Optimization of Athlete Recovery Strategies: Analysis of Massage Methods To Determine The Best Approach After High-Intensity Interval Training

This study aims to optimize recovery after acute exercise using a high-intensity interval method involving the strategy of providing massage to athletes. Exercise heart rate (HR Ex), heart recovery rate (HRR), and blood lactate levels are used as parameters of physiological fatigue due to physical exercise. 24 samples participated in this research; they were divided into 3 groups, namely the during and post-massage group (DPM), the post-massage group (PM), and the control group, namely passive recovery (PR). Each group consists of 8 samples; all samples will carry out high-intensity acute exercise using the Tabata method for 4 sessions. 1 training session is carried out for 4 minutes, and the rest for each session is 4 minutes. Descriptive analysis, paired sample t-tests, and two-way ANOVA were used in data analysis. The results of this study were that all data on fatigue indicators were normally distributed (p ≥ 0.05) and homogeneous (p ≤ 0.05), and there were differences in lactate concentrations at each time taking the lactate levels in each group (p ≤ 0.05). The average blood lactate levels of the three groups were stated to be significantly different after the training program ended for the DPM group (10.30±1.78 mmol/L), PM (12.9±2.05 mmol/L), and PR (13.62±2.87 mmol/L). This research concluded that giving massage has a better effect than passive recovery on recovery in terms of both heart rate and lactate levels. A recovery strategy using massage is the best strategy for managing blood lactate levels, although trainers must understand that giving a massage during training breaks and after the training program ends gives a different response to lactate levels after training ends. Keywords: Recovery strategy, massage method, blood lactate, heart rate recovery