PERAN SPORT MASSAGE DALAM PENCEGAHAN DAN PENANGANAN CEDERA PADA ATLET

Abstract

Sports injuries remain a major barrier to sustained athletic performance because they disrupt training continuity, delay return-to-play, and increase the risk of recurrent injury. Objective: This systematic literature review examined the role of sport massage in preventing and managing sports injuries among athletes. Methods: Literature published between 2020 and 2025 was searched using Google Scholar, Crossref, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and DOAJ/SINTA with combinations of the terms “sport massage”, “massage therapy”, “sports injury”, “injury prevention”, “recovery”, “delayed-onset muscle soreness”, and “range of motion”. Article selection followed the PRISMA stages of identification, screening, eligibility, and inclusion. Results: Ten studies met the inclusion criteria and were synthesized thematically. The evidence indicates that sport massage contributes to muscle recovery, pain reduction, improved blood circulation, increased flexibility and range of motion, psychological relaxation, and reduced risk of recurrent injury. However, the strongest evidence is still concentrated on minor injuries, delayed-onset muscle soreness, and short-term recovery, while evidence for chronic injuries and long-term performance remains limited. Conclusion: Sport massage can be positioned as a complementary preventive and rehabilitative strategy in athlete development programs, provided that its application is integrated with exercise therapy, load management, and professional supervision.