[Purpose] The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of calf muscle massage on
ankle flexibility and balance. [Subjects and Methods] The study’s subjects were 32 healthy
college students, divided into two groups according to the massage methods applied. Both
groups received five-minutes of massage to each calf, making a total of ten minutes.
Massage group A received effleurage, tapotement and pressure, and massage group B received
effleurage, friction and petrissage. The functional reaching test and the modified one leg
standing test were performed to measure the flexibility and balance of the ankles both
before and after the massage application. [Results] In the functional reaching test
performed after the calf muscle massage intervention, both groups showed significant
increases. However, no significant differences were found between the two groups. In the
modified one leg standing test, massage group A showed a significant increase in
flexibility and balance after the intervention only when the left foot was used for
support. Massage group B showed a significant increase when each foot was used for
support. A significant difference between the groups was only observed only when the left
foot was used for support. [Conclusion] Calf muscle massage may be effective for enhancing
the flexibility and balance function of the ankle joint. In particular, a combined
application of friction and petrissage massage techniques may be more effective for
increasing ankle joint flexibility. Therefore, the application of calf massage can be
considered an appropriate method for improving balancing ability.
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