Acute Effects Of Percussive Massage On Muscle Stiffness, Joint Stiffness And Flexibility In Healthy Individuals.

Percussive massage involves rapid strikes to the muscle, in order to increase its blood flow and generate increases in range of motion or nutrient supply. However, the effects of this type of intervention on muscle tissue mechanical characteristics is still unclear. PURPOSE: To determine the acute effects of a handgun percussive massage on hamstring intramuscular stiffness, flexibility and knee joint stiffness in young healthy individuals. METHODS: Nineteen young healthy individuals (15 males and 4 females; age = 24.3 ± 3.7 yrs; mass = 80.7 ± 12.4 kg; height: 176.5 ± 8.7 cm), underwent 6 min of percussive massage along the length of each hamstring (3 min each leg) with a handgun. Before and after the massage the following measurements were taken: proximal, middle and distal biceps femoris passive muscle stiffness via Shear Wave Elastography (KBF), passive knee stiffness via dynamometry (KKnee) and flexibility via the Sit & Reach test (SR). Before the massage, repeated measurements (0, 10, 15, 30 min) were taken to serve as control (CTR) and repeated measurements were also taken after the massage (MAS: 0, 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 60 min). A repeated measures ANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc test was performed to determine changes from baseline in both conditions. RESULTS: For KBF neither time effects (CTR: P = 0.22, η = 0.07; MAS: P = 0.19, η = 0.08) or location x time effects (CTR: P = 0.11, η = 0.10; MAS: P = 0.27 η = 0.06) were found for any condition. For KKnee, no time effect between baseline and post-massage was found (P = 0.09, η = 0.45). In contrast, SR significantly increased from baseline in MAS at 30-, 45- and 60-min post-massage (25.36 ± 9.98 cm, 28.03 ± 10.17 cm, 28.27 ± 10.15 and 28.61 ± 9.97 cm respectively, p < 0.05, η = 0.72). CONCLUSIONS: Percussive massage causes acute increases in flexibility that are not explained by changes in muscle tissue material and mechanical properties. Studies investigating the long-term effects of this type of intervention are encouraged. Support: The Therabody® company provided the device for the percussive massage.