The Effect of Deep Friction Massage on the Achilles Tendon Blood Flow

NCT01453543 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2010/460
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 62
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Background: There is a hypothesis in literature that the mechanical action of deep transverse friction massage (DTF) produces vasodilatation and increases blood flow. But as yet, no experimental study has confirmed the effect of DTF on blood flow in the Achilles tendon. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether one session of DTF can influence the Achilles tendon blood flow. Design: a randomized pre- posttest trial was set up. Patients: Sixty-two healthy participants volunteered. Each person underwent the following four steps of the procedure: 1. Measuring the tendon blood flow (PRE), 2.fifteen minutes of DTF on the Achilles tendon, 3. Measuring of the tendon blood flow (POST), 4.follow - up measurement after 20 minutes of rest (POST20). Intervention: one leg of each person was randomly assigned to deep transverse friction session, the other leg was used as a control leg. Friction was applied continuously for a total of 15 minutes. Measurements: the microcirculation was determined at 2 and 8 tissue depths at the distal and the proximal midportion of the Achilles tendon. For each level, the capillary blood flow, the tissue oxygen saturation, and the postcapillary venous filling pressure was registered.

Conditions

Healthy Situation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Blood flow of the Achilles tendon

  Blood flow of the Achilles tendon will be measured with the oxygen-to-see.

  after 15 minutes of friction

• Blood flow of the Achilles tendon

  Blood flow of the Achilles tendon will be measured with the oxygen-to-see.

  After 20 minutes of rest.

Study Arms (1)

Deep transverse friction massage

EXPERIMENTAL

Massage technique will be used.

Other: deep transverse friction massage

Interventions

deep transverse friction massage OTHER

For the application of the deep transverse friction massage, the participants were positioned supine with the ankle in 90 ° of dorsiflexion, in order to bring some tension on the tendon. The treating clinician stabilized the subject's foot with one hand while applying the DTF with the other hand. The deep friction massage is a pinching technique with thumb and index finger, reinforced by the middle finger.

Deep transverse friction massage

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 60 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may not qualify if:

• a history of lower leg injury
• systematic disease
• persons using drugs
• subjects with circulatory disorders or cardiovascular diseases

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University Ghent: lead

Study Sites (1)

Ghent University

Ghent, 9000, Belgium

Location

Study Officials

• Erik Witvrouw, MD, PhD

  University Ghent

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 12, 2011
• First Posted: October 18, 2011
• Study Start: November 1, 2010
• Primary Completion: June 1, 2011
• Study Completion: July 1, 2011
• Last Updated: November 8, 2011

Record last verified: 2011-11

Locations

BE (1)