Effects of massage on the expression of proangiogenic markers in rat skin.

INTRODUCTION: Massage is a physiotherapeutic treatment, commonly used in both therapy and restoration of normal body functions. The aim of this work was to determine the effects of skin massage on stimulating the expression of angiogenesis-initiating factors, i.e. VEGF-A, FGF-2 (bFGF) and CD34 and on skin regeneration processes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 48 Buffalo strain rats, randomly divided into two groups. In the first group (M, the massaged group), massage was applied five times a week for 7 weeks. In the second study group (C, the control group), the massage was omitted. Massage consisted of spiral movements at the plantar surface of skin for 5 min on each rear extremity. The gene expression of proangiogenic factors, including VEGF-A, FGF-2, CD34 at the mRNA level was determined using real-time PCR. Immunohistochemistry was performed on paraffin sections of rat skin to determine VEGF-A, FGF-2 CD34 and Ki-67expression. RESULTS: An increase in mRNA expression in the skin of the rat's rear extremity for VEGF-A and FGF-2 in the first week of the experiment was shown in the M group compared with the control rats. The upregulation of CD34 mRNA expression was also observed in the M group. We observed positive correlations between VEGF-A mRNA expression and the expression of mRNA for FGF-2 and CD34, as well as correlation between the expression of mRNA for FGF-2 and CD34. The immunohistochemical expression of VEGF-A, FGF-2 and CD34 was at a much lower level in the skin of control rats relative to the skin of massaged animals. Moreover, significantly higher immunoreactivity was shown for nuclear protein Ki-67 in epidermal cells in the M group compared with the C group. CONCLUSIONS: Rat skin massage increased the expression of the main angiogenesis-stimulating factors and the proliferative activity of epidermal cells, which can stimulate skin regeneration and tissue repairing processes.

The Application of Tensegrity Massage in a Professionally Active Musician - Case Report.

PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to present options for the application of tensegrity massage to manage pain caused by the overload of soft tissues in musicians. DESIGN: Tensegrity massage was applied to a 34-year-old male violinist. METHODS: The methodology included a correct positioning and tensegrity massage with individually designed procedure. FINDINGS: After therapy, the patient achieved complete pain relief, and relaxation of muscles in the shoulder girdle and free part of the upper arm. The analgesic effect lasted for 6 months after the end of therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Massage is an effective method in eliminating pain caused by the overload of soft tissues. If used regularly before physical effort, it can prevent muscle overload. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The presented massage procedure is an effective therapy in pain caused by the overload of soft tissues in musicians and it can be one of the elements of complex physiotherapy in active musicians.

Increased skeletal muscle expression of VEGF induced by massage and exercise.

INTRODUCTION: Numerous investigations have been carried out to describe the role of massage in preparing for and restoring efficiency after physical exercise. Furthermore, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) enhances blood vessel growth, and in effect contributes to the regeneration of tissues. Since its expression in active skeletal muscles has not been yet determined, the aim of this study was to investigate whether muscle massage performed before and during running exercise affects the expression of VEGF-A in muscles. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was carried out on 75 adult Buffalo rats subjected to running exercise training for 10 weeks. Rats were massaged prior (group PM) or during exercise (group M) or were not massaged (group C). The massage consisted of spiral movements along the plantar surface of flexor digitorum brevis muscle. After 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 week of training, five rats from every group were anesthetized and immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and PCR analyses were performed on obtained muscle tissue to determine VEGF-A expression. RESULTS: After the first week of training, a significant increase of VEGF-A gene expression analyzed by qPCR in muscle tissue was observed in the PM group, whereas in the third week, the predominant growth of studied marker was seen in the M group. Increased VEGF-A expression on the protein level was observed in both massaged groups following the first week. A moderate positive correlation was found between the expression of the VEGF-A gene and protein in all experimental groups (r = 0.389). CONCLUSION: Short-term repeated massage may contribute to processes of creation of new and development of already existing vascular networks in the skeletal muscle tissue during increased exercise.

The effectiveness of massage based on the tensegrity principle compared with classical abdominal massage performed on patients with constipation.

PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH: The purpose of the study was to compare the effectiveness of massage based on the tensegrity principle and classical abdominal massage performed on patients with constipation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 29 subjects with a pre-existing diagnosis of constipation based on the Rome III criteria. The patients were divided into two groups: the first group was made up of 15 patients who underwent tensegrity massage (average age: 59.8 years), and the second was made up of 14 patients who were given classical abdominal massage (average age: 55.7 years). The study consisted of six massage sessions in both groups, with two sessions per week performed over 21 days. The assessment was based on a patient questionnaire, the Rome III questionnaire and a diary of bowel movements. The results were analyzed before therapy, after one week of therapy and after the third (final) week of therapy. RESULTS: Changes in the number of defecations were compared between the two groups; the biggest changes occurred in the first and third week of therapy (P<0.01, calculated by the Mann-Whitey test). As a result of the therapy, tension during defecation dropped from 60% to 20% in Group I, and from 42.8% to 35.7% in Group II. The influence of the applied therapy was evaluated positively by 80% of the tensegrity massage group and 29% of the classical abdominal massage group. CONCLUSIONS: Massage based on the tensegrity principle may have a greater positive influence on the quality and quantity of bowel movements than classical abdominal massage.

Massage may initiate tendon structural changes--a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: Physical exercise is now a widely known and studied factor of the proper functioning of living organisms. Many questions remain unanswered concerning various aspects of the changes in the morphology of structures subjected to chronic physical exercise. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on fifty Buffalo strain rats, randomly divided into two equal (experimental and control) groups. All animals were subjected to physical training on a running track for 10 weeks, whereas only in the experimental group, massage was additionally applied five-times per week. RESULTS: An increase in the percentage of collagen fibers in tendons with the smallest diameter (≤100 nm) was observed only in the experimental group in week 3, followed by a decrease in weeks 5 and 7. A subsequent repeated increase was observed in week 10 of the study. No significant differences were observed for either study group in the number of collagen fibers based on fiber diameter (101-200 nm, 201-300 nm and 301-400 nm). CONCLUSION: The results of this preliminary study showed that long-term massage performed during running training may initiate for small structural changes in the rat tendon. Further morphological studies with prolonged observation periods are recommended.

Application of Tensegrity Massage to Relive Complications After Mastectomy--Case Report.

PURPOSE: The case study was to determine the effectiveness of tensegrity massage in a patient after mastectomy. DESIGN: Tensegrity massage was performed in a 50-year-old woman after mastectomy. The purpose of the massage was to normalize the tension of musculo-ligamento-fascial system in the chest, shoulder girdle, and back. METHODS: The patient was subjected to a series of six massage sessions, 45 minutes each, twice a week. FINDINGS: The applied massage therapy contributed to the reduction of the postoperative scar tenderness and painfulness, to the relaxation of the muscular tone within the shoulder girdle, and to the improvement of the patient's general feeling. CONCLUSIONS: Tensegrity massage is an effective therapy in the elimination of pain and abnormal tissue tension induced by extensive scarring after mastectomy. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The presented massage procedure had a positive effect immediately after the therapy and after 1-month follow-up.

Effects of synergistic massage and physical exercise on the expression of angiogenic markers in rat tendons.

Physical exercise and massage are regarded as key factors in regulating tendon structure. However, information on the mechanism through which massage influences the structure and biology of a tendon is scarce. In this study, we attempted to define the impact of these two activities on rat tendons by using morphological and molecular techniques, determining the expression of VEGF-A, FGF-2, and CD34 in the tendons of rats subjected to 10 weeks of physical exercise (running) with massage of varied duration. The group of rats that was trained and massaged during the entire study was characterized by the highest expression of these markers, compared to the rats subjected to massage before training and to the control group subjected to physical exercises only. The greatest significant differences, compared to the control, were noted in the expression of all the studied markers at mRNA level, and in the case of VEGF-A, at protein level, in the third and fifth weeks of the experiment. The results of this study could point to the synergistic impact of simultaneous massage and physical exercise on the expression of angiogenesis markers in rat tendons.

The effectiveness of massage in therapy for obturator nerve dysfunction as complication of hip joint alloplasty-case report.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of our case presentation was to reveal effectiveness of medical massage in the therapy for obturator nerve dysfunction as a complication of hip joint alloplasty. DESIGN: Medical massage was carried out in a 58-year-old man after hip joint alloplasty. The aim was to normalize tension of muscle-ligament-fascia apparatus within pelvic girdle and reconstruct correct structural conditions in the course of obturator nerve. METHODS: The methodology included correct positioning and medical massage with individually designed procedures. FINDINGS: Full normalization of muscular tone and subsidence of pain complaints were obtained. CONCLUSIONS: Massage has a positive influence on subsidence of pain complaints; however, effectiveness of the procedure depends on an appropriate methodology. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The presented massage procedure is an effective therapy in obturator nerve dysfunction as complication after alloplasty and it can be one of elements of complex improvement after surgical joint procedures within the scope of nursing rehabilitation.

Health impact of wind farms.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Wind power is employed worldwide as an alternative source of energy. At the same time, however, the health effects of wind turbines have become a matter of discussion. The purpose of this study is a critical review of available reports providing arguments both for and against the construction of wind farms. The authors also attempt to propose recommendations in accordance with the Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) guidelines. In the case of exposure to wind farms, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) is impossible. To obtain the highest-level recommendations, analysis of case-control studies or cohort studies with control groups should be performed. Preferably, it should include geostatistical analysis conducted with the use of variograms and the kriging technique. Combinations of key words were entered into the Thomson Reuters Web of Knowledge (SM) and the Internet search engine Google. SHORT DESCRIPTION OF STATE OF THE ART: The nuisance caused by wind turbines is stereotypically linked with the noise that they produce. Nevertheless, the visual aspect of wind farms, opinions about them, and sensitivity to sound seem to be of the greater importance. To date, the direct correlations between the vicinity of modern wind farms, the noise that wind turbines make, and possible consequences to health have not been described in peer reviewed articles. Health effects are more probably associated with some environmental factors leading to annoyance or frustration. All types of studies share the same conclusion: wind turbines can provoke annoyance. As with any project involving changes in the local environment, a certain level of irritation among the population can be expected. There are elected officials and government representatives who should decide what level of social annoyance is acceptable, and whether wind power advantages outweigh its potential drawbacks. The influence of wind turbines on human emotional and physical health is a relatively new field of research. Further analyses of these issues are justified, especially because none of the studies published in peer-reviewed journals so far meet the criteria for cohort or case-control studies. SUMMARY: Due to methodology, currently available research results do not allow for higher than C-level recommendations. In the case of wind farms, the ideal types of research would be: a retrospective observation of a particular group of residents before and after the wind farm construction, case-control studies or cohort studies with control groups matched in respect of socioeconomic factors, predisposition for chronic diseases, exposure to environmental risk factors, and only one variable which would differentiate cases from controls--the distance between place of residence and a wind farm.

The quality of primary health care for chronically ill patients: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with at least one chronic disease requiring regular contact with their GP, additional tests and systematic use of medicines constitute one of the challenges for the future of primary medical care. To date, no studies have been published describing the most important factors in increasing the quality of care for the chronically ill. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate correlations between patients' characteristics and their assessments of the quality of health care and to identify the primary factors influencing the quality of care for chronically ill patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The sample for the current analysis included 232 chronically ill adult patients of primary care clinics in Poland. The patients' opinions regarding subjective and objective examinations, their participation in clinical decision-making processes, psychosocial factors, contact with the doctor in emergency situations and confidence in the doctor were investigated. RESULTS: The strongest correlations defining the quality of care for the chronically ill were identified as the occurrence of hypertension (0.248, p < 0.001), the patient's gender (0.271, p < 0.001), the patient's level of education (0.169, p < 0.01) and the patient's age (0.155, p = 0.018). The results of the ANOVA test were statistically significant (p < 0.05) for the occurrence of myocardial infarction, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, the doctor's gender, the patient's gender, age and education. CONCLUSIONS: The areas that the participants gave the highest ratings to are subjective and objective examinations, kindness and willingness to help. The strongest correlations between high assessments of the quality of care provided for chronically ill patients at primary care clinics were observed in the following variables: gender, age, level of education, frequency of visits, therapy conducted by a doctor at a specialist clinic, arterial hypertension, COPD and/or myocardial infarction.

Comparison of massage based on the tensegrity principle and classic massage in treating chronic shoulder pain.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of classic massage to massage based on the tensegrity principle for patients with chronic idiopathic shoulder pain. METHODS: Thirty subjects with chronic shoulder pain symptoms were divided into 2 groups, 15 subjects received classic (Swedish) massage to tissues surrounding the glenohumeral joint and 15 subjects received the massage using techniques based on the tensegrity principle. The tensegrity principle is based on directing treatment to the painful area and the tissues (muscles, fascia, and ligaments) that structurally support the painful area, thus treating tissues that have direct and indirect influence on the motion segment. Both treatment groups received 10 sessions over 2 weeks, each session lasted 20 minutes. The McGill Pain Questionnaire and glenohumeral ranges of motion were measured immediately before the first massage session, on the day the therapy ended 2 weeks after therapy started, and 1 month after the last massage. RESULTS: Subjects receiving massage based on the tensegrity principle demonstrated statistically significance improvement in the passive and active ranges of flexion and abduction of the glenohumeral joint. Pain decreased in both massage groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed increases in passive and active ranges of motion for flexion and abduction in patients who had massage based on the tensegrity principle. For pain outcomes, both classic and tensegrity massage groups demonstrated improvement.

Massage-induced morphological changes of dense connective tissue in rat's tendon.

The aim of the experiment was to determine if possible changes in connective tissue induced by massage could have a positive effect justifing the use of massage in all post-traumatic connective tissue conditions, e.g. tendon injuries. The investigations were performed in a group of 18 Buffalo rats. The rats were divided into two groups (experimental and control). To standardize the massage procedure, it was performed with an algometer probe of 0.5 cm2 with constant pressure force of 1 kG (9,81 N). To analyse the number and diameter of collagen fibrils, two electron micrographs were performed for each rat of the collected segments of tendons of rat tail lateral extensor muscle. After image digitalization and calibration, the measurements were carried out using iTEM 5.0 software. The number of fibrils, their diameter and area were measured in a cross-sectional area. An increase of the number of collagen fibrils was observed in the tendons of massaged animals compared to the control group. Our study demonstrated that massage may cause a beneficial effect on metabolic activity of tendon's fibroblasts and, in consequence, may be applied for more effective use of massage for the prevention of tendon injury as well as after the injury has occurred. (Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica 2013, Vol. 51, No. 1, 103-106).

The effectiveness of massage in stress urinary incontinence-case study.

PURPOSE: The aim of the case study was to determine the effectiveness of massage in the management of stress urinary incontinence. DESIGN: A 50-year-old woman with many years' history of stress incontinence was treated with massage. METHODS: The methodology involved positioning of the patient and massage according to an original method including the initial, main, and final parts. FINDINGS: The applied therapy contributed to a decreased amount of urine leakage (immediately following the therapy-by 21%, a month later-by 100%) and improved the quality of patient's life. CONCLUSIONS: A decrease in the amount of urinary leakage was observed immediately after therapy. One month after termination of massage therapy, a complete remission of symptoms was observed. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The presented massage procedure had a positive effect on the amount of urinary leakage on effort immediately after therapy and on few-month follow-up produced complete relief from the distress.

Quality of life and acceptance of illness among patients with chronic respiratory diseases.

The purpose of this study was to determine quality of life (QoL) and acceptance of illness in patients with chronic respiratory diseases. The study involved 315 adult patients of the mean age of 63.9±15.7 years. The World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument Short Form and the Acceptance of Illness Scale were used. The mean score for QoL was 2.0±1.3. The highest scores were obtained in the Social Relationship Domain (13.9±2.7) and the lowest in the Environmental Domain (10.5±2.2). The strongest correlations within QoL domains were noted between Physical and Psychological Domains: r=0.611 (p<0.001), Psychological and Social Domains: r=0.605 (p<0.001). The overall degree of illness acceptance was low (26.0±7.8). The strongest correlations were observed between illness acceptance and Physical: r=0.591 (p<0.001) and Psychological Domains: r=0.450 (p<0.001). We conclude that illness acceptance can be augmented by improving the patient's clinical state and by the provision of psychological support and QoL by improving the Psychological and Environmental Domains.

The influence of age and physical activity on the pressure sensitivity of soft tissues of the musculoskeletal system.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND: The pressure sensitivity of soft tissues is defined as the slightest pressure causing pain. Sex, movement system illnesses, pain ailments may influence the pressure sensitivity. However, there have been few studies on factors determining the level of pressure sensitivity of skeletal muscles. OBJECTIVE: The authors have determined to study the influence of age and physical activity on the pressure sensitivity of skeletal muscles. METHODS: The examination of pressure sensitivity of trigger points and muscle insertions was carried out using algometry. RESULTS: 76 volunteers (38 students and 38 individuals aged 50-75) participated in the study. The differences in pressure sensitivity between students and people aged 50-75 were not statistically significant. Pressure sensitivity of students differed depending on their level of physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: The level of physical activity influenced the pressure sensitivity of skeletal muscles. Age did not significantly influence pressure sensitivity.

Tensegrity principle in massage demonstrated by electro- and mechanomyography.

Based on a tensegrity principle, direct or indirect connections between fascia or muscles which stretch the aponeurosis or intermuscular septum may allow the transfer of tension over long distances, without loss of muscle force produced during rest and activity. The present study aimed to test an effect of massage on electrical (EMG) and mechanical (MMG) activities of a muscle lying distant, but indirectly connected to, the massaged muscle. Thirty-three healthy men participated in the study. To record the activity of the middle deltoid muscle the brachioradialis was massaged, and for the tensor fasciae latae-the peroneal muscles were massaged. An EMG/MMG hybrid probe was used to detect EMG and MMG signals from the middle deltoid and tensor fasciae latae muscles. The EMG amplitude increased during massage in the tensor fasciae lata only, while the MMG amplitude increased significantly in both muscles. It was concluded that there was an electrical as well as a mechanical response of muscle connected indirectly by structural elements with the muscle being massaged indicating an application for the tensegrity principle in massage therapy. It also has a practical importance, because it provides a means for a physiotherapist to influence adverse muscle tension by massaging another distant muscle.