It definitely does. Using something like a pair of lawn aeration shoes will give help break up some of the turf and let the rain/sprinkling and nutrients get deeper into the soil.

Combining this with a good scarifier (or rake if you're feeling energetic) and then a couple of months of a mow little and often strategy, raising the blade up to only take off the tips, will promote thicker growth to cut down on weeds and provide coverage to stop moss and thatch coming back.

I've heard people talk about a mulching mower being successful and then leaving the clippings to degrade and feed the lawn but have never tried it myself.

Best of luck.