The EXTREME treatments elite athletes turn to stay at the top of their game
Professional sports can be a case of fine margins. Commitment to an extra hour of training or sticking to a tailored regimen can mean the difference between competing at the highest level – or just missing out.
Erling Haaland is an excellent example of an athlete with a truly tailored routine that oversees every aspect of his pre- and post-match preparations, even making time for the maintenance of his circadian rhythms.
So is Cristiano Ronaldo, whose specific routines and treatments were once seen as an almost unusual addition to his club’s training regimen, but have now become the norm with advancing sports technology.
Here, Mail Sport takes a look at the latest treatments favored by sports figures looking for the ultimate advantage over their competition.
CUPPING
Cupping therapy is a form of alternative medicine in which heated cups are placed on the skin to create suction. The treatment is used for a wide variety of medical conditions, including neck, shoulder, and lower back pain.
![The EXTREME treatments elite athletes turn to stay at the top of their game 2 ... and after that](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1684067377_283_The-EXTREME-treatments-elite-athletes-turn-to-stay-at-the.jpg)
Jack Grealish showed off the process and its after-effects on Instagram in October
![The EXTREME treatments elite athletes turn to stay at the top of their game 4 Alejandro Garnacho turned to cupping while returning to full fitness this season](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1684067379_885_The-EXTREME-treatments-elite-athletes-turn-to-stay-at-the.jpg)
Alejandro Garnacho turned to cupping while returning to full fitness this season
The treatment — which isn’t nearly as painful as it seems — is believed to promote circulation, reduce muscle swelling, and increase blood flow, making it a popular choice for athletes both before and after performance.
Premier League stars Jack Grealish and Alejandro Garnacho have extolled the virtues of the therapy this season as they chased glory with Manchester City and United respectively, and other top athletes in favor of the therapy include Karim Benzema, Conor McGregor, Michael Phelps and Granite Xhaka.
However, not all doctors are convinced of the benefits of the treatment. Popular science authors Simon Singh and Edzard Ernst wrote in their 2008 book “Trick or Treatment” that while the practice “has a long history” […] there is no evidence that it has any positive effects on any medical condition,” and cupping is often derided as a pseudoscience.
![The EXTREME treatments elite athletes turn to stay at the top of their game 6 Karim Benzema is a big fan of the ancient procedure, which claims to improve blood flow](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1684067382_50_The-EXTREME-treatments-elite-athletes-turn-to-stay-at-the.jpg)
Karim Benzema is a big fan of the ancient procedure, which claims to improve blood flow
![The EXTREME treatments elite athletes turn to stay at the top of their game 8 Conor McGregor started cupping after being knocked off his bike in early January](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1684067387_824_The-EXTREME-treatments-elite-athletes-turn-to-stay-at-the.jpg)
Conor McGregor started cupping after being knocked off his bike in early January
HYPERBARIC OXYGEN CHAMBER
Vinicius Jnr became the latest footballer to invest in the benefits of oxygen therapy after recovering from Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey victory over Osasuna in a hyperbaric chamber on Saturday.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) chambers – which can cost as much as £100,000 – increase the air pressure inside the device, forcing the user’s lungs to collect up to 15 times more oxygen.
The player will likely spend up to 90 minutes in the room after each game to reduce swelling and inflammation and reduce post-performance fatigue.
Better circulation and oxygenation of the blood can also lead to improved physical performance, with players like Marcus Rashford, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar Jr. and Mohamed Salah are feeling the benefits both on and off the field.
In addition to football, athletes such as Tiger Woods, LeBron James and Novak Djokovic have also spoken out as fans of the treatment, with Djokovic reportedly setting up his own room at Flushing Meadows during the 2019 US Open.
![The EXTREME treatments elite athletes turn to stay at the top of their game 10 Soccer player Vinicius Junior became the latest sports star to show off their use of HBOT](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Vinicius-Junior-reveals-he-uses-a-hyperbaric-chamber-to-prevent.jpg)
Vinicius Junior became the latest sports star to show off their use of hyperbaric chambers
![The EXTREME treatments elite athletes turn to stay at the top of their game 12 HBOT can be performed in single rooms or in large rooms with other participants](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Why-athletes-are-using-hyperbaric-chambers-to-recover-after-Vinicius.jpg)
The technology is described as a ‘game-changer’ that allows athletes to recover faster
![The EXTREME treatments elite athletes turn to stay at the top of their game 14 Basketball titan LeBron James is a longtime and avid user of oxygen chambers](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1683633442_91_Why-athletes-are-using-hyperbaric-chambers-to-recover-after-Vinicius.jpg)
Basketball titan LeBron James is a longtime and avid user of oxygen chambers
![The EXTREME treatments elite athletes turn to stay at the top of their game 16 Marcus Rashford is using HBOT as part of his recovery](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1684067397_640_The-EXTREME-treatments-elite-athletes-turn-to-stay-at-the.jpg)
![The EXTREME treatments elite athletes turn to stay at the top of their game 18 Mo Salah shared a photo from inside the room](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1684067400_660_The-EXTREME-treatments-elite-athletes-turn-to-stay-at-the.jpg)
Marcus Rashford (left) and Mo Salah (right) have shown themselves to be fans of the technology
CRYOTHERAPY
Everything that has caught the attention of high profile superstar Haaland is worth paying more attention to and the Norwegian behemoth’s dedication to cryotherapy is total.
The City forward went so far as to install a £50,000 cryo chamber in his Chester mansion, such is his faith in the restorative power of dropped temperatures.
But like the hyperbaric chamber, players will use cryotherapy to increase the impact of their recovery as they endure temperatures as low as -200C (-328F) in an effort to reduce inflammation and swelling from injuries, improve their immune system and reduce muscle soreness. to light up. , while improving the body’s recovery time after a workout or a match day.
To avoid health risks such as hypothermia and frostbite, those entering the room should wear protective mittens, such as Cristiano Jr. did when he underwent therapy with his father Ronaldo. Like Haaland, the No. 7 also had its own cryotherapy chamber installed in his mansion in Manchester – while Chelsea’s Thiago Silva used a more localized form of cryotherapy as he recovered from a knee injury in February this year.
![The EXTREME treatments elite athletes turn to stay at the top of their game 20 Cryotherapy, also known as cold therapy, uses extremely low temperatures to aid recovery – and Cristiano Ronaldo is said to have installed a chamber in his Manchester home](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/1682172303_267_Cristiano-Ronaldos-BIZARRE-health-routines-including-nail-painting-and-mini-meals.jpg)
Cryotherapy, also known as cold therapy, uses extremely low temperatures to aid recovery – and Cristiano Ronaldo is said to have installed a chamber in his Manchester home
![The EXTREME treatments elite athletes turn to stay at the top of their game 22 Thiago Silva used a more localized cryo device this season while recovering from a knee injury](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1684067408_558_The-EXTREME-treatments-elite-athletes-turn-to-stay-at-the.jpg)
Thiago Silva used a more localized cryo device this season while recovering from a knee injury
MASSAGE BOOTS
An increasingly common sight in club treatment rooms or in players’ homes – or, in the case of LeBron James, in the back of his car – air-compression recovery boots have become synonymous with post-game massage therapy as players attempt to to revive spent time. muscles and any associated swelling.
![The EXTREME treatments elite athletes turn to stay at the top of their game 24 Gareth Bale is one of many high-profile athletes who have massage boots in their routine](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1684067410_384_The-EXTREME-treatments-elite-athletes-turn-to-stay-at-the.jpg)
Gareth Bale is one of many high-profile athletes who have massage boots in their routine
![The EXTREME treatments elite athletes turn to stay at the top of their game 26 Chelsea's Thiago Silva was photographed using the wildly popular recovery device at home](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1684067413_407_The-EXTREME-treatments-elite-athletes-turn-to-stay-at-the.jpg)
Chelsea’s Thiago Silva was photographed using the wildly popular recovery device at home
![The EXTREME treatments elite athletes turn to stay at the top of their game 28 Anthony Joshua was pictured wearing Nomatec boots](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1684067414_43_The-EXTREME-treatments-elite-athletes-turn-to-stay-at-the.jpg)
![The EXTREME treatments elite athletes turn to stay at the top of their game 30 Erling Haaland is such a fan of the brand that he became an investor in the parent company Hyperice in 2021](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1684067420_570_The-EXTREME-treatments-elite-athletes-turn-to-stay-at-the.jpg)
Anthony Joshua (left) was pictured wearing boots by Nomatec and Erling Haaland is such a fan of the brand that he became an investor in parent company Hyperice in 2021
Haaland is such a fan of the technology – and in particular the shoes from the Normatec brand – that he became an investor and global ambassador for their sports tech parent company Hyperice while at Borussia Dortmund.
AC Milan’s Olivier Giroud was also an early investor in the company, which produces a range of high-tech therapeutic devices including £639 boots ($799), massage guns and electronic heat treatments.
![The EXTREME treatments elite athletes turn to stay at the top of their game 32 Ronaldo invested in yet another high-tech sports therapy to boost recovery](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1684067427_250_The-EXTREME-treatments-elite-athletes-turn-to-stay-at-the.jpg)
Ronaldo invested in yet another high-tech sports therapy to boost recovery
![The EXTREME treatments elite athletes turn to stay at the top of their game 34 LeBron James fitted his recovery routine into his daily life by putting on the boots in his car](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1684067435_610_The-EXTREME-treatments-elite-athletes-turn-to-stay-at-the.jpg)
LeBron James fitted his recovery routine into his daily life by putting on the boots in his car
TECAR THERAPY
One of the latest treatments Premier League stars are looking to help players recover from injury is tecar therapy. This treatment sends a high-frequency current through the treated muscle to both stimulate tissue regeneration and reduce pain – with the aim of reducing the amount of time an injured player needs to spend on the sidelines.
On a less severe level, the non-invasive therapy can be used in post-competition recovery where the heating effect of the treatment increases blood flow and drainage and reduces inflammation.
Atletico Madrid mercenary Joao Felix was pictured undergoing treatment in March, and the Brazil national team have also undergone similar treatments from their physiotherapists.
![The EXTREME treatments elite athletes turn to stay at the top of their game 36 Atletico Madrid mercenary Joao Felix underwent the high-frequency treatment in March](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1684067443_141_The-EXTREME-treatments-elite-athletes-turn-to-stay-at-the.jpg)
Atletico Madrid mercenary Joao Felix underwent the high-frequency treatment in March