Acupuncture treatment for infertility, headaches, back pain and more: Japanese Acupuncture Clinic in Toronto
 
   SITE MAP | HOME

Acupuncture Research


The effect of massage on localized lumbar muscle fatigue
Tim Hideaki Tanaka1, 3 , Gerry Leisman2 , Hidetoshi Mori3 and Kazushi Nishijo3
The Pacific Wellness Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, USA
3Tsukuba College of Technology, Ibaragi, Japan

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2002 2:9

Abstract

Background

There is not enough evidence to support the efficacy of massage for muscle fatigue despite wide utilization of the modality in various clinical settings. This study investigated the influence of massage application on localized back muscle fatigue.

Methods

Twenty-nine healthy subjects participated in two experimental sessions (massage and rest conditions). On each test day, subjects were asked to lie in the prone position on a treatment table and perform sustained back extension for 90 seconds. Subjects then either received massage on the lumbar region or rested for a 5 minute duration, then repeated the back extension movement. The median frequency (MDF), mean power frequency (MNF), and root mean square (RMS) amplitude of electromyographic signals during the 90 second sustained lumbar muscle contraction were analyzed. The subjective feeling of fatigue was then evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).

Results

MDF and MNF significantly declined with time under all conditions. There was no significant difference in MDF, MNF or RMS value change between before and after massage, or between rest and massage conditions. There was a significant increase in fatigue VAS at the end of the 2nd back extension with rest condition. There was a significant difference in fatigue VAS change between massage and rest condition.

Conclusions

A significant difference was observed between massage and rest condition on VAS for muscle fatigue. On EMG analysis, there were no significant differences to conclude that massage stimulation influenced the myoelectrical muscle fatigue, which is associated with metabolic and electrical changes.

The electronic version of this article, in its entirely with all diagrams and figures, can be found online at: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/2/9

For more information or to speak with the author, Dr. Tim Tanaka, contact him at the Pacific Wellness Institute in Toronto.

 




INFERTILITY
A case after three IUI failures. Natural infertility treatment using acupuncture.

BACK PAIN/SCIATICA
Successful recovery from sciatica due to disk herniation.



Contrary to popular belief, acupuncture provides more than pain relief. It is helpful in treating anxiety, insomnia, digestive problems, abdominal, menstrual cramps, skin conditions, infertility, weight control… [MORE]



HOW TO CHOOSE AN ACUPUNCTURIST


Acupuncture Styles: difference between Chinese, Japanese, and Electroacupuncture