title: Effects of roller massager on muscle recovery after exercise-induced muscle damage.
abstract: Two experiments (n = 10) were conducted to determine the effects of roller massager (RM) on ankle plantar flexor muscle recovery after exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). Experiment 1 examined both functional [i.e., ankle plantar flexion maximal isometric contraction and submaximal (30%) sustained force; ankle dorsiflexion maximal range of motion and resistance to stretch; and medial gastrocnemius pain pressure threshold] and morphological [cross-sectional area, thickness, fascicle length, and fascicle angle] variables, before and immediately, 1, 24, 48, and 72 h after an EIMD stimulus. Experiment 2 examined medial gastrocnemius deoxyhaemoglobin concentration kinetics before and 48 h after EIMD. Participants performed both experiments twice: with (RM) and without (no-roller massager; NRM) the application of a RM (6 × 45 s; 20-s rest between sets). RM intervention did not alter the functional impairment after EIMD, as well as the medial gastrocnemius morphology and oxygenation kinetics (P > 0.05). Although, an acute increase of ipsilateral (RM = + 19%, NRM = -5%, P = 0.032) and a strong tendency for contralateral (P = 0.095) medial gastrocnemius pain pressure threshold were observed. The present results suggest that a RM has no effect on plantar flexors performance, morphology, and oxygenation recovery after EIMD, except for muscle pain pressure threshold (i.e., a soreness).
authors.affiliation: a CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana , Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada da Costa , Cruz Quebrada , Dafundo , Portugal.
authors.forename: Nuno
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Casanova
authors.affiliation: a CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana , Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada da Costa , Cruz Quebrada , Dafundo , Portugal.|b Escola de Turismo, Desporto e Hospitalidade , Universidade Europeia , Lisboa , Portugal.
authors.forename: Joana F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.affiliation: a CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana , Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada da Costa , Cruz Quebrada , Dafundo , Portugal.|b Escola de Turismo, Desporto e Hospitalidade , Universidade Europeia , Lisboa , Portugal.|d Sport Lisboa e Benfica , Benfica LAB , Lisboa , Portugal.
authors.forename: João R
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9691-5456
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Vaz
authors.affiliation: a CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana , Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada da Costa , Cruz Quebrada , Dafundo , Portugal.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: d Sport Lisboa e Benfica , Benfica LAB , Lisboa , Portugal.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mendes
authors.affiliation: c Memorial University , School of Human Kinetics and Recreation , St. John's , NL , Canada.
authors.forename: Duane C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Button
authors.affiliation: a CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana , Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada da Costa , Cruz Quebrada , Dafundo , Portugal.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6154-5563
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pezarat-Correia
authors.affiliation: a CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana , Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada da Costa , Cruz Quebrada , Dafundo , Portugal.|d Sport Lisboa e Benfica , Benfica LAB , Lisboa , Portugal.
authors.forename: Sandro R
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9760-5350
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Freitas
mesh_terms: D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D063806:Myalgia / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Delayed onset muscle soreness increase; muscle morphology; muscle oxygenation; pain pressure threshold; performance