Referat zur Arbeit von Dawson KA, Dawson L, Thomas A, Tiidus PM. Effectiveness of regular proactive massage therapy for novice recreational runners. Physical Therapy in Sport 2011; 12: 182–187

The aim of this study was to investigate whether a single massage of the hamstring muscles would alter selected electromyographic characteristics of biceps femoris during a sub-maximal isometric contraction. Eleven healthy young males participated in this crossover study. They were randomly assigned to two groups, receiving either a 15-minute hamstring muscle massage or a 15-minute prone rest. One week later they returned to receive the alternate intervention. Immediately pre- and post-intervention, participants were instructed to contract their muscles just sufficiently to maintain right knee flexion (5 degrees from full extension) for 30 seconds. Simultaneous to this contraction, surface electromyography (EMG) was used to record the electrical activity of right biceps femoris. Electromyograrns were analyzed by calculating the averaged/integrated EMG (aEMG) and median frequency (MF) for each of 14 one-second windows, sampled every two seconds throughout the 30-second contractions per participant. Mean values of aEMG and MF were calculated per participant (aEMG(mean) and MFmean), pre- and post-massage or rest intervention. Group means (n = 11) of aEMG(mean) and MFmean, were then calculated and compared using a repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) procedure (p < 0.05). Rates of change of aEMG and MF throughout each 30-second contraction were represented by their respective gradients as functions of time. These gradients were similarly compared pre-to post-intervention using repeated measures ANOVA (p < 0.05). For the young healthy males considered in this study, a single massage of the hamstring muscles had no statistically significant effects on selected electromyographic characteristics of biceps femoris during sub-maximal isometric contractions (p > 0.05).

Objective: To investigate if a single massage of the hamstring muscle group would alter the performance of the sit and reach test.Methods: Before treatment, each of 11 male subjects performed the sit and reach test. The treatment consisted of either massage of the hamstring muscle group ( both legs, total time about 15 minutes) or supine rest with no massage. Performance of the sit and reach test was repeated after treatment. Each subject returned the subsequent week to perform the tests again, receiving the alternative treatment relative to their initial visit. Mean percentage changes in sit and reach scores after treatment were calculated for the massage and no massage treatments, and analysed using Student's t tests.Results: Mean (SD) percentage changes in sit and reach scores after massage and no massage were small (6.0 (4.3)% and 4.6 (4.8)% respectively) and not significantly different for subjects with relatively high ( 15 cm and above) values before treatment. Mean percentage changes in sit and reach scores for subjects with relatively low values before treatment ( below 15 cm) were large (18.2 (8.2)% and 15.5 (16.2)% respectively), but no significant differences were found between the massage and no massage groups.Conclusions: A single massage of the hamstring muscle group was not associated with any significant increase in sit and reach performance immediately after treatment in physically active young men.