Author(s): INAN, B., KARSLI, I., SENOCAK, E., EMIRZEOGLU, M., Institution: KARADENIZ TEKNIK ÜNIVERSITESI , Country: TURKEY, Abstract-ID: 2069

INTRODUCTION:
Percussive massage therapy (PMT) has become more common in clinical settings and among the general population. Although initial findings suggest that PMT may increase muscle strength, the mechanisms underlying these effects are unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute effects of PMT on gastrocnemius muscle architecture, which is a key determinant of muscle function.
METHODS:
The study included 43 healthy young participants (21 females, 22 males; age: 20.30±1.79 years, body height: 172.23±9.03 cm, body weight: 65.37±10.94 kg, body mass index: 21.91±2.24 kg/m²). Participants were randomly assigned to either the PMT group (N=23; 12 females, 11 males) or the control group (N=20; 9 females, 11 males). B-mode ultrasonography was used to investigate the architectural characteristics of the gastrocnemius lateralis and gastrocnemius medialis muscles, including pennation angle, muscle thickness, and fiber length parameters. Participants in the PMT group underwent a percussive massage intervention using the Hypervolt Go 2 device at 2750 ppm. The intervention was applied sequentially to each gastrocnemius muscle group for 8 minutes per side. Participants in the control group rested for an equivalent duration. Muscle architecture assessments were repeated bilaterally immediately after the intervention or rest period. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 27.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA).
RESULTS:
The PMT and control groups were comparable in terms of baseline sociodemographic characteristics and muscle architectural parameters (p > 0.05). There were no significant differences between pre- and post-intervention measurements in the dominant or non-dominant limbs of either group (p > 0.05).
CONCLUSION:
Applying PMT to the gastrocnemius lateralis and gastrocnemius medialis muscles of healthy young individuals does not cause significant acute changes in the architectural characteristics of these muscles. These results suggest that the acute effects of PMT may be neuromuscular rather than structural. Future research could focus on the effects of repeated or long-term PMT applications on muscle structure.