Effects of friction massage of the popliteal fossa on blood flow velocity of the popliteal vein.
Koji Iwamoto, Masafumi Mizukami, Yasutsugu Asakawa and 4 others
PMID 28356643WHAT IT FOUND
Friction massage to the back of the knee increased popliteal vein blood flow velocity in 15 young healthy men.
This is a physiological finding in a small sample; it does not prove the massage treats edema, pain, or circulation disorders in patients.
Key findings
01Friction massage applied to the right popliteal fossa significantly increased blood flow velocity in the popliteal vein compared to before the intervention.
02The study measured immediate physiological changes in healthy volunteers, not clinical outcomes in patients with venous disorders.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study included only 15 young, healthy male students, so results may not apply to older adults, women, or people with existing circulatory or musculoskeletal conditions. The study measured a physiological change (blood flow velocity) in a laboratory setting, not a clinical outcome like pain reduction or edema resolution in patients. There was no control group or comparison to other massage techniques or rest. The authors note that autonomic nervous system functions were not investigated, limiting understanding of the mechanism.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this massage treats venous insufficiency, edema, or pain in patients. The study only showed a temporary increase in blood flow speed in healthy young men, not a therapeutic effect in a clinical population.