Immediate effects of percussive massage treatment on thoracolumbar fascia thickness: a quasi-experimental design in healthy individuals
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Abstract
In recent years, numerous studies have pointed to the integral role of fascial tissue in developing lower back pain. Percussion massage therapy could stretch muscles and connective tissues by generating muscle waves, which may improve the fascial structures and muscle functions and provide new ideas for preventing and treating lower back pain. However, no studies have been conducted to investigate the effects of percussion massage therapy on fascial structure, skin and muscular responses, and lumbar flexibility. This pilot study aimed to preliminarily investigate the effects of percussive massage therapy on thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) thickness, skin temperature, muscle stiffness and pain, and lumbar mobility. A quasi-experimental before-and-after design was obtained in 12 healthy participants aged 20-40. A 15-minute percussion massage was performed on the participants’ TLF in the lower back region. All parameters were measured before and immediately after the intervention. The results showed that the maximum thickness value of the TLF decreased significantly after the intervention (p-value < 0.05), whereas the mean thickness value did not change. Shortly after the intervention, skin temperature increased (p-value < 0.05), perceived stiffness decreased (p-value < 0.05), visual analog scale (VAS) and press pain threshold (PPT) decreased (p-value < 0.05), and perceived stiffness decreased (p-value < 0.05). No change in lumbar flexibility was observed (p-value > 0.05). The results indicated that percussive massage therapy may reduce the maximum thickness value of TLF and improve tissue hardness, skin temperature, and pain intensity. A randomized controlled study with a large sample size is suggested to verify these effects.
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