Pre-event Massage for Increased Power
Performance
G. Anderson (JIBC) and A. Angeard (UFV)
Justice Institute of British Columbia, New Westminster, BC, Canada; University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, BC, Canada

Sport massage has been used for many years around the world as
an aid to enhance performance, recover from muscle soreness
and prepare for exercise. While massage is often used as an
adjunct therapy, it is most commonly used in post-exercise
contexts rather than pre-exercise contexts. Pre-exercise activities,
such as warm-up, stretching and massage, can enhance
performance and decrease the likelihood of eccentric exerciseinduced muscle damage. However, massage has not proven
beneficial in a pre-exercise context; little research has been
conducted in this area. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to
examine the use of massage as an ergogenic aid.

Results:

Discussion:

Mean vertical jump heights were 30.4 cm (+/- 7.3 cm) at baseline,
and 30.28 cm (+/- 9.1 cm), 31.1 cm (+/- 8.3 cm), 31.3 cm (+/- 8.6
cm), 31.5 (+/- 8.8 cm) at 1, 6, 11 and 16 minutes post massage.
Results indicated that the use of massage prior to performance
decreased vertical jump height after 1 minute but steadily
increased it at 6, 11, and 16 minutes respectively (see Figure 1).

It can be concluded that pre-event massage may decrease
performance immediately following massage, but may improve
performance for a period between 6 and 16 minutes following.

Figure 1: Vertical jump height at baseline, and 1, 6, 11 and 16 minutes post massage.

Methods:
Sixteen participants, 9 female and 7 male, were recruited from a
pool of University of the Fraser Valley students with a mean age of
20.75 years. The study employed a randomized crossover design
using vertical jump as the dependent variable and pre-event
massage as the independent variable. Participants performed
each trial with no warm up, one trial with and one without a
massage. Each participant completed two baseline vertical jumps
prior to each condition. Participants jumped down from a 15 cm
step (Reebok Step Plate) and were told to land (on Force Plate)
and jump up as fast and as high as they could. Counter movement
of arms up to the head and lowering of body was allowed.
Measures were taken at baseline before treatment, and then at 1,
6, 11 and 16 minutes.
Massage treatment using a non-analgesic lotion included 15
minutes with the following activities:
Prone Position:
- Treatment to lower leg - calf (1.5 minutes per leg, 3 minutes total)
- Treatment to the hips (2 minutes per leg, 4 minutes total)
- Treatment to the hamstrings (2 minutes per leg, 4 minutes total).
Supine Position:
- Treatment to the quadriceps (2 minutes per leg, 4 minutes total).

Figure 2: Change in vertical jump height from baseline at 1, 6, 11 and 16 minutes post
massage.

A small, but significant increase in vertical jump height (VJH) of 1
cm was seen at 11 and 16 minutes. While research has been done
on the effects of massage on performance, none has been done
on the lasting effects. It can be argued that VJH at 1 minute was
low because of the massage effects on lowering arousal (central
fatigue) and therefore neural recruitment within the muscle. The
first VJ was performed one minute following the massage when
arousal would be at its lowest point. With 5 minute intervals
between jumps, it is possible that the targeted muscles had time to
overcome the low arousal and therefore perform better at the 6,
11, and 16 minute mark. While massage has the effects of
increased blood flow and increased tissue temperature, reduced
neural recruitment negated the positive impacts until after 6
minutes post massage.
These findings are consistent with literature that did not report
acute increased VJH following massage treatment. Our present
results suggest that a localized targeted massage treatment, while
not impacting acute VJH (ie. 1 or 6 min), the benefits of massage
become evident after 11 minutes post massage. Present results
demonstrate increased VJH in 12 and 13 of 16 participants after 11
and 16 minutes post massage, respectfully.
Conclusion: .
Pre-event massage may inhibit neural drive and spinal reflexes
used in jumping for a short period following a massage, but
significantly increase performance for a period following.
However, more research needs to be conducted on massage
localization and duration in order to further see the effects of preevent massage on performance.

A force plate (Kistler - Type: 928EA; Bioware 4.1.0.2.) was used to
calculate time in the air and vertical jump height. Microsoft Excel
was used to calculate 1-tailed t-tests (p<0.05), comparing each of
minute 1, 6, 11 and 16 minutes to baseline jumps.

JUSTICE INSTITUTE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA