Massage Therapy Journal Summer 2026

but the best way to judge what technique will work best for a specific player is to find the one that best suits their goals. “Our decisions are driven by load, tissue response, injury history, and the athlete’s role and minutes played,” Fonseca explains. “The goal is to individualize care so each player gets exactly what they need to stay healthy, available and performing at a high level.” “I have received training in sports massage, manual physical therapy techniques, scar work, craniosacral therapy and Rolf Movement Integration,” Matthews says. “I am comfortable using whatever technique best suits the goals of the session and the needs of my client in the moment.” Goals are what drive decisions for Sundberg, too. “It really depends on the athlete’s goal with their session and areas of focus that I am working on,” she says. “Ultimately, our goal is to use massage therapy to keep student-athletes healthy, available and performing at a high-level, while reinforcing a holistic approach to long term well-being and recovery,” Fonseca says. For Matthews, timing dictates much of how he works with the athletes. “I do not see players immediately post game except during tournament play,” he notes. “During the season, my approach varies more on how the player’s body is doing on any given day than where we are in the practice/game schedule. If there is reason for structural or functional change, we go there. If his body is exhausted, we support rest, inner sensing and whatever else is helpful.” Matthews says that when players are tired, he tends to do more long, indirect holds. “Foot and ankle work are always important,” he adds. At Duke, the benefits of massage therapy are so clear, the program is in the process of making space for their massage therapist to be on-site. “We are in the final design stages of a new building, and we are putting in a massage room,” Fonseca says. “So, we are excited to add our massage therapist in-house.” and performing at a high level.” —Jose Fonseca, Duke’s Associate Director of Athletic Medicine/Head Men’s Basketball Athletic Trainer “The goal is to individualize care so each player gets exactly what they need to stay healthy, available

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