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Michal Novotný

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Michal Novotný, Sports Physiotherapist and Best-Selling Author

Michal Novotný: Redefining Wellness Through Innovation and Expertise

Michal Novotný is a globally acclaimed physiotherapist and fitness trainer with over 25 years of experience. Known as “Mago” (the Magician) by actor Orlando Bloom, Michal has earned a reputation as one of the most trusted figures in sports medicine. His distinguished clientele includes tennis legends Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, footballers from iconic teams like Real Madrid and AC Milan, and high-profile actors like Keanu Reeves, Chris Hamsworth, Anna de Armas, Liev Schrieber and many more. This breadth of expertise cements Michal’s status as a master in optimizing performance and promoting lasting health.

Driven by a lifelong passion for understanding movement, Michal has dedicated his career to helping others achieve their physical best. His decade-long tenure as an ATP physiotherapist honed his injury prevention and rehabilitation skills, enabling him to develop innovative techniques that have transformed the careers of elite athletes. Today, Michal shares his knowledge with aspiring practitioners as a lecturer at renowned institutions, including the Real Madrid European University.

Michal’s innovative spirit led to the creation of #physiontheroad—a pioneering model that provides world-class physiotherapy support wherever athletes compete. Additionally, he established a premier off-season training base in Tenerife, offering athletes a holistic space to recover, train, and rejuvenate, blending physical care with mental well-being.

Beyond clinical practice, Michal is the author of the bestselling books Sport is Pain and The Secret of Healthy Movement. These works explore the intricate relationship between exercise, injury, and recovery, providing actionable guidance for athletes and everyday individuals. He champions a balanced approach to movement, emphasizing that pain is the body’s way of communicating its limits and needs.

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Dec. 13, 2024

Michal Novotný Preventive Wellness: Physical Foundations for Sustained Independent Practice

Michal Novotný is a Czech physiotherapist who has worked with Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova, Orlando Bloom, and Chris Hemsworth. He was one of five ATP physiotherapists on the professional tennis tour, but his philosophy sets him apart from most practitioners in his field: the best physio is not the one who treats injuries but the one who makes sure they never happen. Michal's approach is radically individualised. He categorises patients by somatotype (ectomorph, mesomorph, endomorph), by temperament (melancholic Nadal vs sanguinic Djokovic vs phlegmatic Federer), and by age band — what he calls bronze, silver, gold, and diamond periods. The exercise or diet that works for Chris Hemsworth (a mesomorph who gains and loses muscle quickly) will produce no visible result on Michal himself (an ectomorph with a fast metabolism). His book Sport Is Pain, which took 2,500 hours to write and became an immediate Czech bestseller, guides readers through self-assessment before offering any recomm…