The Analysis of the Impact of 5-minute Massage Session on the Muscle Stiffness and Tone

The Analysis of the Impact of 5-minute Massage Session on the Muscle Stiffness and Tone: a Randomised Control Trial

The study design was a randomised, controlled, parallel, two-arm trial. The subjects were randomly assigned to one of the study groups: the intervention group or the control group. The passive mechanical properties, i.e. the stiffness and tone of the medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscle (dominant leg) were assessed. Measures were taken twice: in the intervention group before and after the 5-minute massage session, and in the control group at the beginning of the meeting and again after 5 minutes.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Musculoskeletal Disorder
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Massage session

Detailed Description

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a 5-minute massage, applied to healthy individuals, may change the passive mechanical muscle properties, which supposedly may prevent MSDs. The study is carried out on the medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscles because of their accessibility and crucial role in locomotion. MyotonPRO and TMG S2 devices were used to assess the stiffness and radial muscle displacement of the gastrocnemius muscle respectively.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 80
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Krzysztof Kassolik, PhD; Phone Number: +48 504 549 427; Email: p665569523@gmail.com
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Marcin Piwecki; Phone Number: +48 665 569 523; Email: p665569523@gmail.com

Study Locations

• Poland
  • Wrocław, Poland
    • Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• age between 19 and 24 years;
• healthy individuals, with no lower limb pathology;
• PA≥600 MET-min/week assessed by IPAQ questionnaire;
• no medical contraindication of massage therapy;
• body mass index 18,5 < BMI ≤ 25kg/m2
• signing the informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• pregnant women;
• individuals suffering from neurologic or orthopaedic problems;
• lower limb surgical interventions;
• cancers;
• musculoskeletal disorders
• body mass index 18,5 > BMI ≥ 25kg/m2
• the lack of informed consent.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Massage group; In the intervention group measures will be taken twice: before and after the 5-minute massage session.	Procedure: Massage session; Participants in the intervention group are provided with the 5-minute massage session in the medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscle (dominant leg).
No Intervention: Non-massage group; In the control group measures will be taken twice: at the beginning of the meeting and again after 5 minutes.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in maximal displacement of the medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscle	The maximal radial displacement is produced in the muscle belly after the electrical stimulation. Measuring device: TMG S2	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Changes in delay time of the medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscle	Delay time is the time in which the muscle displacement increases to 10% after the electrical stimulation. Measuring device: TMG S2	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Changes in contraction time of the medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscle	Contraction time is the time between 10% and 90% of the muscle displacement after the electrical stimulation. Measuring device: TMG S2	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Changes in sustain time of the medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscle	Sustain time is the time between 50% of maximum contraction to 50% of maximum relaxation of a muscle after the electrical stimulation. Measuring device: TMG S2	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Changes in relaxation time of the medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscle	Relaxation time is the time between 90% of maximum contraction and 50% of maximum relaxation of a muscle after the electrical stimulation. Measuring device: TMG S2	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Changes in oscillation frequency of the medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscle	The oscillation frequency characterizes the tension of muscle tissue. Measuring device: MyotonPRO	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Changes in dynamic stiffness of the medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscle	The dynamic stiffness corresponds to the soft tissues' capacity to resist external forces. Measuring device: MyotonPRO	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Changes in logarithmic decrement of the medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscle	Logarithmic decrement is the dissipation of the tissue oscillation. Measuring device: MyotonPRO	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Changes in mechanical stress relaxation time of the medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscle	Mechanical stress relaxation time is the time needed for the muscle to recover to its initial shape. Measuring device: MyotonPRO	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Changes in creep of the medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscle	Creep is the ratio of relaxation (R) and time between the beginning of the mechanical impulse and the time point of maximal displacement Measuring device: MyotonPRO	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences
• Collaborators: University School of Physical Education, Krakow, Poland
• Investigators: Study Chair: Krzysztof Kassolik, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 20, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 5, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): November 6, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 7, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 7, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): October 13, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 7, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 6, 2023
• Last Verified: November 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Muscle stiffness; Massage therapy; Muscle tone
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Musculoskeletal Diseases
• Other Study ID Numbers: WroclawUHSS

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No