Live Life Pain Free with Medical & Sports Massage
Welcome to Medical & Sports Massage of Sandy Springs, GA. We understand that each individual's needs are unique, which is why we offer a wide range of specialized massage techniques to address various conditions and injuries. Whether you're seeking relief from chronic pain, recovering from a sports injury, or simply looking to relax and unwind, our dedicated therapists are here to help.
We Are Medical & Sports Massage
At Medical & Sports Massage, we know pain can hold you back—from running, working, or simply enjoying your day. That’s why our licensed team—led by Certified Medical and Sports Massage Therapist Denise Leslie—focuses on therapies that make a difference. With specialized training in oncology massage, medical massage, sports recovery, and deep tissue techniques, we’re equipped to help clients managing everything from sports injuries and plantar fasciitis to post-surgical pain, TMJ, and fibromyalgia.
What sets us apart is how we work together. Every therapist at Medical & Sports Massage brings unique strengths and advanced skills to the table, so you’re never getting a one-size-fits-all approach. Clients leave with less tightness, more movement, and relief that lasts—because you’re cared for by a team committed to helping you perform and live life pain-free.
Experience the difference in our client-centric approach to massage therapy. Schedule an appointment with us today, and let us help you achieve your wellness goals.
Our Services
Sports Massage
At Medical & Sports Massage, our sports massage approach is tailored to your specific needs—because the demands of a football player, cyclist, or runner aren’t the same. By applying targeted pressure and movement, we reduce adhesions in muscle fibers, release trigger points, and improve circulation throughout the body. This process helps decrease joint and muscle inflammation, restore range of motion, and reduce stiffness that slows you down.
Many athletes find they recover faster and train harder with regular sessions, while active adults notice better mobility and fewer nagging pains. Whether you’re preparing for competition, recovering from an injury, or simply trying to stay in peak condition, sports massage helps you perform at your best.
Sports Cupping
Our knowledgeable staff utilizes sports cupping at Medical Sports Massage to assist our clients. In lay terms, this process creates suction on the skin, which improves blood flow, reduces inflammation, and encourages relaxation to target specific areas of the body to provide individualized treatment plans that cater to our client's particular needs. Whether your goal is to enhance athletic performance, prevent injuries, or relieve pain, our sports cupping therapies can help. Rely on our experienced therapists to provide you with the most effective treatment and care.
The picture above depicts a sports cup. The client had soft tissue tightness in the basketball player's latissimus dorsi muscle due to a rib injury. The following day, he returned to the court thanks to a sports cup and cryotherapy through Medical & Sports Massage.
Medical Massage
Medical massage is a focused, clinical approach to pain and injury management. Our therapists use a variety of techniques—including deep tissue, trigger point therapy, and myofascial release—to address chronic pain, post-surgical recovery, and conditions like TMJ, plantar fasciitis, and fibromyalgia.
Unlike general massage, medical massage targets the root cause of pain, helping reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and restore proper function to the affected area. It can be used as part of a broader care plan with your physician or on its own to improve mobility, energy, and quality of life. Clients often experience relief that extends beyond the session, allowing them to enjoy greater freedom in their daily activities and achieve more long-term results.
Graston Technique® Therapy
The Graston Technique® uses specialized stainless-steel instruments to break up scar tissue and fascial restrictions that keep you stiff and in pain. At Medical & Sports Massage, we most often use it to treat plantar fasciitis, but it’s also highly effective for sports injuries, chronic pain, TMJ, fibromyalgia, and post-surgical recovery.
Why it matters: Graston goes deeper than regular massage. It helps release stubborn tightness, reduce inflammation, and restore mobility—so you can walk without foot pain, train harder, and recover faster. Many clients notice improvement after just a few sessions, making it a powerful addition to your treatment plan.
Your Health And Wellness Is Our Top Priority
Lymphatic Drainage Massage
Lymphatic drainage is a gentle, precise therapy that helps your body move excess fluid, reduce swelling, and restore balance. At Medical & Sports Massage, our therapists—led by Denise Leslie, a Certified Medical and Sports Massage Therapist with specialized oncology training—use this technique to support clients recovering from surgery, managing chronic conditions, or navigating cancer treatment.
The light, rhythmic strokes encourage lymph flow, which reduces inflammation, eases discomfort, and supports immune health. For oncology patients, it can make a noticeable difference in energy, mobility, and overall well-being during and after treatment.
Whether you’re healing from surgery, dealing with swelling, or looking for relief during cancer care, lymphatic drainage massage offers a safe, effective way to feel lighter, move easier, and reclaim a greater sense of comfort.
Deep Tissue Massage
Deep tissue massage is for when “just relaxing” isn’t enough. At Medical & Sports Massage, our therapists use focused, slow pressure to target the layers of muscle and fascia where chronic tightness and pain typically originate. The result? Knots release, mobility returns, and inflammation eases so your body can finally move the way it’s supposed to.
It’s a go-to for people with desk-driven neck and back pain, athletes who need faster recovery, and anyone who feels like stiffness has become their new normal. Many of our clients notice the difference right away—less tension, freer movement, and relief that carries over long after the session ends.
When pain and restriction hold you back, deep tissue massage offers a stronger option to reset and perform at your best.
Contrast Treatment
Contrast Treatment at Medical & Sports Massage combines hot and cold therapy to help your body recover and feel its best. We often use a combination of tools—such as ice packs, rollers, or manual cryotherapy—alongside targeted heat to create a natural pumping effect in your muscles. Heat opens things up, allowing fresh blood and nutrients to flow in, while cold helps calm inflammation and soreness. Together, they work like a reset button for tired, stiff muscles.
Many of our clients use contrast treatments after surgery, tough workouts, or even just long days at work. Athletes notice faster recovery, and those dealing with arthritis or swelling often feel lighter and more mobile afterward. By alternating hot and cold in a safe, controlled manner, we give your body the chance to recover faster and with less discomfort—so you can keep moving without pain slowing you down.
Hands To Heal
Cancer Survivor/Fighter Massage Therapy Program
Medical & Sports Massage is proud to partner with the East Georgia Cancer Coalition in the Hands To Heal (Healing Hands) massage therapy program. Healing Hands is a massage therapy program that offers massage sessions to underinsured, uninsured, and/or financially constrained cancer survivors or individuals who are currently undergoing cancer treatment (fighters).
The goal of Hands To Heal is to increase community access to massage therapy services by reducing out-of-pocket costs. Healing Hands participants receive a series of massage therapy sessions at no cost to them. By receiving massage therapy, survivors’ and fighters’ quality of life and overall sense of well-being can increase.
OUR Latest Blogs
Effective Massage Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis Pain Relief
Denise Leslie
Massage therapy reduces heel and arch pain caused by Plantar fasciitis by increasing circulation, loosening tight calves and foot muscles, and addressing connective-tissue tension. This article explains how strategic foot and lower leg treatments reduce morning-step pain and improve mobility so you can walk, run or stand with less discomfort.
more
Tired of Waking Up With Jaw Pain? Massage Therapy May Help Your TMJ
Denise Leslie
Massage therapy may help relieve jaw pain connected to TMJ by easing muscle tension, improving joint mobility, and reducing strain that builds up in the neck and shoulders. This blog discusses common triggers, what to expect from massage for TMJ, and how consistent treatment can support better sleep and daily comfort.
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What is a Deep Tissue Massage
Denise Leslie
This blog provides useful information to help you better understand deep tissue massages. I'll explore some common misconceptions about deep-tissue massage, delve into the key differences between deep-tissue and Swedish massage, and offer some tips on how often you should get one. So, sit back, relax, and let me guide you through the world of deep-tissue massage.
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The Benefits Of Fibromyalgia Relief
Denise Leslie
Massage therapy can ease chronic pain, fatigue, sleep issues and mood challenges linked to fibromyalgia. This blog explains how targeted soft-tissue work, improved circulation and careful technique support individuals with fibromyalgia by reducing pain sensitivity and improving sleep and mobility.
more
Easing the Side Effects of Cancer Treatment with Oncology Massage
Denise Leslie
Oncology massage helps reduce common side effects of cancer treatment including swelling, stiffness, fatigue, and anxiety. This article outlines how trained therapists adjust pressure, positioning, and lymphatic techniques to support people during chemo and radiation. You will learn what to expect in a session, how this work complements medical care, and how to choose a therapist with proper oncology training.
moreFAQs – Medical & Sports Massage
- Can massage therapy help with arthritis pain?
- It depends on the type of arthritis. When uric acid is present (as in gout-related arthritis), massage can make symptoms worse — which is why we always recommend medical clearance first. For other types, like osteoarthritis, we may include Graston instrument-assisted work to address joint calcification, reduce inflammation, and improve mobility.
- Can massage help while I’m going through chemo or radiation?
- Yes. At Medical & Sports Massage, oncology massage focuses on manual lymphatic drainage, which prepares your body to receive treatment and helps manage fluid buildup that often causes swelling, stiffness, and pain. Patients also report less nausea, more mobility in their joints, and improved energy between treatments. Because the work is gentle and designed to keep the lymphatic system moving, it supports your body both before and after chemo sessions. Many clients in Sandy Springs say the difference is noticeable — fewer side effects, faster recovery days, and a greater sense of calm while navigating treatment.
- Is massage safe for menopause symptoms?
- Yes. Lymphatic drainage can make a real difference during menopause. It helps reduce fluid congestion that may contribute to frozen shoulder and improves mood and sleep. When frozen shoulder is already present, we combine lymphatic drainage with neuromuscular therapy to restore mobility
- How do you treat fibromyalgia symptoms with massage therapy?
- Our fibromyalgia treatments combine lymphatic drainage and targeted neuromuscular therapy to calm overactive nerves while also reducing tissue congestion, improving circulation, and easing pain sensitivity. This helps clients in Sandy Springs, GA and surrounding areas experience fewer flare-ups, less symptom intensity, and better mobility in daily life.
- How does lymphatic drainage massage help with healing and pain relief?
- Lymphatic drainage massage helps with healing and pain relief by reducing inflammation and easing neurological stress. At Medical & Sports Massage (MSM), we use this approach to help clients recovering from sports injuries, managing menopause, or undergoing oncology treatments experience less pain, lower anxiety, and better overall recovery.
- Can massage reduce stress and anxiety during medical treatments?
- Yes. Lymphatic drainage isn’t just physical. By working from head to toe, it can lower cortisol levels and ease adrenal overdrive while supporting the release of feel-good hormones. Patients describe feeling calmer and more resilient, which is why many in Sandy Springs seek us out when dealing with stress, anxiety, or major health transitions.
- Is cryotherapy better than just putting ice on an injury?
- Yes, and here’s why. A bag of ice numbs the surface and melts unevenly. Localized cryotherapy delivers controlled cold exactly where you need it, reducing inflammation deep in the tissue. The difference is precision, consistency, and recovery that lasts.
- Is it better to get a massage before or after cryotherapy?
- It depends on your treatment goals. At Medical & Sports Massage in Sandy Springs, we usually apply cryotherapy first to reduce swelling and calm irritated tissue. As the area rewarms, circulation improves, and massage can then restore mobility and release deeper tension. For some clients, especially when contrast therapy is needed, we may reverse the order by using massage to warm and loosen muscles before finishing with cryotherapy to control inflammation. Both sequences are effective when matched to the body’s needs.