Therapeutic Effects of Ultrasound and Swedish Massage on Post-exercise Muscle Soreness

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of ultrasound and Swedish massage treatment on Thai students of irrigation engineering, aged 18-21 years, who were experiencing muscle pain after exercise. They were tested by weighing 80 percent of 1 RM following 30 sets of exercise at 10 repetitions per set. The test subjects were divided into three groups; the first was treated as the control group, and they received sham ultrasound treatment. The second group was treated with ultrasound, and the last with a Swedish massage treatment. The results were measured by range of motion (ROM), levels of creatine kinase in their blood, pain scale, and tricep circumference. These measurements were taken before exercise, and after, at intervals of 1, 24, 48, and 72 hours. The treatment programs were conducted for four days. Data were then statistically analyzed by using means, standard deviation, one-way analysis of variance, one-way analysis of covariance, and multiple comparison testing by Tukey’s method at a 0.05 level of significance. The results showed that the effect of the three treatment methods (unadjusted intensity of ultrasound, ultrasound, and Swedish massage) on ROM, pain scale, and arm circumference were significantly different at the 0.05 level. However, the effect on creatine kinase levels from each treatment showed no significant difference. The means of creatine kinase levels from Swedish massage treatment increased less than those using unadjusted intensity of ultrasound or ultrasound treatment methods. Ultrasound and Swedish massage treatments could improve ROM, relieve muscle pain, and decrease arm circumference better than in the control
group.