Massage and stretching reduce spinal reflex excitability without affecting twitch contractile properties

Behm, David G.; Peach, Ashley A.; Maddigan, Meaghan E.; Aboodarda, Saied Jalal; DiSanto, Mario C.; Button, Duane C.; Maffiuletti, Nicola A.

doi:10.1016/j.jelekin.2013.05.002

Cited by 71 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…21 The roller massager has been suggested to act as a self-myofascialrelease technique similar to massage. 4 Massage has been reported to suppress H-reflexes, [22][23][24] thereby decreasing the afferent excitation of the target motor neurons. 25 Further research is necessary to determine the precise mechanisms underlying the increased ROM associated with roller massage and foam rolling.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Roller-Massager Application to the Quadriceps and Knee-Joint Range of Motion and Neuromuscular Efficiency During a Lunge

Bradbury-Squires

Noftall

Sullivan

et al. 2015

Journal of Athletic Training

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114

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Context: Roller massagers are used as a recovery and rehabilitative tool to initiate muscle relaxation and improve range of motion (ROM) and muscular performance. However, research demonstrating such effects is lacking.Objective: To determine the effects of applying a roller massager for 20 and 60 seconds on knee-joint ROM and dynamic muscular performance.Design: Randomized controlled clinical trial. Setting: University laboratory.Patients or Other Participants: Ten recreationally active men (age ¼ 26.6 6 5.2 years, height ¼ 175.3 6 4.3 cm, mass ¼ 84.4 6 8.8 kg).Intervention(s): Participants performed 3 randomized experimental conditions separated by 24 to 48 hours. In condition 1 (5 repetitions of 20 seconds) and condition 2 (5 repetitions of 60 seconds), they applied a roller massager to the quadriceps muscles. Condition 3 served as a control condition in which participants sat quietly.Main Outcome Measure(s): Visual analog pain scale, electromyography (EMG) of the vastus lateralis (VL) and biceps femoris during roller massage and lunge, and kneejoint ROM.Results: We found no differences in pain between the 20-second and 60-second roller-massager conditions. During 60 seconds of roller massage, pain was 13.5% (5.7 6 0.70) and 20.6% (6.2 6 0.70) greater at 40 seconds and 60 seconds, respectively, than at 20 seconds (P , .05). During roller massage, VL and biceps femoris root mean square (RMS) EMG was 8% and 7%, respectively, of RMS EMG recorded during maximal voluntary isometric contraction. Knee-joint ROM was 10% and 16% greater in the 20-second and 60-second roller-massager conditions, respectively, than the control condition (P , .05). Finally, average lunge VL RMS EMG decreased as roller-massage time increased (P , .05).Conclusions: Roller massage was painful and induced muscle activity, but it increased knee-joint ROM and neuromuscular efficiency during a lunge.Key Words: electromyography, pain, muscle activation, flexibility, stretch Key PointsA roller massager applied to the quadriceps at a load equal to 25% of body mass was moderately painful and induced minor contractions. The combination of active contractions and 20 to 60 seconds of roller massage improved knee-joint range of motion and reduced vastus lateralis electromyographic activity during a lunge. Roller massage could be used to increase range of motion during a warm-up or as a complement to stretching during flexibility training sessions. M any researchers have studied how stretching affects range of motion (ROM) and performance; in general, their results showed increased ROM and impairments in subsequent performance.1,2 Recently introduced alternative devices to stretching include the foam roller and roller massager. The use of these devices has produced increases in ROM.3,4 Authors of 2 studies examined how a foam roller affects flexibility.3,5 MacDonald et al 3 reported 12.7% and 10.3% increases in knee-joint ROM at 2 minutes and 10 minutes, respectively, after two 1-minute bouts of foam rolling. MacDonald et al 5 found that quadriceps ROM ...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Roller-Massager Application to the Quadriceps and Knee-Joint Range of Motion and Neuromuscular Efficiency During a Lunge

Bradbury-Squires

Noftall

Sullivan

et al. 2015

Journal of Athletic Training

Self Cite

114

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“…Mechanical mechanisms describe a number of sub-mechanisms, such as fascial adhesions, piezoelectricity, cellular responses, myofascial trigger points, and/or thixotropic and viscoelastic properties of the tissue. 1 Neurophysiological mechanisms can be divided into two primary submechanisms, 1 spinal -associated with mechanoreceptors within muscle and fascia 1,8 -and supraspinal -which include central pain modulation and descending noxious inhibitory control -both of which have been asserted to mediate perception. 6,9 While self-massage has been shown to increase ROM in the majority, 1 but not all, 6 of investigations, the degree of ROM increase has been variable.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acute Effects of Different Anterior Thigh Self-Massage on Hip Range-of-Motion in Trained Men

Monteiro

Vigotsky

Škarabot

2018

Intl J Sports Phys Ther

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Background: Self-massage is a ubiquitous intervention similar to massage, but performed by the recipient him-or herself rather than by a therapist, most often using a tool (e.g., foam roller, roller massager). Self-massage has been found to have a wide range of effects. It is particularly known for increasing flexibility acutely, although not always. The variability of the results in previous studies may potentially be a function of the tool used. Recent findings also suggest that self-massage exerts global effects. Therefore, increased flexibility should be expected in the areas adjacent to the ones treated.Purpose: To investigate the acute effects of foam rolling and rolling massage of anterior thigh on hip range-of-motion (ROM) -i.e., hip extension and hip flexion -in trained men.Methods: Eighteen recreationally active, resistance trained males visited the lab on two occasions over a 4-day period separated by at least a day. Each session included two baseline ROM measures of passive hip flexion and extension taken in a randomized fashion. Recording of baseline measures was followed by the intervention of the day, which was either foam rolling or rolling massage of the anterior thigh as per randomization. Immediately post intervention, passive hip flexion and hip extension ROM were reassessed. In order to assess the time course of improvements in ROM, hip flexion and hip extension ROM were reevaluated at 10, 20, and 30 minutes post-intervention.Results: Hip flexion and hip extension ROM increased immediately following both interventions (foam rolling or roller massager) and remained increased for 30 minutes post intervention. Foam rolling was statistically superior in improving hip flexion and hip extension ROM immediately post intervention. However, immediately post-intervention was the only time point that measurements exceeded the minimum detectable change for both interventions. Conclusion:Both foam rolling and rolling massage appear to be effective interventions for improving hip flexion and extension ROM when applied to the anterior thigh, but the observed effects are transient in nature. Level of evidence: 2b

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“…However, Aboodarda et al (2014) found that elbow flexor fatigue increased rather than decreased leg extensor spinal motoneuron excitability. Similar to NLMF, SS-induced performance impairments have been at least partially attributed to neural mechanisms (Behm et al 2013;Behm and Chaouachi 2011;Costa et al 2014). DS has been shown to enhance subsequent performance (Behm and Chaouachi 2011;Costa et al 2014;Herda et al 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acute bouts of upper and lower body static and dynamic stretching increase non-local joint range of motion

et al. 2015

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Massage and stretching reduce spinal reflex excitability without affecting twitch contractile properties

Cited by 71 publications

References 36 publications

Roller-Massager Application to the Quadriceps and Knee-Joint Range of Motion and Neuromuscular Efficiency During a Lunge

Roller-Massager Application to the Quadriceps and Knee-Joint Range of Motion and Neuromuscular Efficiency During a Lunge

Acute Effects of Different Anterior Thigh Self-Massage on Hip Range-of-Motion in Trained Men

Acute bouts of upper and lower body static and dynamic stretching increase non-local joint range of motion

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