Konsep Dasar, Teknik, Dan Manfaat Massage Dalam Mendukung Pemulihan Fisik Atlet: Sebuah Kajian Literatur

Sports massage is one of the recovery methods used in sports to help reduce muscle discomfort and support athletes’ physical recovery following physical activity. Understanding the fundamental concepts, techniques, and benefits of sports massage is essential to ensure that its application is adapted to athletes’ needs and the characteristics of their physical activities. This article aims to examine the fundamental concepts of sports massage, identify commonly used techniques, and analyze its potential benefits in supporting athletes’ physical recovery based on scientific literature. This article employs a literature review method by examining relevant scientific sources concerning the application of massage in sports and physical recovery. The discussion focuses on effleurage, petrissage, friction, and tapotement, as well as their relationships with perceived muscle soreness, fatigue, relaxation, and athletes’ readiness for subsequent physical activity. In general, the literature suggests that sports massage may help reduce perceived muscle soreness and improve feelings of relaxation following physical activity. However, its effects on directly improving athletes’ strength, speed, endurance, and overall performance remain inconsistent. Therefore, sports massage should be considered one component of an integrated recovery strategy alongside adequate rest, nutritional intake, hydration, and training-load management. This review is expected to provide a theoretical foundation for sports students, coaches, and practitioners in applying massage appropriately according to recovery objectives and athletes’ individual needs.