The Effect of Deep Friction Massage on the Achilles Tendon Blood Flow (Friction)

Background: There is a hypothesis in literature that the mechanical action of deep transverse friction massage (DTF) produces vasodilatation and increases blood flow. But as yet, no experimental study has confirmed the effect of DTF on blood flow in the Achilles tendon. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether one session of DTF can influence the Achilles tendon blood flow.

Design: a randomized pre- posttest trial was set up. Patients: Sixty-two healthy participants volunteered. Each person underwent the following four steps of the procedure: 1. Measuring the tendon blood flow (PRE), 2.fifteen minutes of DTF on the Achilles tendon, 3. Measuring of the tendon blood flow (POST), 4.follow - up measurement after 20 minutes of rest (POST20).

Intervention: one leg of each person was randomly assigned to deep transverse friction session, the other leg was used as a control leg. Friction was applied continuously for a total of 15 minutes. Measurements: the microcirculation was determined at 2 and 8 tissue depths at the distal and the proximal midportion of the Achilles tendon. For each level, the capillary blood flow, the tissue oxygen saturation, and the postcapillary venous filling pressure was registered.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healthy Situation
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: deep transverse friction massage

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 62
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Belgium
  • Ghent, Belgium, 9000
    • Ghent University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 60 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Exclusion Criteria:

• a history of lower leg injury
• systematic disease
• persons using drugs
• subjects with circulatory disorders or cardiovascular diseases

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: Deep transverse friction massage; Massage technique will be used.

Other: deep transverse friction massage; For the application of the deep transverse friction massage, the participants were positioned supine with the ankle in 90 ° of dorsiflexion, in order to bring some tension on the tendon. The treating clinician stabilized the subject's foot with one hand while applying the DTF with the other hand. The deep friction massage is a pinching technique with thumb and index finger, reinforced by the middle finger.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Blood flow of the Achilles tendon	Blood flow of the Achilles tendon will be measured with the oxygen-to-see.	after 15 minutes of friction
Blood flow of the Achilles tendon	Blood flow of the Achilles tendon will be measured with the oxygen-to-see.	After 20 minutes of rest.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Ghent
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Erik Witvrouw, MD, PhD, University Ghent

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: November 1, 2010
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 1, 2011
• Study Completion (Actual): July 1, 2011

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 12, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 17, 2011
• First Posted (Estimate): October 18, 2011

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): November 8, 2011
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 7, 2011
• Last Verified: November 1, 2011

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 2010/460