Effectiveness of Massage Therapy Vs. Stretching Therapy for Recovery of the Football Players

In the field of sports, players use a number of strategies of recovery to get rid of the fatigue, muscular stress and soreness caused during training and active competition. A randomized comparative study was conducted to compare the efficacy of Massage therapy vs Stretching therapy in enhancing recovery among Football players. Experimental research design was employed in this study. A sample of 66 volunteer respondents (aged 18–26) was divided into Massage therapy group (n-22), Stretching therapy group (n-22) and Control group (n-22). Eight-week intervention, comprising of five sessions a week, each session of two-hour duration was used in the study. It was hypothesized that massage therapy will have significant effect in boosting recovery among the Football players as compared to the stretching therapy. Objective of the study was to examine the difference in the effectiveness between massage therapy and stretching therapy in boosting recovery among the Football players. Better performance, faster recovery, rapid reduction in muscles soreness and improved flexibility were the key components of recovery. Pre and post treatment data collection method was followed in the study. “Perceived Recovery Status Scale” (PRS) was used to assess the recovery status of the respondents. Findings of the study have confirmed that massage therapy has better recovery benefits than the stretching therapy. Massage therapy has shown d = 2.87 effect size on recovery in comparison to no intervention (Control group), which is extraordinary significant positive effect in this regard. On the other hand, stretching therapy also contributed to flexibility, instant relaxation with effect size of d = 1.42 on recovery in comparison to Control group, however, its overall effects were less potent in enhancing long-term recovery as shown by the massage therapy. In view of the findings of the present study, it is concluded that massage promotes blood circulation, it works on deep tissue manipulation to relieve muscular stiffness and sooths bodily pain while stretching enhances flexibility and minimizes risk of injury. To manage an early recovery, the coaches and practitioners associated with Football should integrate both massage and stretching therapies into a modified Recovery Therapy which can yield more potent benefits as compared to using one therapy alone. Experts related to Sports Medicine and Exercise physiology can use these evidence-based findings as an effective strategy for recovery.