Real Madrid Innovates Training with Performance-Enhancing Masks

Real Madrid resumed training this week after a two-day break following their victory over Rayo Vallecano. However, Wednesday’s practice featured a notable change.

Players engaged in high-intensity drills while wearing distinctive blue masks, causing intrigue among fans and followers. Several team members, including Trent Alexander-Arnold, took to social media to share images of themselves in these masks, piquing curiosity about their purpose.

These masks, implemented under the direction of Antonio Pintus, Real Madrid’s performance manager, are designed to enhance players’ physical conditioning. Despite their resemblance to altitude-training gear, their function differs significantly.

Worn during short, 15-20 minute stress tests, the Cosmed K5 masks serve to evaluate players’ aerobic and anaerobic thresholds as well as their current power levels. Pintus explained to Real Madrid TV that the technology enables staff to analyze precise VO2 max levels, which indicate the maximum rate at which the body can consume and utilize oxygen during strenuous activity. Additionally, it can determine whether players are predominantly utilizing fats or carbohydrates for energy.

With critical La Liga matches against Valencia and Real Sociedad on the horizon, along with Champions League knockout rounds against Benfica, Real Madrid is keen to ensure that their squad is in optimal physical condition as the season reaches a pivotal stage.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has returned to training after a two-month injury hiatus. Sports physiotherapist Ben Warbuton noted that these masks are typically utilized in controlled settings, such as on a treadmill or exercise bike, to gauge fitness levels. However, Real Madrid has innovatively adapted this technology for regular training sessions.

“They’ve acquired high-tech equipment to implement it during training,” Warbuton stated, emphasizing the benefits for coaches, who can assess players while they train. He pointed out that conventional VO2 max testing can be impractical during the season. “If all players underwent treadmill or bike tests, it would consume a lot of time, causing them to miss a training session. Moreover, a treadmill presents a different surface compared to grass,” he explained.

By incorporating the masks into football-specific drills, Warbuton believes the risk of injury is also minimized. “Wearing these masks in training slightly reduces the risk of soft-tissue injuries, such as tight calves. This way, players do not waste a session and still receive valuable fitness data.”

The information gathered allows coaching staff to assess each player’s condition and adjust training workloads accordingly. “The results will inform coaches about the players’ fitness levels,” Warbuton added. “They will be compared to individual baselines or to other players in similar positions. Players with lower VO2 max levels may require additional fitness and conditioning work.”

“This is just one method to evaluate a player’s conditioning. I imagine it is quite costly, which is why not all clubs implement it.”