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Research: HEMMINGS and colleagues,
Listed in Issue 56
Abstract
HEMMINGS and colleagues, Division of Sport Studies, University College Northampton, United Kingdom set out to describe the effects of massage on the performance of athletes.
Background
Despite massage being widely used by athletes, there is little scientific evidence to confirm the efficacy of massage for promoting physiological and psychological effects during and after exercise.
Methodology
The aim of the authors was to investigate the effect of massage on perceived recovery and blood lactate removal, and also to examine massage effects on repeated boxing performance. Eight amateur boxers completed two performances on a boxing ergometer on two occasions in a counterbalanced design. Boxers completed performance one, after which they received a massage or passive rest intervention. Each boxer then gave perceived recovery ratings before completing a second performance, which was a repeated simulation of the first. Heart rates and blood lactate and glucose levels were also assessed before, during, and after all performances.
Results
A repeated measures analysis of variance showed no significant group differences for either performance, although a main effect was found showing a decrease in punching force from performance one to performance two (p<0.05). A Wilcoxon matched pairs test showed that the massage intervention significantly increased perceptions of recovery (p<0.01) compared with the passive rest intervention. A doubly multivariate multiple analysis of variance showed no differences in blood lactate or glucose following massage or passive rest interventions, although the blood lactate concentration after the second performance was significantly higher following massage (p<0.05).
Conclusion
These findings provide some support for the psychological benefits of massage, but raise questions about the benefit of massage for physiological restoration and repeated sports performance.
References
Hemmings B et al. Effects of massage on physiological restoration, perceived recovery, and repeated sports performance. British Journal of Sports Medicine 34(2): 109-14. Apr 2000.
