JOURNAL WATCH

A COMPARISON OF TWO MUSCLE ENERGY TECHNIQUES FOR INCREASING FLEXIBILITY OF THE HAMSTRING MUSCLE GROUP. Smith M, Fryer G. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies 2008;12(4):293-396

This study investigated two types of muscle energy technique (MET), which differ primarily in the duration of the post-contraction stretch phase. Forty asymptomatic participants (mean age, 22.1; males:females, 1:4) were allocated randomly to one of two groups (group 1: MET with 30-s post-isometric stretch phase; group 2: MET with 3-s post-isometric stretch phase). Hamstring length was measured using active knee extension (AKE). Participants received an initial application of the allocated intervention and then a second application one week later. Results: Both techniques appeared to be equally effective in increasing hamstring extensibility, and there appeared to be sustained improvement one week after the initial treatment. The findings suggest that altering the duration of the passive stretch component does not have a significant impact on the efficacy of MET for short-term increases in muscle extensibility.

sportEX comment

The literature on MET techniques shows considerable variation in terms of time of application and amount of force in the muscle contraction. It seems to depend on the author’s preference. This study seems to show that at least one of these variables makes very little difference to the overall effect, but importantly the technique does work and the results are sustained.

EFFECTS OF PETRISSAGE MASSAGE ON FATIGUE AND EXERCISE PERFORMANCE FOLLOWING INTENSIVE CYCLE PEDALLING. Ogai R, Yamane M, Matsumoto T, Kosaka M. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2008;42:534-538

Eleven healthy female students who were actively engaged in

sports were given exercise bouts of ergometer cycling at loads determined individually (0.075 kilopascals) body weight in kg) for five seconds, repeated eight times at intervals of 20 seconds. This was performed twice on an experimental day with 35 minutes of intermittent bed-rest. Each subject was investigated on two occasions with a minimum interval of one week, once without (control, CO) and once with 10 minutes petrissage (massage, MA) of the exercising lower leg during the bed-rest phase. Effects of exercise bouts on blood lactate, muscle stiffness and perceived lower-limb fatigue,

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and their recovery before and after the second exercise bout, were determined. Petrissage was applied as a massage technique between two fixed points for 10 minutes from the fifth to the fifteenth minute of the resting period by a skilled, experienced therapist. Massage for one minute of the quadriceps femoralis, tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius, hamstring and gluteus medius musculature alternated between the right and left legs. For each muscle, the treatment consisted of a sequence of 12 compressions within one minute, proceeding from distal to proximal. To ensure that

intensity of massage pressure remained above the pain threshold, the therapist intermittently

asked the subjects about sensations of pain and displeasure. Results: For the first exercise bouts, total power did not differ between MA and CO. Courses of blood lactate did not differ between MA and CO. However, recovery from measured muscle stiffness and perceived lower-limb fatigue were more pronounced, and total power during the second exercise bout was enhanced in the MA subjects compared with the CO subjects.

sportEX comment Massage research is becoming more robust in its methodology. Here, the routine is controlled and an attempt is made to monitor pressure, albeit not very scientifically. The results suggest that petrissage improved cycle ergometer pedalling performance independent of blood lactate, but in correlation with improved recovery from muscle stiffness and perceived lower-limb fatigue.

sportEX medicine 2009;39(Jan):4-6