THE EFFECT OF MASSAGE THERAPY ON POST-EXERCISE MUSCLE DAMAGE
The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research has published a recent study in September of 2014, to discuss the effect of massage therapy on damaged muscles caused by vigorous exercise. Here is a summary of the study and how the procedure affected coordination and performance in active adults after exercise induced muscle damage.
STUDY DESIGN There were 21 participants involved in the study, all of them ran up and down a 5 story building 20 times. Eleven received a 15 minute massage on their calf muscle after the workout, and the rest did not. The control was measured for strength by electromyography (EMG) before and after their workout while the post-exercise massage group received EMG after their massage. Both groups were also tested for coordination by kicking a ball for accuracy at a target 30 meters away.
RESULTS Coordination improved the most in the post-massage group than in the control group. Muscular strength was greater in the group that received massage therapy. Researchers explained that muscle architecture was also affected in the post-exercise massage group which accounted for changes in performance.
DISCUSSION It’s nice to see research quantify and explain something that we (in the health and fitness world) have been observing for many decades. Many athletes have used this mode of therapy for effective recovery and for improving function after injury or rigorous effort after activity. If you are serious about making gains in your physical activity, consider post-exercise massage therapy! But here’s a warning…massage therapy is addicting because it works! References: 1. Mal-Shoon Shin, et. al., “EFFECTS OF MASSAGE ON MUSCULAR STRENGTH AND PROPRIOCEPTION AFTER EXERCISE-INDUCED MUSCLE DAMAGE,” Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 2014, doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000000688
