Abstract

Research Article

Effectiveness of massage chair and classic massage in recovery from physical exertion: a pilot study

Ivi Vaher, Anna-Liisa Tamm*, Marit Salus, Kirkke Reisberg, Aleksandra Vähi, Helena Pallon, Andra Paeste, Bäthel-Betty Pirk, Margus Merila and Thomas Schrader

Published: 24 March, 2023 | Volume 7 - Issue 1 | Pages: 008-015

Quick and cost-effective recovery is foundational to high-quality training and good competition results in today’s sports. 
The aim of the research was to elucidate the effects of hand and massage chair massage on the biomechanical parameters of muscles of lower limbs and back, indicators of Pain Pressure Thresholds (PPT) and subjectively perceived fatigue. 
A total of 32 female recreational athletes (18 – 50 years old) were assigned to a hand massage, massage chair, or lying down the group. They were measured for muscle biomechanical properties (MyotonPro), PPT (Wagner Instruments) and subjectively perceived fatigue (VAS scale) before and after fatigue tests and treatment. The recovery procedure and subjective satisfaction with treatment were rated on a Likert scale. 
Changes in the median value of m. rectus femoris and m. gastrocnemius stiffness with treatment showed that hand massage could be more effective in reducing stiffness, as compared to chair massage. 
Hand massage may have benefits for recovery from physical exertion, but due to the individuality of subjects, detailed methodological studies are needed to evaluate the effects of massage chair vs. hand massage.

Read Full Article HTML DOI: 10.29328/journal.jnpr.1001050 Cite this Article Read Full Article PDF

References

  1. Minett GM, Duffield R. Is recovery driven by central or peripheral factors? A role for the brain in recovery following intermittent-sprint exercise. Front Physiol. 2014 Feb 3;5:24. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2014.00024. PMID: 24550837; PMCID: PMC3909945.
  2. Hausswirth C, Le Meur Y. Physiological and nutritional aspects of post-exercise recovery: specific recommendations for female athletes. Sports Med. 2011 Oct 1;41(10):861-82. doi: 10.2165/11593180-000000000-00000. PMID: 21923203.
  3. Butler RJ, Crowell HP 3rd, Davis IM. Lower extremity stiffness: implications for performance and injury. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2003 Jul;18(6):511-7. doi: 10.1016/s0268-0033(03)00071-8. PMID: 12828900.
  4. Wang JS. Therapeutic effects of massage and electrotherapy on muscle tone, stiffness and muscle contraction following gastrocnemius muscle fatigue. J Phys Ther Sci. 2017 Jan;29(1):144-147. doi: 10.1589/jpts.29.144. Epub 2017 Jan 30. PMID: 28210061; PMCID: PMC5300827.
  5. Vain A, Toomla T, Kahn KH. Relationship of skeletal muscle biomechanical parameters determined by the myometry method with arterial hypertension. Estonian Doctor. 2006; 85(1):14–19. doi: https://doi.org/10.15157/ea.v0i0.10065.
  6. Torres R, Ribeiro F, Alberto Duarte J, Cabri JM. Evidence of the physiotherapeutic interventions used currently after exercise-induced muscle damage: systematic review and meta-analysis. Phys Ther Sport. 2012 May;13(2):101-14. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2011.07.005. Epub 2011 Sep 14. PMID: 22498151.
  7. Dupuy O, Douzi W, Theurot D, Bosquet L, Dugué B. An Evidence-Based Approach for Choosing Post-exercise Recovery Techniques to Reduce Markers of Muscle Damage, Soreness, Fatigue, and Inflammation: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis. Front Physiol. 2018 Apr 26;9:403. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00403. PMID: 29755363; PMCID: PMC5932411.
  8. Leeder J, Gissane C, van Someren K, Gregson W, Howatson G. Cold water immersion and recovery from strenuous exercise: a meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med. 2012 Mar;46(4):233-40. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2011-090061. Epub 2011 Sep 22. PMID: 21947816.
  9. Bieuzen F, Brisswalter J, Easthope C, Vercruyssen F, Bernard T, Hausswirth C. Effect of wearing compression stockings on recovery after mild exercise-induced muscle damage. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2014 Mar;9(2):256-64. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2013-0126. Epub 2013 May 22. PMID: 23751727.
  10. Herbert RD, Gabriel M. Effects of stretching before and after exercising on muscle soreness and risk of injury: systematic review. BMJ. 2002 Aug 31;325(7362):468. doi: 10.1136/bmj.325.7362.468. PMID: 12202327; PMCID: PMC119442.
  11. Field T. Massage therapy research review. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2014 Nov;20(4):224-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2014.07.002. Epub 2014 Aug 1. PMID: 25172313; PMCID: PMC5467308.
  12. Visconti L, Capra G, Carta G, Forni C, Janin D. Effect of massage on DOMS in ultramarathon runners: A pilot study. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2015 Jul;19(3):458-63. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2014.11.008. Epub 2014 Nov 24. PMID: 26118518.
  13. Zhong H, Eungpinichpong W, Wang X, Chatchawan U, Wanpen S, Buranruk O. Effects of mechanical-bed massage on exercise-induced back fatigue in athletes. J Phys Ther Sci. 2018 Mar;30(3):365-372. doi: 10.1589/jpts.30.365. Epub 2018 Mar 2. PMID: 29581653; PMCID: PMC5857440.
  14. Muller J, Handlin L, Harlén M, Lindmark U, Ekström A. Mechanical massage and mental training programmes affect employees' anxiety, stress susceptibility and detachment-a randomised explorative pilot study. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2015 Sep 2;15:302. doi: 10.1186/s12906-015-0753-x. PMID: 26329694; PMCID: PMC4556221.
  15. Kim SK, Min A, Jeon C, Kim T, Cho S, Lee SC, Lee CK. Clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of massage chair therapy versus basic physiotherapy in lower back pain patients: A randomized controlled trial. Medicine (Baltimore). 2020 Mar;99(12):e19514. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000019514. PMID: 32195952; PMCID: PMC7220115.
  16. Siško PK, Videmšek M, Karpljuk D. The effect of a corporate chair massage program on musculoskeletal discomfort and joint range of motion in office workers. J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Jul;17(7):617-22. doi: 10.1089/acm.2010.0400. Epub 2011 Jun 20. PMID: 21688984.
  17. International Physical Activity Questionnaire Web site. 29 January 2022. http://www.ipaq.ki.se
  18. Scoring the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. 29 January 2022. https://bit.ly/2tRmOaR
  19. Leung AW, Chan CC, Lee AH, Lam KW. Visual analogue scale correlates of musculoskeletal fatigue. Percept Mot Skills. 2004 Aug;99(1):235-46. doi: 10.2466/pms.99.1.235-246. PMID: 15446651.
  20. Arroyo-Morales M, Olea N, Martínez MM, Hidalgo-Lozano A, Ruiz-Rodríguez C, Díaz-Rodríguez L. Psychophysiological effects of massage-myofascial release after exercise: a randomized sham-control study. J Altern Complement Med. 2008 Dec;14(10):1223-9. doi: 10.1089/acm.2008.0253. PMID: 19123877.
  21. Aspinall SL, Leboeuf-Yde C, Etherington SJ, Walker BF. Changes in pressure pain threshold and temporal summation in rapid responders and non-rapid responders after lumbar spinal manipulation and sham: A secondary analysis in adults with low back pain. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2020 Jun;47:102137. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2020.102137. Epub 2020 Feb 26. PMID: 32148330.
  22. Gajsar H, Titze C, Hasenbring MI, Vaegter HB. Isometric Back Exercise Has Different Effect on Pressure Pain Thresholds in Healthy Men and Women. Pain Med. 2017 May 1;18(5):917-923. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnw176. PMID: 27473635.
  23. Anaya-Terroba L, Arroyo-Morales M, Fernández-de-Las-Peñas C, Díaz-Rodríguez L, Cleland JA. Effects of ice massage on pressure pain thresholds and electromyography activity postexercise: a randomized controlled crossover study. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2010 Mar-Apr;33(3):212-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2010.01.015. PMID: 20350675.
  24. Farasyn A, Meeusen R. Pressure pain thresholds in healthy subjects: influence of physical activity, history of lower back pain factors and the use of endermology as a placebo-like treatment. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2003 Jan;7(1):53–61. doi: 10.1016/S1360-8592(02)00050-5.
  25. Keating L, Lubke C, Powell V, Young T, Souvlis T, Jull G. Mid-thoracic tenderness: a comparison of pressure pain threshold between spinal regions, in asymptomatic subjects. Man Ther. 2001 Feb;6(1):34-9. doi: 10.1054/math.2000.0377. PMID: 11243907.
  26. Knihs DA, Zimmermann HB, Pupo JD. Acute and Delayed Effects of Fatigue on Ground Reaction Force, Lower Limb Stiffness and Coordination Asymmetries During a Landing Task. J Hum Kinet. 2021 Jan 29;76:191-199. doi: 10.2478/hukin-2021-0054. PMID: 33603934; PMCID: PMC7877279.
  27. Hébert-Losier K, Wessman C, Alricsson M, Svantesson U. Updated reliability and normative values for the standing heel-rise test in healthy adults. Physiotherapy. 2017 Dec;103(4):446-452. doi: 10.1016/j.physio.2017.03.002. Epub 2017 Mar 21. PMID: 28886865.
  28. Roche N, Crichton ML, Goeminne PC, Cao B, Humbert M, Shteinberg M, Antoniou KM, Ulrik CS, Parks H, Wang C, Vandendriessche T, Qu J, Stolz D, Brightling C, Welte T, Aliberti S, Simonds AK, Tonia T, Chalmers JD. Update June 2022: management of hospitalised adults with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a European Respiratory Society living guideline. Eur Respir J. 2022 Aug 10;60(2):2200803. doi: 10.1183/13993003.00803-2022. PMID: 35710264; PMCID: PMC9363848.
  29. Banerjee SS, Krishnamani DB, Karthick PA, Arunachalakasi A, Swaminathan R. Influence of viscoelasticity on dynamic fatiguing behavior of muscle using myotonometry and surface electromyography measurements. IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement 2022 Sep;71. doi: 10.1109/TIM.2022.3205645.
  30. Kong PW, Chua YH, Kawabata M, Burns SF, Cai C. Effect of Post-Exercise Massage on Passive Muscle Stiffness Measured Using Myotonometry - A Double-Blind Study. J Sports Sci Med. 2018 Nov 20;17(4):599-606. PMID: 30479528; PMCID: PMC6243630.
  31. Klich S, Krymski I, Kawczynski A. Viscoelastic properties of lower extremity muscles after track cycling sprint events: a case report. CEJSSM. 2020 29:5–10. doi: 10.18276/cej.2020.1-01.
  32. Agyapong-Badu S, Warner M, Samuel D, Stokes M. Measurement of ageing effects on muscle tone and mechanical properties of rectus femoris and biceps brachii in healthy males and females using a novel hand-held myometric device. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2016 Jan-Feb;62:59-67. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2015.09.011. Epub 2015 Oct 23. PMID: 26476868.
  33. Kocur P, Tomczak M, Wiernicka M, Goliwąs M, Lewandowski J, Łochyński D. Relationship between age, BMI, head posture and superficial neck muscle stiffness and elasticity in adult women. Sci Rep. 2019 Jun 11;9(1):8515. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-44837-5. PMID: 31186509; PMCID: PMC6559965.
  34. Wu Z, Wang Y, Ye Z, Guan Y, Ye X, Chen Z, Li C, Chen G, Zhu Y, Du J, Chen G, Liu W, Xu X. Effects of Age and Sex on Properties of Lumbar Erector Spinae in Healthy People: Preliminary Results From a Pilot Study. Front Physiol. 2021 Sep 20;12:718068. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2021.718068. PMID: 34616306; PMCID: PMC8488426.
  35. Holloszy JO. The biology of aging. Mayo Clin Proc. 2000 Jan;75 Suppl:S3-8; discussion S8-9. PMID: 10959208.
  36. Volpi E, Nazemi R, Fujita S. Muscle tissue changes with aging. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2004 Jul;7(4):405-10. doi: 10.1097/01.mco.0000134362.76653.b2. PMID: 15192443; PMCID: PMC2804956.
  37. Robertson A, Watt JM, Galloway SD. Effects of leg massage on recovery from high intensity cycling exercise. Br J Sports Med. 2004 Apr;38(2):173-6. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.2002.003186. PMID: 15039254; PMCID: PMC1724761.
  38. Gandevia SC. Spinal and supraspinal factors in human muscle fatigue. Physiol Rev. 2001 Oct;81(4):1725-89. doi: 10.1152/physrev.2001.81.4.1725. PMID: 11581501.
  39. Hemmings B, Smith M, Graydon J, Dyson R. Effects of massage on physiological restoration, perceived recovery, and repeated sports performance. Br J Sports Med. 2000 Apr;34(2):109-14; discussion 115. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.34.2.109. PMID: 10786866; PMCID: PMC1724183.
  40. Cygańska A, Truszczyńska-Baszak A, Tomaszewski P. Impact of Exercises and Chair Massage on Musculoskeletal Pain of Young Musicians. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Jul 16;17(14):5128. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17145128. PMID: 32708600; PMCID: PMC7400366.

Figures:

Similar Articles

Recently Viewed

Read More

Most Viewed

Read More

Help ?