Ahmad Assagaf Rahmat1, Nura Maulida Isna1, Oviesta Tasha Retyananda1, Gadis Meinar Sari2, Mohammad Fathul Qorib3, Oky Dwi Silviyanti1
1Universitas Airlangga, Master of Sport Health Science, Faculty of Medicine, Surabaya, Indonesia
2Universitas Airlangga, Department of Physiology and Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Surabaya, Indonesia
3Universitas Airlangga, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Surabaya, Indonesia
Effects of Percussive Massage on Lactate Removal, Strength and Explosive Power of Leg Muscles after Physical Exercise
Sport Mont 2025, 23(1), 59-64 | DOI: 10.26773/smj.250209
Abstract
The implementation of percussive massage therapy plays an important role in supporting muscle recovery, reducing fatigue, increasing blood flow, and improving flexibility and performance. However, percussive massage after physical exercise remains limited and is not widely practiced. Therefore, this study was conducted to further investigate the recovery effects of percussive massage on reducing blood lactate levels and increasing strength and explosive power in the leg muscles after physical exercise. A total of 16 participants took part in this study, evenly divided into two groups of eight. The percussive massage group (PM) had a mean age of 20.75±1.48 years, a body weight of 59.05±6.46 kg, a height of 164.50±4.37 cm, and a body mass index (BMI) of 21.90±1.96 kg/m². This group received percussive massage on their lower extremities. Meanwhile, the passive recovery group (PR) had a mean age of 20.75±1.48 years, a body weight of 63.40±5.49 kg, a height of 167.03±7.14 cm, and a body mass index (BMI) of 21.78±1.43 kg/m², and did not receive any massage. Both groups performed countermovement jump plyometric exercises consisting of 5 sets of 20 repetitions, with a 1-minute rest period between sets and repetitions. Measurements of blood lactate levels, as well as strength and explosive power of the leg muscles, were taken before and after the recovery period. The findings indicated that percussive massage therapy significantly reduced blood lactate levels (p=0.000) and enhanced leg muscle explosive power (p=0.034). Furthermore, there were significant differences in the delta (Δ) of blood lactate levels and leg muscle explosiveness between the PM group and the PR group (p=0.012 and p=0.038), while no significant differences were found in the delta (Δ) of leg muscle strength between the two groups (p=0.089). Based on the findings of this study, percussive massage therapy after physical exercise positively impacts the reduction of blood lactate levels and enhances explosive power in the leg muscles. However, it does does not have a significant effect on leg muscle strength.
Keywords
muscle recovery, sport massage, percussive massage therapy, blood lactate, leg muscles performance, plyometric exercise
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