(22-06-10) Massage Augments Benefits of Stretching in Men With Tight Hamstrings

Cross-fiber friction massage combined with modified proprioceptive
neuromuscular facilitation stretching was superior to stretching alone in a
randomized, assessor-blinded study of 30 young, physically active males with
latent myofascial trigger points.
The combined treatment was associated with significant improvements from
baseline on all outcome measures, including knee range of motion, stretch
perception, pressure pain threshold, and subjective pain intensity, as well as
significant improvements compared with those seen in the stretching only group
and a control group, according to the study, which was published online in
Physical Therapy in Sport (2010 May 5 [doi:10.1016/j.ptsp.2010.02.003]).
In the combined treatment group, compared with baseline, knee range of motion
improved from a mean of 32.3 degrees to a mean of 21.3 degrees; stretch
perception improved from a mean of 0.14 kg to a mean of 0.11 kg; pressure pain
threshold improved from a mean of 2.35 kg/cm2to 2.94 kg/cm2; and subjective
pain intensity based on a 10-point visual analog scale improved from a mean of
3.0 to a mean of 2.1, Athanasios Trampas of Aristotle University of
Thessaloniki, Greece, and colleagues found.
The pre- to posttreatment changes in knee range of motion in the combined
treatment group remained significant at 10 and 30 minutes post treatment, and
for stretch perception at 10 minutes.
Also, the posttreatment outcomes were significantly better in the combined
treatment group, compared with the stretching-only group and the control group,
at all time points (immediately, at 10 minutes, and at 30 minutes) for knee
range of motion, transformed stretch perception, and pressure pain threshold.
The posttreatment outcome for subjective pain intensity was significantly
improved in the combined treatment group, compared with the stretching only
group in the immediate posttreatment period, they noted. The stretching only
group had no consistent changes in range of motion and pressure pain threshold
compared with the control group at all follow-up measurements.
Study participants were a convenience sample of university students who
presented with tight hamstrings and at least one latent myofascial trigger
point; latent myofascial trigger points are common in the community but have
not received much attention in the literature. The men were randomized to
receive stretching alone, combined treatment using massage with gradually
increasing pressure for 90 seconds followed by stretching, or no treatment. The
treatment and control groups had similar baseline characteristics, with no
differences in body mass index, number of trigger points, or physical activity
level.
No side effects ? such as the soreness or ecchymosis that can occur with
massage ? were reported by patients or observed by therapists in relation to
the massage or stretching used in this study, the investigators said.
The findings support those from previous studies, but require confirmation in
a larger randomized, controlled study, they concluded. They suggested that
future studies include a massage-only group to better assess the effects of
clinical massage on tight hamstrings with latent myofascial trigger points.
The investigators reported that they had no disclosures relevant to their
study.

Fonte:univadis.it

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