Year of Award

2010

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Name

Health and Human Performance (Exercise Science Option)

Department or School/College

Department of Health and Human Performance

Committee Chair

Valerie Rich-Moody

Commitee Members

Brenda Mahlum, Charles Palmer

Keywords

massage, mood state, perceived performance, range of motion, sports performance

Abstract

Introduction: Sports massage is commonly used to treat pain, soreness, and stiffness related to sports injury and training, as well as for injury prevention. Believed to increase blood flow, decrease swelling, reduce muscle tension, and increase a sense of well-being, massage is a widely used manual therapy across the world. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a twenty-minute sports massage on mood state, range of motion, sports performance, and perceived performance. Methods: This repeated measures study consisted of passive recovery and massage recovery trials. Baseline testing included the Profile of Mood States questionnaire, range of motion measurements of hip flexion and extension, knee flexion and extension, and ankle plantarflexion and dorsiflexion, as well as sports performance testing of vertical jump, and perceived performance rating on a scale from 1 to 10. A five minute, 100 watt, bike warm-up was completed before a 130-foot contact plyometric workout before the randomly assigned intervention. Subjects then returned at 24 and 48 hours post intervention for repeat testing of mood state, range of motion, sport performance, and perceived performance. Analysis: Descriptive statistics were calculated using Excel. All data was analyzed in SPSS using repeated measures analysis of variance with Bonferroni adjustments when necessary. Results: No significant results were found for mood state, sport performance, or range of motion (p > .05). Perceived performance was found to be significantly higher at the 24-hour time point in the massage group when compared to the passive recovery group (p = .007). Conclusions: Perceived performance after a massage intervention significantly differed from the passive recovery group. Mood state, range of motion, and sport performance provide no support for the use of sports massage, however, the psychological benefits of the perceived performance may be beneficial enough to warrant the use of the manual therapy.

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© Copyright 2010 Rebecca Jane Guest