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

Healthy Situation Clinical Trial

— Friction  

Official title:

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

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT01453543
• Other study ID #: 2010/460
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: October 12, 2011
• Last updated: November 7, 2011
• Start date: November 2010
• Est. completion date: July 2011

Study information

• Verified date: November 2011
• Source: University Ghent
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: Belgium: Ethics Committee
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial 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.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 62
• Est. completion date: July 2011
• Est. primary completion date: June 2011
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 18 Years to 60 Years

Eligibility

Exclusion Criteria:

• a history of lower leg injury

• systematic disease

• persons using drugs

• subjects with circulatory disorders or cardiovascular diseases

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Single Blind (Subject), Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Healthy Situation

Intervention

Other:
• deep transverse friction massage
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.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Belgium	Ghent University	Ghent

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University Ghent

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Belgium, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	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	No
Primary	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.	No