The effect of sport massage therapy using virgin coconut oil on the physical fitness of athletes in Bali Province

Authors

  • Made Agus Dharmadi Faculty of Sports and Health, Ganesha University of Education, Bali, Indonesia.
  • Fajar Apollo Sinaga Faculty of Sports Science, State University of Medan Indonesia.
  • I Wayan Muliarta Faculty of Sports and Health, Ganesha University of Education, Bali, Indonesia.
  • Ni Putu Dwi Sucita Dartini Faculty of Sports and Health, Ganesha University of Education, Bali, Indonesia.
  • Luh Putu Tuti Ariani Faculty of Sports and Health, Ganesha University of Education, Bali, Indonesia.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.6018/sportk.641051
Keywords: Sport Massage, Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO), Body Lotion, Athlete

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of massage therapy using VCO (Virgin Coconut Oil) on improving the fitness of Bali athletes. The research method employed was a quasi-experiment involving a sample of 32 male Bali athletes (aged between 16 and 18 years), divided into 16 participants in the experimental group and 16 participants in the control group. The experimental group received massage therapy using VCO, while the control group used body lotion for massage. Data were collected through fitness tests using the Multi-Stage Fitness Test (MFT) and involved pre-test and post-test measurements. Based on the results of the study, the massage therapy using VCO had a statistically significant effect on the physical fitness of Bali athletes (p=0.001). In contrast, massage therapy using body lotion did not show a statistically significant effect on physical fitness (p=0.064). Furthermore, a significant difference was found between the two treatments (p=0.036), indicating that VCO was more effective than body lotion in improving athletes’ physical fitness. The results of this research are expected to contribute to improving athlete performance through massage interventions using VCO and to provide a broader understanding for coaches in enhancing athlete performance based on the principles of training and recovery.

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Published
16-04-2026
How to Cite
Dharmadi, M. A., Sinaga, F. A., Muliarta, I. W., Sucita Dartini, N. P. D., & Ariani, L. P. T. (2026). The effect of sport massage therapy using virgin coconut oil on the physical fitness of athletes in Bali Province. SPORT TK-EuroAmerican Journal of Sport Sciences, 15, 22. https://doi.org/10.6018/sportk.641051
Issue
Vol. 15 (2026)
Section
Articles

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The works and papers that are published in this Journal are subject to the following terms:

1. The Publication Service of the University of Murcia (the publisher) has the Publication Rights (Copyright) to the published papers and works, and favors and permits the reusing of the same under the license indicated in point 2.

© Servicio de Publicaciones, Universidad de Murcia, 2013

2. The papers and works are to be published in the digital edition of the Journal under the license Creative Commons Reconocimiento-No Comercial-Sin Obra Derivada 3.0 España (legal text). The copying, using, spreading, transmitting and publicly displaying of the papers, works or publication are permitted as long as: i) the authors and original sources (Journal, publisher and URL of the publication) are quoted; ii) it is not used for commercial benefit; iii) the existence and specifications of this users license are mentioned.

3. Conditions of Self-Archiving. It is permitted and encouraged that the authors spread electronically the pre-print (before printing) and/or post-print (the revised, evaluated and accepted) versions of their papers or works before their publication since this favors their circulation and early diffusion and therefore can help increase their citation and quotation, and also there reach through the academic community.