Six weeks of massage therapy produces changes in balance, neurological and cardiovascular measures in older persons

A community-based survey on massage therapy in Saudi Arabia

Massage therapy (MT) is the physical manipulation of the soft tissues. It primarily consists of manual or hands-on techniques such as applying fixed or movable pressure, holding, and moving muscles and body tissues. MT is beneficial for pain relief, sport-related injury rehabilitation, stress reduction, and to address psychological disorders. MT is the most prevalent form of complementary and alternative (CAM) therapy worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions regarding MT among the Saudi community. A cross-sectional online survey using WhatsApp©, Google Forms©, Facebook©, and Twitter© was conducted among the general community of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions regarding MT. Data was collected using a 20-item, self-administered questionnaire consisting of a series of both closed-ended and Likert-type questions. A total of 436 respondents completed the survey. Most of the respondents were female 84.2% (n = 367). Approximately 65% resided in the central region of KSA. The majority of the respondents, 81.4%, believed that MT is effective, 27.7% thought that MT leads to complications, and more than half of the residents, 55.7%, believed that patients should consult with their physicians prior to MT. The most common reasons for MT were to treat muscle pain, for relaxation purposes, to treat bone and joint pain, and backache relief, which were reported by 49%, 20%, 19%, and 16% of the participants, respectively. The knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of the Saudi population towards MT are insufficient in some aspects. The establishment of community-based health education programs to improve knowledge of MT is recommended.

Effect of Hand and Foot Massage Therapy on Psychological Factors and EEG Activity in Elderly People Requiring Long-Term Care: A Randomized Cross-Over Study

Massage therapy is widely used as a complementary therapy in the elderly. Here, we investigate the effect of hand and foot massage therapy on psychological factors and electroencephalographic (EEG) activity in elderly people requiring long-term care. We included 12 elderly people requiring long-term care, who were randomly divided into two groups (A and B). Group A received hand massage and group B received foot massage, both for 15 min each. After 1 week, group A received foot massage and group B received hand massage, both for 15 min each. We assessed emotions and mood states with a Likert scale after each massage and resting-state EEG activity was measured before and after each massage. Our results showed that both hand and foot massage led to a high degree of pleasant, relaxed, and refreshed feelings. Moreover, resting-state alpha activity significantly increased in the left insular cortex after hand massage (p < 0.05), and in the right and left posterior cingulate cortex after foot massage (p < 0.05). This study suggests that hand and foot massage therapy modulate psychological factors and EEG activity in elderly people requiring long-term care.

Roller massager improves range of motion of plantar flexor muscles without subsequent decreases in force parameters

BACKGROUND

Limited dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM) has been linked to lower limb injuries. Improving limited ankle ROM may decrease injury rates. Static stretching (SS) is ubiquitously used to improve ROM but can lead to decreases in force and power if performed prior to the activity. Thus, alternatives to improve ROM without performance decrements are needed.

OBJECTIVES/PURPOSE

To compare the effects of SS and self massage (SM) with a roller massage of the calf muscles on ankle ROM, maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) force F100 (force produced in the first 100 ms of the MVC), electromyography (EMG of soleus and tibialis anterior) characteristics of the plantar flexors, and a single limb balance test.

METHODS

Fourteen recreationally trained subjects were tested on two separate occasions in a randomized cross-over design. After a warm up, subjects were assessed for passive dorsiflexion ROM, MVC, and a single-limb balance test with eyes closed. The same three measurements were repeated after 10 minutes (min) of rest and prior to the interventions. Following the pre-test, participants randomly performed either SS or SM for 3 sets of 30 seconds (s) with 10s of rest between each set. At one and 10 min post-interventions the participants repeated the three measurements, for a third and fourth cycle of testing.

RESULTS

Roller massage increased and SS decreased maximal force output during the post-test measurements, with a significant difference occurring between the two interventions at 10 min post-test (p < 0.05, ES = 1.23, 8.2% difference). Both roller massage (p < 0.05, ES = 0.26, ~4%) and SS (p < 0.05, ES = 0.27, ~5.2%) increased ROM immediately and 10 min after the interventions. No significant effects were found for balance or EMG measures.

CONCLUSIONS

Both interventions improved ankle ROM, but only the self-massage with a roller massager led to small improvements in MVC force relative to SS at 10 min post-intervention. These results highlight the effectiveness of a roller massager relative to SS. These results could affect the type of warm-up prior to activities that depend on high force and sufficient ankle ROM.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

2c.