Effect of massage on thigh muscle peak torque and jump height

Research shows that massage can have effect via biomechanical, physiological, neurological and psychological mechanisms. Physiological mechanism revealed the effect of massage on blood circulation and substances found in blood, neurological - on H-reflex, and psychological – on the changes in hart rate and blood pressure. Massage has been widely applied in practice as it supposedly increases athletes’ recovery rate, which determines better fitness for the upcoming competitions. However, previous research has produced ambiguous and incomplete evidence which makes it difficult to evaluate the effect of massage on athletic performance. Research aim: to establish the effect of massage on thigh muscle peak torque and jump height. Objectives: 1. To establish the effect of massage on the isometric, concentric and eccentric muscle torque of quadriceps muscle and hamstrings muscle at low, moderate and high angular velocities. 2. To establish the effect of massage on the height of jump and muscle electrical activity of vastus medialis, vastus lateralis and biceps femoris. Research methods: The research sample included 12 healthy, physically active male subjects aged from 21 to 33 years. The participants were randomly assigned to the control and research groups. After warm-up we registered the isometric, concentric and eccentric muscle torque of quadriceps muscle and hamstrings muscle at three angular velocities (60°/s, 180°/s, 360°/s) as well as muscle electrical activity (EMG) of vastus medialis, vastus lateralis and biceps femoris. After muscle function tests the subjects (control group) rested for 30 min and underwent massage (research group). Right after massage the same tests were repeated in the same order as before the massage. Results: Thigh muscle massage decreased concentric and eccentric muscle torque at a low angular velocity (60˚/s) (p0.05). Thigh muscle massage did not affect isometric torque (p>0.05), the height of jumps (p>0.05) and muscle electrical activity in the development of isometric and concentric muscle torque, but it decreased vastus lateralis muscle electrical activity in the development of eccentric muscle torque (p