JOURNAL WATCH Journal Watch

TENSEGRITY PRINCIPLE IN MASSAGE DEMONSTRATED BY ELECTRO- AND MECHANOMYOGRAPHY. Kassolik K, Jaskolska A, Kisiel-Sajewicz K, et al. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies 2009;13:164–170

This study aimed to test an effect of massage

on electromyographic (EMG) and mechanomyographic (MMG) activities of a muscle lying distant, but indirectly connected to, the massaged muscle. To record the activity of the middle deltoid muscle the brachioradialis was massaged, and for the tensor fasciae latae the peroneal muscles were massaged. An EMG/MMG hybrid probe was used to detect EMG and MMG signals from the middle deltoid and tensor fasciae latae muscles in 33 healthy male subjects. Results: The EMG amplitude increased during massage in the tensor fasciae lata only, while the MMG amplitude increased significantly in both muscles. It was concluded that there was an electrical as well as a mechanical response of muscle connected indirectly by structural elements with the muscle being massaged, indicating an application for the tensegrity

principle in massage therapy.

sportEX comment Tensegrity is an architectural term that refers to structures with an integrity based on a synergy between balanced tension and compression components. Body workers such as Tom Myers apply it to the fascial network within the body and suggest that dysfunction in the forces applied to the structure may be responsible for many musculoskeletal problems because direct or indirect connections between fascia or muscles that stretch the aponeurosis or intermuscular septum may allow the transfer of tension over long distances. This is an important piece of work because it proves the theory. It also has a practical importance, because it provides a means for a therapist to influence adverse muscle tension by massaging another distant muscle.

MODERATE PRESSURE MASSAGE ELICITS A PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM RESPONSE. Diego MA, Field T. International Journal of Neuroscience 2009;119:630–638

Twenty healthy adults were randomly assigned to a moderate-pressure or a light-pressure massage therapy group, and electrocardiograms (ECG) were recorded during a 3-min baseline, during the 15-min massage period and during a 3-min

post-massage period. ECG data were used to derive the high-frequency (HF) and low-frequency (LF) components of heart rate variability and the low frequency/high frequency ratio (LF/HF) as non-invasive markers of autonomic nervous system activity. Results: Participants who received the moderate-pressure massage exhibited a parasympathetic nervous system response characterized by an increase in HF, suggesting increased vagal efferent activity and a decrease in LF/HF, suggesting a shift from sympathetic to parasympathetic activity that peaked during the first half of the massage period. Those who received the light-pressure massage exhibited a sympathetic nervous system response characterized by decreased HF and increased LF/HF.

sportEX comment There is lots of good massage research about at the moment, much of it coming from

the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami Medical Center. Taking aside the difficulties of estimating what is light, moderate or deep pressure, this one proves what sports massage practitioners have known for years: manipulation of variables such as depth and speed of massage strokes results in different effects in the tissue. You need some degree of pressure into the muscles to have an effect, and when, where and how you use massage is a clinical reasoning process involving objectives and outcomes with particular strokes chosen to achieve the desired effects.

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EFFECTS OF ABDOMINAL MASSAGE IN MANAGEMENT OF CONSTIPATION: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL. Lämås K, Lindholm L, Stenlund H, et al.

International Journal of Nursing Studies 2009;46:759–767

A sample of 60 people with constipation were randomised in two groups. The intervention group received abdominal massage in addition to an earlier prescribed laxative, while the control group received only laxatives according to earlier prescriptions. Results: Abdominal massage significantly decreased severity of gastrointestinal symptoms, constipation syndrome and abdominal pain syndrome. The intervention group also had significant increase of bowel movements compared with the control group.

sportEX comment Most massage schools teach

abdominal massage and state that it can be good to get things moving, but few massage therapists ever try it. Well, now you know: it works. We should add that massage did not lead to a decrease in laxative intake, a result that indicates that abdominal massage could be a complement to laxatives rather than a substitute.

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