Effects of Percussive Massage Treatments on Symptoms Associated with Eccentric Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage

Abstract

Percussive massage (PM) is an emerging recovery treatment despite the lack of research on its effects post-eccentric exercise (post-EE). This study investigated the effects of PM treatments (immediately, 24, 48, and 72 h post-EE) on the maximal isometric torque (MIT), range of motion (ROM), and an 11-point numerical rating scale (NRS) of soreness of the nondominant arm's biceps brachii from 24-72 h post-EE. Seventeen untrained, college-aged subjects performed 60 eccentric elbow flexion actions with their nondominant arms. Nine received 1 minute of PM, versus eight who rested quietly (control [CON]). In order, NRS, ROM, and MIT (relative to body mass) were collected pre-eccentric exercise (pre-EE) and after treatment (AT) at 24, 48, and 72 h post-EE. NRS was also collected before treatment (BT). Electromyographic (EMG) and mechanomyographic (MMG) amplitudes were collected during the MIT and normalized to pre-EE. There were no interactions for MIT, EMG, or MMG, but there were interactions for ROM and NRS. For ROM, the PM group had higher values than the CON 24-72 h by ~6-8°, a faster return to pre-EE (PM: 48 h, CON: 72 h), and exceeded their pre-EE at 72 h by ~4°. The groups' NRS values did not differ BT 24-72 h; however, the PM group lowered their NRS from BT to AT within every visit by ~1 point per visit, which resulted in them having lower values than the CON from 24-72 h by ~2-3 points. Additionally, the PM group returned their NRS to pre-EE faster than the CON (PM: BT 72 h, CON: never). In conclusion, PM treatments may improve ROM without affecting isometric strength or muscle activation 24-72 h post-EE. Although the PM treatments did not enhance the recovery from delayed onset muscle soreness until 72 h, they consistently provided immediate, temporary relief when used 24-72 h post-EE.

Keywords: Percussion; delayed onset muscle soreness; massage gun; muscular strength; recovery; vibration.

Figure 1.

Research design (between-subjects with repeated measures). The bullet points within each box represent the sequence of procedures for that visit. Abbreviations: MIT: maximal isometric torque, NRS: numerical rating scale, Post-EE: post-eccentric exercise, PM: percussive massage, RM: repetition maximum, ROM: range of motion. *Electromyographic and mechanomyographic amplitudes were collected during the MIT.

Figure 2.

Mean ± SD changes in the degrees (°) of range of motion from the percussive massage (PM) and control (CON) group during pre-eccentric exercise (pre-EE) and 24, 48, and 72 h post-eccentric exercise (post-EE). p < 0.001: significant interaction. *p < 0.05 vs. CON; †p < 0.05 vs. pre-EE

Figure 3.

Mean ± SD changes in the numerical rating scale (NRS) of soreness from the percussive massage (PM) and control (CON) group during pre-eccentric exercise (pre-EE) and 24, 48, and 72 h post-eccentric exercise. On the post-eccentric exercise visits, values were collected before treatment (BT) and after treatment (AT). p < 0.05: significant interaction. *p < 0.05 vs. CON; †p < 0.05 vs. pre-EE; ‡p < 0.05 vs. BT (same day visit)