RCTHumann = 372026Brazil
Acute Effect of Percussive Massage on Cross-Section Area, Muscle Strength, and Late Muscle Pain of the Quadriceps Muscle Following a Fatigue Protocol in Physically Active Men: Randomized Clinical Trial.
Plain-language summary
This study set out to see if percussive massage (like from a massage gun) helps with muscle swelling, strength, and soreness after a tough leg workout. They had 37 active men do a tiring leg press routine, then split them into a group that got percussive massage and one that did not. They checked muscle size, strength, and pain right after, then again at 24 and 48 hours. The massage group had less swelling in one muscle and less pain by 48 hours, but strength stayed about the same in both groups.
Key findings
- Both groups showed reduced pain over time.
- The massage group had a sharper pain reduction at 48 hours compared to 24 hours.
- No significant difference in muscle strength or size between massage and passive rest.
How to analyze the study yourself
- Study type
- Randomized controlled trials are strong for testing cause and effect but may not capture long-term or broader effects.
- Population
- Physically active men aged 25.7 ± 4.5 years (intervention group) and 27.6 ± 5.0 years (control group).
- Funding
- Not reported
- Watch for
- This study found that percussive massage after a hard leg workout may help reduce muscle swelling and soreness by 48 hours, without hurting strength. If you deal with post-workout soreness, a massage gun may be worth trying for relief.