The use of deep friction massage with olive oil as a means of prevention and treatment of sports injuries in ancient times

Abstract

The aim of this research was to analyse the use of olive oil as a means of prevention and treatment of sports injuries in the ancient world. The method adopted was based on a thorough study of Greek and world literature. Writings of major ancient philosophers and physicians such as Hippocrates, Aristotle, Philostratus, and Lucian have been analysed in depth. According to the results, the use of massage, together with olive oil rub, helped to reduce muscle fatigue, to remove lactic acid, and to prevent the occurrence of sports injuries through flexibility provided to the skin of athletes. The therapeutic use of oil in the ancient world was fully recognized; and as a result Athenian athlothetes (sponsors of sporting events) provided free oil to all sport facilities where athletes could make free use of it [1].

MRI of Musculotendinous Injuries—Part I: “Non-strain” Injuries

“…Muscle injuries have been important to humans for time immemorial, afflicting laborers in ancient Egypt [1] and Olympic athletes in ancient Greece [2]. Today, the diagnosis of muscle injuries has never been more important to the lives of more patients-as well as to the financial livelihoods of athletes and the professional reputation of physicians [3].…”

The massage approach of Avicenna in the Canon of Medicine

“…He described the movements used in massage as gentle, medium and vigorous frictions. 17,18 Hieronymus Mercurialis (1530 -1606), a professor of medicine, included the positive effects of massage applied in integration with other treatments on the body 8 Beck MF. (2010) Theory and practice of therapeutic massage.…”

Epigenetic treatment of dermatologic disorders

“…It is an organ that requires protection, hygienic attention, and care. Athletes competing in the Olympics of the ancient world massaged their body with olive oil and then scraped off the excess oil with a curved blade instrument known as a strigil (Gorini, Iorio, Ciliberti, Licata, & Armocida, 2019;Nomikos, 2010;Nomikos, Nomikos, & Kores, 2010). Besides cleansing the skin and making it aesthetically pleasing with shine and luster, the ancient ritual had protective medicinal and therapeutic value in mitigating skin-related injuries brought about in the various competitions of that era (Caramia, Gori, Valli, & Cerretani, 2012;Nomikos, 2010;Nomikos et al, 2010).…”

“…Athletes competing in the Olympics of the ancient world massaged their body with olive oil and then scraped off the excess oil with a curved blade instrument known as a strigil (Gorini, Iorio, Ciliberti, Licata, & Armocida, 2019;Nomikos, 2010;Nomikos, Nomikos, & Kores, 2010). Besides cleansing the skin and making it aesthetically pleasing with shine and luster, the ancient ritual had protective medicinal and therapeutic value in mitigating skin-related injuries brought about in the various competitions of that era (Caramia, Gori, Valli, & Cerretani, 2012;Nomikos, 2010;Nomikos et al, 2010). Antimicrobial and other bioactive components inherent in olive oil (Chiou & Kalogeropoulos, 2017;Das & Satyaprakash, 2018;Gorini et al, 2019;Simitzis, 2018;Wani et al, 2018) may also have protected the injured skin from opportunistic infections such as Mycobacterium leprae, the causative agent of leprosy (Hansen's disease) (Hanumanthayya, Manjunath, Yadav, & Balasubrahmanyam, 2017;Legendre, Muzny, & Swiatlo, 2012;Sari, Widasmara, & Kurniawan, 2018;Tsoucalas, Krasagakis, Pantos, & Karamanou, 2018).…”