Acute Effects of the Dry Needling Session on Gastrocnemius Muscle Biomechanical Properties, and Perfusion with Latent Trigger Points - A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial in Mixed Martial Arts Athletes.

The study aimed to evaluate the immediate effects of a dry needling (DN) therapy session on biomechanical properties, muscle power, perfusion, and pressure pain threshold of the gastrocnemius muscle with latent trigger points. Twenty mixed martial arts athletes (MMA) were randomly divided into two groups: experimental (eDN, n = 10) and sham (qDN, n = 10) to undergo one session of DN either with a real or a qazi needle. The measurements were taken at rest, 1-5 minutes after the DN (Post1-5min) and 24h after the DN (Post24h). DN significantly increased the muscle perfusion (Post1-5min and Post24h, p < 0.001), reduced its tone (Post1-5min and Post24h, p < 0.001) and stiffness (Post1-5min, p < 0.05; Post24 h, p < 0.001), and improved its elasticity (Post1-5min and Post24h, p < 0.001). DN also caused a significant increase in pressure pain threshold (Post1-5min, p < 0.001; Post24h, p < 0.05) and in muscle power (Post24h, p < 0.01). The DN session increased the blood perfusion and improved the biomechanical properties of the gastrocnemius muscle, which led to improved muscle power. The DN also had an analgesic effect. These effects were maintained at 24 h, which suggests that DN could facilitate muscle recovery in a post-exercise period of MMA athletes.

Acute Effects of Percussive Massage Treatment on Drop Jump Performance and Achilles Tendon Stiffness.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of Achilles tendon (AT) mechanical percussion massage (PM) on the passive stiffness of that tendon and subsequent drop jump kinematics. Eleven physically active participants performed two conditions in random order: (i) 60 s of PM applied to each AT (EXP) and (ii) no PM (CTRL). Measurements were performed 5 min before, immediately after, and 5 min following the completion of the PM. In the CTRL, measurements were performed at the same time point but no massage was applied. The two-way ANOVA indicated that there was no statistically significant interaction effect on contact time (p = 0.786), reactive strength index (p = 0.914), and relative peak power (p = 0.896). However, a statistically significant interaction on peak velocity (p = 0.046) and jump height (p = 0.03) was found. Despite that, there was no significant post-hoc comparisons for jump height, it slightly decreased 5 min post-PM (p = 0.136; ES = -0.25; Δ = -3.1%) compared with the CTRL condition (p = 1.00; ES = 0.11; Δ = +1.5%). Friedman's test did not show significant differences in dominant (p = 0.073) and non-dominant limb (p = 0.091) AT stiffness. Although not significant, numerically, the dominant limb AT (p = 0.126; ES = -0.64; Δ = -7.8%) had a larger reduction in stiffness immediately post-PM compared with the non-dominant limb (p = 0.294; ES = -0.26; Δ = -3.6%). The results of this study indicated the temporary effect of PM on the reduction in tissue stiffness. Moreover, these findings show that a mechanical PM might slightly hinder subsequent explosive athletic performance.

Effect of Physical Methods of Lymphatic Drainage on Postexercise Recovery of Mixed Martial Arts Athletes.

OBJECTIVE: Physical methods are reported to be important for accelerating skeletal muscle regeneration, decreasing muscle soreness, and shortening of the recovery time. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of the physical methods of lymphatic drainage (PMLD) such as manual lymphatic drainage (MLD), the Bodyflow (BF) therapy, and lymphatic drainage by deep oscillation (DO) on postexercise regeneration of the forearm muscles of mixed martial arts (MMA) athletes. DESIGN AND METHODS: Eighty MMA athletes aged 27.5 ± 6.4 years were allocated to 4 groups: MLD, the BF device, DO therapy, and the control group. Blood flow velocity in the cephalic vein was measured with the ultrasound Doppler velocity meter. Maximal strength of the forearm muscles (Fmax), muscle tissue tension, pain threshold, blood lactate concentration (LA), and activity of creatine kinase were measured in all groups at rest, after the muscle fatigue test (post-ex) and then 20 minutes, 24, and 48 hours after the application of PMLD. RESULTS: The muscle fatigue test reduced Fmax in all subjects, but in the groups receiving MLD, DO, and BF significantly higher Fmax was observed at recovery compared with post-ex values. The application of MDL reduced the postexercise blood LA and postexercise muscle tension. CONCLUSIONS: The lymphatic drainage methods, whether manual or using electro-stimulation and DO, improve postexercise regeneration of the forearm muscles of MMA athletes. The methods can be an important element of therapeutic management focused on optimizing training effects and reducing the risk of injuries of the combat sports athletes.