title: Effects of friction massage of the popliteal fossa on blood flow velocity of the popliteal vein.
abstract: [Purpose] Friction massage (friction) of the popliteal fossa is provided for the purpose of relieving pain related to circulatory disorders by improving venous flow in the lower legs. The purpose of this study is to verify the effects of enhancing the venous flow based on measuring the blood flow velocity of the popliteal vein before and after providing friction to the patients. [Subjects and Methods] Fifteen healthy male university students participated in the study. The Doppler ultrasonography (DU) was used to measure the blood flow velocity of the popliteal vein, in order to verify the effects of enhancing the venous flow by comparing the measured values before and after a friction massage. [Results] The result of comparing the blood flow velocity before and after providing friction showed that there was a significant increase after friction. [Conclusion] This study proved that friction to the popliteal fossa is effectively enhances venous flow by increasing the blood flow velocity in the popliteal vein.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Japan.
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iwamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Japan.
authors.forename: Masafumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mizukami
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasutsugu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Asakawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Japan.
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Human Science, Hokkaido Bunkyo University, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takata
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.affiliation: Senri Rehabilitation Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaharu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshio
keywords: Blood flow velocity; Doppler sonography; Friction massage