Deep tissue massage and flexibility in the structural components of the superficial back line of professional volleyball players: a pilot study.

Background: Massage is a common treatment in physiotherapy, often used as a prophylaxis or during recovery following a musculoskeletal contusion. One form of therapeutic massage is deep tissue massage (DTM), which has become more popular in recent years as a way of performing targeted work with the myofascial system. Aim of the study: The aim of the study was to examine the effectiveness of deep tissue massage on superficial back line flexibility (hip flexion and knee extension range of motion – ROM). Material and methods: Elite volleyball players (n=15), age: 22.8 ± 4.41 years; mass: 82.67 ± 6.99 kg; height: 1.96 ± 0.08 m) were recruited for this study. Deep tissue massage of the myofascial superficial back line was performed from the plantar fascia through the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles, the hamstrings to the ischial tuberosity (based on Myers, 2014). Hip flexion and knee extension ROM were measured at rest both before and after DTM. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare pre and post values during the intervention. Results: Following deep tissue massage, there was significant improvement in superficial back line flexibility, demonstrated by an increase in hip flexion angle compared to pre-DTM values in both lower limbs. Right lower limb pre-DTM 1.86±0.66; post 2.79±0.43 (p<0.005), left lower limb pre-DTM 2.36±0.74; post 2.79±0.43 (p<0.028). There was also significant improvement in superficial back line flexibility demonstrated by an increase in knee extension angle post-DTM in both lower limbs. Right lower limb pre-DTM 69.79°±10.8; post 81.43°±6.06, left lower limb pre-DTM 73.07°±11.45, post 82.50°±8.39). Conclusions: Deep tissue massage increases the flexibility of the superficial back line and can be used as a form of increasing range of motion in the hips and knees.