Massage Therapy Journal Summer 2026

26 • Massage Therapy Journal

T he Big Dance. Cinderellas. Bracketology. The Final Four. Every year when March rolls around, 68 teams vie to cut down the nets and hoist the NCAA Championship Trophy. But to do so is no easy feat, with the winner needing to win six single-elimination games in a two-week period.

Massage therapy has become part of some of the most elite programs’ winning strategies—and not just during the tournament, but throughout the season. How Are NCAA Basketball Teams Using Massage Therapy? Massage therapy has transitioned from a spot treatment meant to target a specific condition or injury to being a regular part of a player’s wellness routine. “Our use of massage therapy has evolved significantly in recent years, both in how intentionally it’s applied and how fully it’s integrated into our overall sports medicine model,” says Jose Fonseca, Duke’s Associate Director of Athletic Medicine/Head Men’s Basketball Athletic Trainer. “It has transitioned from an ‘as-needed’ modality to a strategic, integrated element.” Athletic directors at the University of Michigan also use massage therapy in an intentional, focused way year-round to help keep players healthy. “We use massage therapy in season and out of season here at Michigan,” explains Chris Williams, an athletic trainer for the men’s basketball team. “In season, we use massage for recovery for our entire roster. Every week, we have two massage therapists come to our facility to work with our athletes for 30–60 minutes each. In the off season, we use massage therapy as needed for injuries and recovery on an individual basis.”

Andrey_Popov / shutterstock.com

Similarly, Duke University uses massage therapy as both a preventive and restorative measure. “Massage therapy is an integral part of our comprehensive program,” says Fonseca. “We use it as both a preventive and restorative tool, tailored to the individual needs of each student-athlete and the demands of the competitive calendar.” Nick Richey, senior associate athletic trainer, men’s basketball at Michigan State University, makes sure that massage remains integrated into it’s integrated into our overall sports medicine model.” —Jose Fonseca, Duke’s Associate Director of Athletic Medicine/Head Men’s Basketball Athletic Trainer “Our use of massage therapy has evolved significantly in recent years, both in how intentionally it’s applied and how fully

Jose Fonseca

“In season, we use massage for recovery for our entire roster. In the off season, we use massage therapy as needed for injuries and recovery on an individual basis.” —Chris Williams, athletic trainer for the men’s basketball team at the University of Michigan

amtamassage.org/mtj