The Effects of Post-Event Massage Therapy on Multistage Ultraendurance Cycling

Post-event massage therapy has been proposed to hasten muscle recovery and improve ensuing performance in multistage ultraendurance cycling events. Six elite male cyclists competed in two 4·d stage races of 161 kmd·1 on a computerized race simulator over challenging terrain in a controlled laboratory environment with an average completion time of 275 ± 28 min. In a crossover experimental design, subjects received either 30 min post-event massage therapy or a 30 min inactivated diathermy treatment serving as a blind placebo after each 161 km race. The subjects repeated the 4·d, 161 km·d·1 event 18d later receiving alternate post-event therapy. Performance data (power output, total and split times), metabolic data (\/O2, VCO2 , and RER), substrate data (glucose, lactate, blood urea nitrogen, uric acid, and ammonia), muscle and liver enzyme data (CPK, CK-MB, LOH, SGOT, and SGPT), and psychological data (Profile of Mood States, RPE, and feeling scale) were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA for differences between pre-event, post-event, and post-treatment massage and placebo across the four day event as well as at 16 kilometer intervals. Newman Keuls post-hoc analysis were applied when significant overall F ratios were obtained in order to identify specific differences. Results revealed no significant (p.:s;,0.05) differences between massage and placebo pre-event, post-event, or post-treatment values in any performance, metabolic, substrate, muscle and liver enzyme, or psychological variables investigated throughout the 4·d 161 kmd·1 event. Nor were significant (p <0.05) differences noted between massage and placebo for 16 kilometer intervals in power output (watts), VO2 , VCO2 , RER, lactate, glucose, RPE, or Feeling scale. Therefore, results indicate that post-event massage therapy does not enhance performance nor affect the physiological or psychological responses to arduous multistage ultraendurance cycling events.