Massage Therapy Attenuates Inflammatory Signaling After Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage

Abstract

Massage therapy is commonly used during physical rehabilitation of skeletal muscle to ameliorate pain and promote recovery from injury. Although there is evidence that massage may relieve pain in injured muscle, how massage affects cellular function remains unknown. To assess the effects of massage, we administered either massage therapy or no treatment to separate quadriceps of 11 young male participants after exercise-induced muscle damage. Muscle biopsies were acquired from the quadriceps (vastus lateralis) at baseline, immediately after 10 min of massage treatment, and after a 2.5-hour period of recovery. We found that massage activated the mechanotransduction signaling pathways focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), potentiated mitochondrial biogenesis signaling [nuclear peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α)], and mitigated the rise in nuclear factor κB (NFκB) (p65) nuclear accumulation caused by exercise-induced muscle trauma. Moreover, despite having no effect on muscle metabolites (glycogen, lactate), massage attenuated the production of the inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and reduced heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) phosphorylation, thereby mitigating cellular stress resulting from myofiber injury. In summary, when administered to skeletal muscle that has been acutely damaged through exercise, massage therapy appears to be clinically beneficial by reducing inflammation and promoting mitochondrial biogenesis.

The efficacy of manual versus local vibratory massage in promoting recovery from post-exercise muscle damage – A systematic review

“…Although there is no existing treatment that is accepted as a universally used tool (Ernst, 1998), massage is commonly used in the athletic community despite little scientific evidence confirming its effectiveness (Stamford, 1985). As an alternative treatment it has been described as effective and safe in reversing or controlling moderate inflammation, improving blood flow, reducing DOMS (Crane et al, 2012) and has remained popular in sport with many athletes requesting massage treatment following heavy training sessions and during/after competitive events (Hilbert et al, 2004). Mackenzie (2000) estimates that up to 45% of current physiotherapy treatment in sport consists of massage.…”

“…Lowering NFκB levels reduces inflammation and increasing PGC-1α levels leads to the creation of more mitochondria that generate energy for cell growth (Ward, 2012), also improving the contractile function of dystrophic muscle and reducing the level of inflammation (Crane et al, 2012).…”

“…In the recent publication of Crane et al (2012), the type of MM used was unfortunately not specified.…”

“…Cortisol decreased in the first 5h in one trial (Smith et al, 1994). Only one trial (Crane et al, 2012) examined TNFα, NFκB, IL-6 and PGC-1α and found that massage had a beneficial effect on these markers of an inflammatory response. Three trials (n=52) out of seven were included in the analysis and showed no significant change in blood lactate concentration and/or on muscle fatigue.…”

Comparing the Effects of Rest and Massage on Return to Homeostasis Following Submaximal Aerobic Exercise: a Case Study

“…In one study, postexercise massage was shown to induce changes on the cellular level in the muscles to decrease inflammation and promote recovery; however, autonomic function was not assessed. (8) In a nonhuman study, mechanical as an ongoing project developed for class, classroom professor oversight was used.…”