Does massage warm-up adequately prepare muscles for high intensity cycling exercise?

Introduction

Massage is being widely used by athletes, both as a warm-up strategy or to enhance recovery after exercise. Only a few studies have been done on the physiological and performance enhancing effects of pre-exercise massage (1,2) The aim of this study was to compare the effect of massage and spinning on selected physiological and performance variables during short duration, high intensity cycling exercise.

Methods

Twenty competitive male cyclists (18-30 yrs) participated in this randomised crossover experimental study. All subjects performed, in random order, two Wingate tests, preceded by either a 15-min spinning warm-up on a KingCycle Ergotrainer, or a 15-min massage warm-up. Each exercise test consisted of two 30-sec all out efforts, separated by 3-min of submaximal cycling. Three massage techniques were used, namely effleurage, petrissage and tapotement. All massage sessions were performed by the same two masseuse. During both exercise tests, cardiorespiratory variables were continuously measured using a Cosmed Quark b2 metabolic system. Blood lactate concentration ([La]) was measured via fingerprick using an Accutrend lactate analyser. Samples were taken before exercise, directly post-exercise, 2 min and 30 min into recovery.

Results

There was a statistically significant difference in the mean power and total work done during both 30-sec all out efforts between the spinning warm-up and the massage warm-up (P < 0.05). Cyclists also generated higher peak power outputs during the first all out effort of the spinning warm-up compared to the massage warm-up (P < 0.05). Although the oxygen consumption and heart rate were slightly higher during the exercise test following the spinning warm-up, the differences between spinning and massage were not statistically significant. The blood [La] was statistically significantly higher directly after the exercise test following the spinning warm-up (P < 0.05), however, there were no differences in the recovery [La].

Discussion

Our results suggest that there are little, if any, differences in physiological variables following a spinning or massage warm-up. However, cyclists performed significantly better after the spinning warm-up compared to the massage warm-up. It is possible that the massage did not sufficiently increase peripheral circulation and muscle temperature - factors that are associated with increased oxygen delivery to the muscles (3). We therefore conclude that a 15-min massage of the lower extremities does not prepare the muscles optimally for short duration, high intensity exercise.

References

[1].Hemmings B et al. Br J Sports Med 2000; 34: 109-115.
[2].Cafarelli E et al. Sports Med 1992; 14:1-9.
[3].Houmard JA et al. Int J Sports Med 1991; 12:480-483.