Original ResearchThe Immediate Effects of Manual Massage of Forearm on Power-Grip Strength and Endurance in Healthy Young Men
Introduction
In many activities and sports, hand grip is important. Also, many jobs are greatly dependent on grip strength. Grip performance is necessary in activities such as carrying a suitcase, turning a doorknob, and many other tasks. Grip performance is also important in sports like tennis, basketball, and mountain climbing. In addition, researches in the field of rehabilitation, sports, and ergonomics often use hand grip evaluation.
Regarding the massage, it should be mentioned that, for thousands of years, massage has been in use; however, more recently, it has been used in rehabilitation.1 Some literatures support a positive trend for massage to benefit athletic recovery and performance.2 It has been reported that massage improved grip strength in the carpal tunnel syndrome.3The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome were also relieved by massage.4 Another study showed that petrissage improved cycle ergometer pedaling performance.5 Equally, several studies reported that massage decreased delay muscle soreness after vigorous exercise. Muscle soreness can negatively interfere with the activities of daily living as well as sports performance.6, 7, 8 It has also been reported that the use of massage in women collegiate athletes decreased soreness and improved vertical jump.9 Massage has been shown to be helpful in reducing pain and joint stiffness and improving function in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee over a period of 8 weeks.10 In addition, a pain reduction in hand arthritis following massage was noticed.11, 12 Also, beneficial effects of massage to soothe anxiety13 and boost immunity14 have been reported. It is generally accepted that massage can provide benefits to the body such as reducing muscle pain; a 2011 study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that massage therapy is as effective as other methods of treatment for chronic back pain.15
Although in studies about the effect of massage on performance outcome variables such as grip performance,16 sit and reach test,17 lactate removal,18 blood flow,19 and electromyography20, 21 are usually investigated, the effect of massage on grip performance was examined in the present study. Besides the importance of grip in activities of daily living, jobs, and sports, some authors believe that grip may reflect the patient’s general health and physical activity.22 In some studies, impaired grip strength was considered as an indicator of increased postoperative complications, decreased physical status, and upper extremity trauma outcomes.22, 23Grip strength is a general term used to describe the amount of power a person can generate with his or her hands.24 However, in most activities, repeated or sustained grip is used rather than a single short grip. Most activities require repeated forceful dynamic grasping or prolonged static holding rather than exerting maximum force during a single repetition. This sustained muscle contraction is referred to as endurance. Muscular endurance is the ability of a muscle or group of muscles to sustain an isometric contraction or continue repeated contractions against a resistance for an extended period of time.25Massage is the manipulation of the superficial and deeper layers of the muscle and connective tissue using various techniques to enhance function, decrease muscle reflex activity, aid in the healing process, and inhibit motor-neuron excitability.26 Although it is generally accepted that massage can provide benefits to the body, other studies have reported that massage has no positive effect on performance.27, 28, 29, 30 Therefore, more studies are needed to clarify the effects of massage on performance.31 The objective of this study was to determine if 1 session of hand and forearm massage could improve hand grip strength and endurance in healthy young men.
Section snippets
Subjects
After a public announcement through posters on campus, healthy young men from a university population entered the study. In the present study based on history and individual’s self-assessment, the participant was considered as healthy or unhealthy. The following items were considered as inclusion and exclusion criteria: healthy male subjects (age, 18-25 years; body mass index [BMI], 22-25 kg/m2) with no history of upper extremity injury, trauma, or dysfunction for the past year. None of the
Results
Forty-four healthy young men who met the study inclusion criteria participated in the study. According to the inclusion criteria, all the participants had a BMI score between 22 and 25 kg/m2. The comparison indicated that there were no differences between the 2 groups for BMI, height, and weight. Also, statistical analysis revealed no significant differences for hand grip strength and hand grip endurance between the 2 groups before intervention. A pre and post comparison of the endurance
Discussion
This study investigated the immediate effects of forearm and hand massage on grip strength and endurance. To determine their maximum voluntary contractions, 44 healthy male subjects in 2 groups (n = 22) squeezed a hydraulic dynamometer with maximum effort. Then their maximum voluntary contraction, grip strength, and grip endurance were measured before and immediately after the intervention (massage or passive movement). After the massage, participants in the massage group showed a statistically
Conclusion
The present study showed that application of 1 massage session immediately improved hand grip endurance in healthy young men and improved hand grip strength.
Funding Sources and Conflicts Of Interest
No funding sources or conflicts of interest were reported for this study.
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