Acute Effects of Percussive Massage Therapy on Thoracolumbar Fascia Thickness and Ultrasound Echo Intensity in Healthy Male Individuals: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Chao Yang, Xingyu Huang, Ying Li, Wiraphong Sucharit, Patpiya Sirasaporn, Wichai Eungpinichpong, Chao Yang, Xingyu Huang, Ying Li, Wiraphong Sucharit, Patpiya Sirasaporn, Wichai Eungpinichpong

Abstract

Percussive massage therapy (PT) has been widely used by therapists and the fitness population to treat myofascial-related conditions. However, there is no evidence to confirm the effects of PT on the fascia. This study aimed to investigate the effects of PT on thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) morphology and other related outcomes.

Methods: Sixty-six healthy males participated and were randomly allocated into a percussive massage group (PT group) and a control group. The PT group received 15 min of back percussion massage, while the control group rested prone lying in the same environment for 15 min. Thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) thickness and echo intensity, perceived stiffness, lumbar flexibility, and skin temperature were measured in both groups before and immediately after the intervention.

Result: TLF thickness and lumbar flexibility did not change when compared in the two groups. However, the echo intensity (left side, difference -3.36, 95% CI -5.1 to -1.6; right side, difference -4.39, 95% CI -6.1 to -2.7) and perceived stiffness (difference, -1.18, 95% CI -1.84 to -0.52) in the TLF region were significantly lower in the PT group than in the control group and were accompanied by increased skin temperature (difference 0.29, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.48).

Conclusion: We suggest that a 15 min PT with 30 Hz on the back region could reduce TLF echo intensity and perceived stiffness and increase skin temperature in healthy men individual.

Keywords: back; fascia; massage; percussion; ultrasound.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Percussive massage therapy diagram.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Example of a parasagittal ultrasound image.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Thoracolumbar fascia thickness and echo intensity measurement process. (A). Use ImageJ to draw the boundaries of the TLF. (B). CSA of TLF histogram displayed. (C). Hyperbolic diagram of the TLF of CSA obtained after texture extraction by AI imaging software (version 1, Yongzhou, China).
Figure 4
Figure 4
The CONSORT flow chart shows the acute percussive massage trial participant pathway. Intervention group = PT group.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Results of inter-group and intra-group comparisons of other outcomes. Abbreviations: PT: percussive massage therapy; Control: control group; Pre: before the intervention; Post: after the intervention. * represents p < 0.05, ** represents p < 0.01, *** represents p < 0.001, ns represents no significant differences.

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