title: Effects of massage on alpha motoneuron excitability.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the specificity of the effects of massage (petrissage) on spinal motoneuron excitability as measured by changes in the peak-to-peak amplitude of H-reflex recordings. H-reflexes (and M-responses) were recorded from the distal aspects of the right triceps surae muscle of 8 men and 8 women, aged 20 to 37 years, with no neuromuscular impairments of the lower extremities. The H-reflexes were recorded during five control and four experimental conditions (20 trials at each condition). The control conditions (C1-C5) preceded and followed each experimental condition, providing a measure of the stability of the H-reflex. Each experimental condition consisted of a 4-minute period of massage of the ipsilateral and contralateral triceps surae and hamstring muscle groups (ITS, CTS, IHS, and CHS, respectively). The mean peak-to-peak amplitude of the H-reflex was found to be stable (range = 1.91-1.95 mV) across the five control conditions. H-reflex amplitudes recorded during the experimental conditions indicate that massage of the ITS resulted in a reduction of the H-reflex (0.83 mV) in comparison with the pretest control condition (C1) and the remaining experimental conditions (range = 1.77-2.23 mV). This difference was significant, and subsequent Newman-Keuls tests indicated a specificity of the effects of massage on the muscle group being massaged. [Sullivan SJ, Williams LRT, Seaborne DE, Morelli M. Effects of massage on alpha motoneuron excitability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, Concordia University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Seaborne
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006181:H-Reflex / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009132:Muscles / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology; D012727:Sex Characteristics