Effects of mechanical-bed massage on exercise-induced back fatigue in athletes.
Houyong Zhong, Wichai Eungpinichpong, Xingze Wang and 3 others
PMID 29581653WHAT IT FOUND
In 12 athletes, mechanical-bed massage lowered perceived back fatigue compared with rest.
Back muscle endurance did not differ, and some heart-rate measures changed immediately.
Key findings
01Perceived back fatigue was lower in the massage group than in the rest group immediately after intervention and 24 hours later, with p values of 0.01 and 0.005.
02Back muscle endurance did not differ between the massage and rest groups immediately after intervention or 24 hours later.
03Immediately after intervention, heart-rate variability frequency measures differed: high frequency was higher, and low frequency and the low-to-high ratio were lower, in the massage group.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
Only 12 male college student-athletes, aged 17 to 22 years, were studied, so the results may not apply to women, older adults, or patients with back problems. The study used a single 20-minute mechanical-bed massage session, so it does not show what repeated or longer use would do. Baseline back muscle endurance differed between groups, which the authors say may have affected results. The paper does not state a primary outcome, so the positive perceived fatigue and heart-rate variability findings are not clearly the main planned result. The fatigue was induced by prone reverse sit-ups in a laboratory, not by normal sport or by clinical back pain.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that mechanical-bed massage improves objective recovery from back fatigue. The objective back endurance measure did not differ between groups, and the positive findings were subjective perceived fatigue and immediate heart-rate variability changes in 12 healthy male athletes.