Repeated Massage Improves Swimmers’ Perceptions during Training Sessions

A study from Department of Physiotherapy, Sao Paulo State University  investigated the effects of repeated massage on the perceptive, functional, and performance outcomes of a sprint for competitive swimmers. A cross-over randomized controlled trial was conducted with 19 male and female swimmers between 12 and 20 years old. Participants received three 12-minute massage interventions over a week between resistance and swim training and were monitored for training load and perceptions.

The study found that repeated massage reduced tiredness and maintained perceptions of well-being for participants. But in some cases caused some worsening of perceptions of heaviness and pain during swim training.

The authors concluded that massage had no effect on sprint or functional performance, and the swimmers were able to train harder with no harm to recovery.