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Research: BARLOW and colleagues,
Listed in Issue 153
Abstract
BARLOW and colleagues, School of Applied Sciences, University of Glamorgan, Wales, UK, have carried out a study of muscle function after massage.
Background
The aim of this study was to investigate whether a single massage of the hamstring muscles would alter the electromyographic characteristics of one of them, the biceps femoris muscle, during a sub-maximal isometric contraction.
Methodology
11 healthy young males participated in this crossover study. They were randomly assigned to two groups, receiving either a 15-minute hamstring muscle massage or a 15-minute prone rest. One week later they returned to receive the alternate intervention. Immediately pre- and post-intervention, participants were instructed to contract their muscles just sufficiently to maintain right knee flexion (5 degrees from full extension) for 30 seconds. Simultaneous to this contraction, surface electromyography (EMG) was used to record the electrical activity of right biceps femoris. Electromyograms were analyzed by calculating the averaged/integrated EMG and median frequency for each of 14 one-second windows, sampled every two seconds throughout the 30-second contractions per participant.
Results
For the young healthy males considered in this study, a single massage of the hamstring muscles had no statistically significant effects on selected electromyographic characteristics of biceps femoris during sub-maximal isometric contractions (p > 0.05).
Conclusion
References
Barlow A et al. Effect of massage of the hamstring muscles on selected electromyographic characteristics of biceps femoris during sub-maximal isometric contraction. International Journal of Sports Medicine 28 (3): 253-256, Mar 2007.
