Massage after exercise impairs blood flow

Monday May 11, 2009 (foodconsumer.org) -- The belief that massage is beneficial after exercise has been rubbed out by two researchers at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario.

For years it has been assumed that massage after exercise improves circulation to the muscle and helps remove the build-up of lactic acid and other waste products.

Two researchers challenged the theory, according to a Queen’s University news release, and found opposite results.

“This dispels a common belief in the general public about the way in which massage is beneficial,” said Kinesiology and Health Studies professor Michael Tschakovsky, one of the researchers.

Tschakovsky added that the results of their first-ever study will be a heads-up to physical therapists and others in the massage industry.

“All the physical therapy professionals that I have talked to, when asked what massage does, answer that it improves muscle blood flow and helps get rid of lactic acid,” he said. “Ours is the first study to challenge this and rigorously test its validity.”

Results of the study showed that massage actually impairs blood flow to the muscle after exercise and, therefore, hinders the removal of lactic acid.

Dr. Tschakovsky conducted the study along with Kinesiology MSc candidate Vicky Wiltshire. Results of their work will be presented at the annual American College of Sports Medicine conference, which is being held from May 27 to 30 in Seattle, Washington.

(By Sheilah Downey, and edited by Heather Kelley)