Massage / hydrotherapy

[Guest guest]

The following studies may be of some interest to the group:

-------

Massage does not influence Muscle Soreness or Strength Recovery

Following a Half-Marathon

Tiidus, M. FACSM; Dawson, Kimberley A.; Dawson, Lance; Roefs,

Amy; Bombardier,

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise: Volume 36(5) Supplement May

2004 p S15-S16

Massage therapy is commonly used following endurance running races

with the expectation that it will enhance post-run recovery of muscle

function and reduce soreness. A limited number of studies have

reported little or no influence of massage therapy on post-exercise

muscle soreness and functional recovery following exercise performed

in laboratory settings. However, no studies have been conducted in a

field setting to assess the potential for massage to influence muscle

recovery following an actual endurance running race. PURPOSE: To

evaluate the potential for repeated massage therapy interventions to

influence recovery of quadriceps muscle soreness, recovery of

quadriceps muscle strength and reduction of upper leg muscle swelling

over a one week recovery period following an actual road running

race.

METHODS: Twelve adult recreational runners (8 male, 4 female)

completed a half marathon (21.1 km) road race. On days 1 and 4 post-

race, subjects received 30 min of standardized massage therapy

performed by a registered massage therapist on a randomly assigned

massage treatment leg, while the other (control leg) received no

massage treatment. Three days prior to the race and preceding the

treatments on each post-race treatment day as well as on day 7 post-

race, the following measures were conducted on each of the massage

and control leg: Concentric quadriceps muscle peak torques (60

degrees/sec) were determined using a CYBEX NORM dynamometer.

Subjective evaluation of quadriceps muscle soreness during active

movement was determined using a 7 point scale (0 = no soreness, 7 =

maximal soreness). Upper leg muscle swelling was estimated by

determining the leg circumference 15 cm above the knee. R

RESULTS: At day 1 post-race, quadriceps peak torque was significantly

reduced (p<0.05), and soreness and leg circumference significantly

elevated (p<0.05) relative to pre-race values, with no difference

between legs. Subsequently, on days 4 and 7 post-exercise(following

massage treatments on days 1 and 4) no significant differences

between massage and control leg were noted in any of these measures.

All measures had returned to pre-race levels by day 7.

CONCLUSIONS: Repeated massage therapy did not influence the recovery

of quadriceps muscle peak torque, reduction of muscle soreness or

recovery of upper leg swelling in legs of runners up to 7 days

following the completion of a half-marathon race.

-------------

Testing the Water: Are the Effects of Hydrotherapy During High-

Intensity Training More Psychological Than Physiological?

Stacey, Doug L.; Ginis, Kathleen A. ; Poling, ; Gibala,

J.

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise: Volume 36(5) Supplement May

2004 p S14

Hydrotherapy (HYDRO), or the alternating use of hot and cold tubs

(contrast baths), is frequently used by athletes in an attempt to

speed recovery from intense exercise. HYDRO is purported to induce

vascular pumping of peripheral blood vessels, promote the flow of

nutrients to exercised muscles and accelerate the removal of waste

products. Despite its popularity, few data are available to validate

the proposed benefits of this intervention.

PURPOSE: We examined the effect of HYDRO during recovery from daily

high-intensity interval training (HIT) on physical performance and

related psychological variables. METHODS: Twelve active men (25-35

yrs; VO2peak = 46¡¾3 ml¡¤kg-1¡¤min-1) performed 5 consecutive days of

HIT (4-6 bouts ¡¿ 30 sec 'all out' Wingate Tests, with 4-min

recovery). Following each HIT session, subjects either rested for 20

min (Control; CON, n = 6) or completed a HYDRO protocol (n = 6) of

equivalent duration that consisted of alternating cold (10¡ÆC) and hot

(40¡ÆC) tubs using a 4 ¡¿ 2:3 min ratio. Peak (Wmax) and mean (Wmean)

power during a 30-s Wingate test, VO2peak and time to complete a 250

kJ Time Trial (TT) were assessed before and 2-3 day following HIT. A

profile of Mood States (POMS) and questionnaires designed to assess

exercise preparedness were also completed daily.

RESULTS: Wmax increased by ¡­9% after SIT (main effect, P<0.05), but

there was no difference between groups (HYDRO: Post: 1310¡¾110 vs Pre:

1215¡¾211; CON: Post: 1343¡¾132 vs Pre: 1220¡¾181 W, means¡¾SD). TT

performance also improved after HIT (main effect, P<0.05) with no

difference between groups (HYDRO: Post: 15.8¡¾1.5 vs Pre: 16.7¡¾1.7; C

ON: Post: 18.1¡¾ vs Pre: 18.8¡¾3.0 min). Wmean and VO2peak were

unchanged after HIT. There were no differences in POMS subscale

scores, however the HYDRO group reported feeling more revitalized

after each treatment session and greater preparedness for subsequent

exercise (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: 5 d of HIT (¡­15 min total exercise

time) increased peak anaerobic power and decreased the time required

to complete a defined bout of work. HYDRO created the perception that

subjects were better prepared for exercise, but did not further

enhance performance.

--------------

Carruthers

Wakefield, UK