44.95 |
| 60 minutes | $119.95 | $89.95 |
| 90 minutes | $179.95 | $139.95 |
| 120 minutes | $239.95 | $179.95 |
Thirty minutes covers one area, such as calves and feet after a long run. Sixty minutes covers legs and back with time for a problem spot or two. Ninety minutes suits a full-body session with real time on legs, hips and back, which is what most endurance athletes end up wanting. A new guest pays $89.95 for a first 60-minute massage, $30 less than the regular price. Full details are on the Services page.
Enhancements that help athletes
Every massage includes hot towels, and aromatherapy or Therabody percussion therapy are free on request. Therabody is worth asking for in a sports session: the percussion device works quickly on dense muscles like quads and glutes before your therapist goes in by hand. The paid add-ons are worked into your booked time and do not add minutes:
- Contrast Muscle Therapy, $10: alternating heat and cold at the end of the session, familiar to anyone who has iced after a game.
- Cupping Therapy, $30: suction cups that increase circulation and can leave round marks for several days.
- Hot Stone Therapy, $20: heated stones on the back and legs, better for loosening up than for deep work.
- Sugar Foot Scrub, $12: extra foot time with a sugar scrub and hot towels, a treat for runners.
Our guide to hot stone, cupping and massage add-ons covers each one. Many athletes finish with the infrared sauna after their massage.
Frequently asked questions
Is a sports massage painful?
It can be firm on a tight spot, but it should not be painful. Tell your therapist if the pressure is too much. You should feel worked, not bruised.
Should I get a sports massage before or after a race?
Both, at different intensities: light three to five days before, moderate one to three days after. Save deep work for the middle of a training block.
Does a sports massage cost more at RE Spa?
No. You pay only for the time, not the type, so a 60-minute sports massage is $119.95 for non-members and $89.95 for members, the same as Swedish or deep tissue. A first visit is $89.95 with the new guest offer.
Can I ask for a sports massage when I book online?
Yes. Book the massage length you want, then tell us in the notes or at check-in that you would like a sports massage and which areas to focus on. Your therapist will plan the session with you in the room.
What should I do after a sports massage?
Drink water, keep the rest of the day easy and expect mild soreness where the work was deepest, which usually clears in a day. A gentle walk the next morning helps more than a hard workout.
Ready to give your legs some attention? Your first 60-minute massage at RE Spa is $89.95 with the new guest offer. Book online or call (904) 549-7535 and let us know you are after a sports massage.