Energy expenditure for massage therapists during performing selected classical massage techniques

Objectives The aim of the study is to evaluate the intensity of the effort and energy expenditure in the course of performing selected classical massage techniques and to assess the workload of a massage therapist during a work shift. Material and Methods Thirteen massage therapists (age: 21.9±1.9 years old, body mass index: 24.5±2.8 kg×m⁻², maximal oxygen consumption × body mass⁻¹ ($\text{VO}_\text{2max}$×BM⁻¹): 42.3±7 ml×kg⁻¹×min⁻¹) were involved in the study. The stress test consisted in performing selected classical massage techniques in the following order: stroking, kneading, shaking, beating, rubbing and direct vibration, during which the cardio-respiratory responses and the subjective rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were assessed. Intensity of exercise during each massage technique was expressed as % $\text{VO}_\text{2max}$, % maximal heart rate ($\text{HR}_\text{max}$) and % heart rate reserve (HRR). During each massage technique, net energy expenditure (EE) and energy cost of work using metabolic equivalent of task (MET) were determined. Results The intensity of exercise was 47.2±6.2% as expressed in terms of % $\text{VO}_\text{2max}$, and 74.7±3.2% as expressed in terms of % $\text{HR}_\text{max}$, while it was 47.8±1.7% on average when expressed in terms of % HRR during the whole procedure. While performing the classical massage, the average EE and MET were 5.6±0.9 kcal×min⁻¹ and 5.6±0.2, respectively. The average RPE calculated for the entire procedure was 12.1±1.4. During the performance of a classical massage technique for a single treatment during the study, the average total EE was 176.5±29.6 kcal, resulting in an energy expenditure of 336.2±56.4 kcal×h⁻¹. In the case of the classical massage technique, rubbing was the highest intensity exercise for the masseur who performed the massage ($\text{%VO}_\text{2max}$ = 57.4±13.1%, $\text{HR}_\text{max}$ = 79.6±7.7%, HRR = 58.5±13.1%, MET = 6.7±1.1, EE = 7.1±1.4 kcal×min⁻¹, RPE = 13.4±1.3). Conclusions In the objective assessment, physical exercise while performing a single classical massage is characterized by hard work. The technique of classical massage during which the masseur performs the highest exercise intensity is rubbing. According to the classification of work intensity based on energy expenditure, the masseur’s work is considered heavy during the whole work shift. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2018;31(5):677–684