Acute Effects of Percussive Massage Therapy on Thoracolumbar Fascia Thickness and Ultrasound Echo Intensity in Healthy Male Individuals: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Chao Yang; Xingyu Huang; Ying Li; Wiraphong Sucharit; Patpiya Sirasaporn; Wichai Eungpinichpong

doi:10.3390/ijerph20021073

Acute Effects of Percussive Massage Therapy on Thoracolumbar Fascia Thickness and Ultrasound Echo Intensity in Healthy Male Individuals: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Jan 7;20(2):1073. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20021073.

Authors

Chao Yang^{1

2}, Xingyu Huang³, Ying Li⁴, Wiraphong Sucharit^{5

6}, Patpiya Sirasaporn⁷, Wichai Eungpinichpong^{5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Graduate School, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
² Research and Training Center for Enhancing Quality of Life of Working-Age People, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
³ Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education, Gan Nan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, China.
⁴ School of Rehabilitation Medicine, Gan Nan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, China.
⁵ School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
⁶ Research Center in Back, Neck, Other Joint Pain and Human Performance (BNOJPH), Division of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
⁷ Department of Rehabilitation Medicine Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.

Abstract

Percussive massage therapy (PT) has been widely used by therapists and the fitness population to treat myofascial-related conditions. However, there is no evidence to confirm the effects of PT on the fascia. This study aimed to investigate the effects of PT on thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) morphology and other related outcomes.

Methods: Sixty-six healthy males participated and were randomly allocated into a percussive massage group (PT group) and a control group. The PT group received 15 min of back percussion massage, while the control group rested prone lying in the same environment for 15 min. Thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) thickness and echo intensity, perceived stiffness, lumbar flexibility, and skin temperature were measured in both groups before and immediately after the intervention.

Result: TLF thickness and lumbar flexibility did not change when compared in the two groups. However, the echo intensity (left side, difference -3.36, 95% CI -5.1 to -1.6; right side, difference -4.39, 95% CI -6.1 to -2.7) and perceived stiffness (difference, -1.18, 95% CI -1.84 to -0.52) in the TLF region were significantly lower in the PT group than in the control group and were accompanied by increased skin temperature (difference 0.29, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.48).

Conclusion: We suggest that a 15 min PT with 30 Hz on the back region could reduce TLF echo intensity and perceived stiffness and increase skin temperature in healthy men individual.

Keywords: back; fascia; massage; percussion; ultrasound.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Exercise
Fascia* / anatomy & histology
Fascia* / diagnostic imaging
Humans
Lumbosacral Region* / diagnostic imaging
Male
Massage
Ultrasonography

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the Fundamental Fund of Khon Kaen University, and has received funding support from the National Science, Research and Innovation Fund (NSRF), project No. SD-65-015.