The body must perform at the highest level
Ralf Patrick Häusle has been playing handball since he was six years old. He is a goalkeeper for Bregenz Handball, one of the most physically and mentally demanding positions in handball. He has played for the Austrian national team 23 times since 2016 and won the Austrian Cup with Bregenz Handball in 2022/23. What this sport demands of him and how he deals with it by prioritising regeneration is the subject of this story.
Handball is a tough sport
Handball is a tough sport. Intense physical contact, falls and a high playing speed all contribute to this. The game puts a strain on every joint in the body. In addition to physical fitness, it is particularly important for goalkeepers to be mentally fit, self-confident and balanced, as the balls fly towards them at speeds of up to 100 kilometres per hour. An extreme situation in which the players are pushed to their limits at the highest level.
A fine line between performance and overload
Ralf Häusle's weeks are packed, especially in the English weeks, when he has to play one more game every week. It's a fine line between performance and overload. The most important thing to get through such a high-performance phase without injury and in good shape is regeneration. The most difficult thing is to give the body the necessary recovery time. Here in particular, it is important to optimise sleep in order to enable the best possible regeneration during the night.
From back surgery to SAMINA
Ralf Häusle had his first back operation at the age of 19. Since this injury phase, sleep has played an even more important role for him. When the intervertebral discs hurt and there is a lack of optimal active support at night, restful sleep becomes almost impossible - not to mention top performance on the pitch. Uncompromising orthopaedic back health, supported by the SAMINA sleep system, helps athletes like Ralf to use the night for physical and mental regeneration and to prevent further injuries.
"That's why I'm glad that I discovered the Samina sleep system two years ago. Before that, I had a similar product from another company, but I didn't sleep nearly as well as I do now."
How Ralf recovers faster
Due to the high physical demands of handball, Ralf regularly visits his trusted physiotherapist. He also uses modern technology such as the cold chamber from SAMINA Recovery or resorts to tried-and-tested methods such as ice baths to get fit again more quickly. A balanced diet, nutritional supplements and regular yoga round off his regeneration programme. In this way, he keeps his body and mind at the level required to perform at his best as a handball goalkeeper.
Self-care as the key to success
Ralf Häusle realised early on in his career how important physical and mental recovery is for his sporting success. Quite often, a traumatic experience such as an injury was the trigger for this realisation. As 90% of regeneration takes place during sleep, it is essential for young athletes to address the issue of sleep as early as possible. This is the only way they can remain efficient and injury-free in the long term. We are very proud that Ralf recognised this so early on and found the best possible solution for him with SAMINA.