title: Pain pressure threshold of a muscle tender spot increases following local and non-local rolling massage.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the present study was to determine the acute effect of rolling massage on pressure pain threshold (PPT) in individuals with tender spots in their plantar flexor muscles.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a randomized control trial and single blinded study, tender spots were identified in 150 participants' plantar flexor muscles (gastrocnemius or soleus). Then participants were randomly assigned to one of five intervention groups (n = 30): 1) heavy rolling massage on the calf that exhibited the higher tenderness (Ipsi-R), 2) heavy rolling massage on the contralateral calf (Contra-R), 3) light stroking of the skin with roller massager on the calf that exhibited the higher tenderness (Sham), 4) manual massage on the calf that exhibited the higher tenderness (Ipsi-M) and 5) no intervention (Control). PPT was measured at 30 s and up to 15 min post-intervention via a pressure algometer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 30 s post-intervention, the Ipsi-R (24 %) and Contra-R (21 %) demonstrated higher (p < 0.03) PPT values compared with Control and Sham. During 15 min post-intervention, PPT was higher (p < 0.05) following Ipsi-R (19.2 %), Contra-R (15.9 %) and Ipsi-M (10.9 %) compared with Control. There was no difference between the effects of three deep tissue massages (Ipsi-R, Ipsi-M and Contra-R) on PPT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Whereas the increased PPT following ipsilateral massage (Ipsi-R and Ipsi-M) might be attributed to the release of fibrous adhesions; the non-localized effect of rolling massage on the contralateral limb suggests that other mechanisms such as a central pain-modulatory system play a role in mediation of perceived pain following brief tissue massage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, rolling massage over a tender spot reduces pain perception.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT02528812 ), August 19(th), 2015.
authors.affiliation: School of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 230 Elizabeth Avenue, St. John's, Newfoundland, A1C 5S7, Canada. Jaboodarda@mun.ca.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Aboodarda
authors.affiliation: School of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 230 Elizabeth Avenue, St. John's, Newfoundland, A1C 5S7, Canada. aspence@mun.ca.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Spence
authors.affiliation: School of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 230 Elizabeth Avenue, St. John's, Newfoundland, A1C 5S7, Canada. dbutton@mun.ca.|Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. dbutton@mun.ca.
authors.forename: Duane C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Button
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage / Q000379:methods*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal; D017288:Pain Threshold; D055815:Young Adult