Effects of a Massage Protocol in Tensiomyographic and Myotonometric Proprieties

Abstract

Background: Pre-competition massage is usually used to improve athletic performance and reduce risk of injury. Despite its usual use, the effects of pre-competition massage on neuromuscular function have barely been studied. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of the pre-competition massage over the gastrocnemius neuromuscular function. Method: The study is a quasi-experimental clinical trial thirty healthy athletes were enrolled in the study. Subjects received an intervention in one leg (experimental), consisting of a massage, and no intervention in the opposite leg (control). From all values of neuromuscular function, the following were analyzed: contraction time (Tc) and maximal displacement (Dm) by tensiomyography, and stiffness and tone by myotonometry. Results: Main effects of pre-competition massage on neuromuscular function include a significant (p < 0.05) increase in Tc and Dm variables, as well as a reduction in stiffness and tone. Conclusion: Data shows an increase in Tc and maximal radial displacement (Dm) variables, as well as a reduction in stiffness and tone. More quality studies are needed to draw clear conclusions about the effects of pre-competition massage.

Effects of Foam Rolling Duration on Tissue Stiffness and Perfusion: A Randomized Cross-Over Trial

“…In contrast, all studies using TMG -as an active stiffness assessment of electrically evoked involuntary isometric muscle contractions -failed to identify such effects (Martínez-Cabrera and Núñez-Sánchez, 2016;Murray et al, 2016;Schroeder et al, 2017). Interestingly, one recently published paper also using TMG-based and MMTbased muscle (Dm) and tissue (S) stiffness parameters reported findings with no significant changes in TMG stiffness but significant decreases in MMT stiffness after manually applied five minutes physiotherapist massage techniques for the lower limb calf muscles (Perez-Bellmunt et al, 2021). There was one study reporting TMG based stiffness effects after FR, but this study consisted of repeated FR sessions and the effect referred exclusively to the third of three consecutive days (Macgregor et al, 2018a).…”

“…The two sets (2x1 min or 2x3 min, respectively) were separated by one-minute rests. The left limb remained untreated and served as a control (Perez-Bellmunt et al, 2021). The used FR device (Black-Roll®, Bottighofen, Switzerland) had a medium hard density and a length of 30 cm with a diameter of 15 cm.…”

Effects of Diacutaneous Fibrolysis on Passive Neuromuscular Response and Mechanosensitivity in Athletes with Hamstring Shortening: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…The results obtained are in line with previous findings in similar populations using soft tissue mobilization techniques. A quasi-experimental clinical trial focusing on pre-competitive massage in athletes on the triceps surae muscle, also found a statistically significant reduction in tone and stiffness in the experimental [ 15 ].…”

“…This finding differs from other studies where soft tissue mobilization techniques are used. Pérez-Bellmunt et al [ 15 ] applied a pre-competition massage in athletes in order to assess the neuromuscular function. They found a significant increase in contraction time (Tc) measured by tensiomyography, suggesting that pre-competition massage could decrease the activation of this type II of fibers and thus increase the injury risk in high-speed sports.…”

“…In order to improve athletic performance, different soft tissue mobilizations techniques has been studied before in athletes [ 8 , 14 , 15 ]. DF is widely used in sports, for therapeutic and preventive purposes, but we have only found one study focuses on anterior knee pain, in athletes [ 16 ].…”