J. Goldberg et al., THE EFFECT OF THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE ON H-REFLEX AMPLITUDE IN PERSONS WITH A SPINAL-CORD INJURY, Physical therapy, 74(8), 1994, pp. 728-737
Background and Purpose. The effect of therapeutic massage on the H-ref
lex amplitude in persons without neurological impairment has been esta
blished. To investigate its effects in a sample of persons with a spin
al cord injury (SCI), two independent but interrelated studies were un
dertaken. Study 1 investigated whether the recorded response (H-reflex
amplitude) to massage with the subjects in the supine testing positio
n was similar to that recorded in previous studies in which the subjec
ts were tested in the prone position. This study was undertaken becaus
e the prone testing position was considered inappropriate for persons
with SCI. In study 2, the therapeutic effect of massage (petrissage) o
n H-reflex amplitude in persons with SCI was examined. Subjects. Seven
persons without neurological impairment volunteered to participate in
study 1, and 10 individuals with a traumatic SCI volunteered to parti
cipate in study 2. Methods. The two studies shared many methodological
features and involved the recording of 10 H-reflex and M-response pea
k-to-peak amplitudes from the triceps surae muscle during each of five
sequential, 3-minute time periods. Massage treatment (MASS) was given
during third time period, and the premassage time periods (C1, C2) an
d postmassage time periods (C3, C4) served as control conditions. Stud
y 2, in addition to recording the peak-to-peak amplitudes of the recor
ded responses, also included the recording of the H-reflex latencies.
Results. The results of study 1 showed that massage applied with the s
ubjects in the supine position decreased the H-reflex amplitude during
the massage. A 56% decrease in the H-reflex amplitude was recorded. S
tudy 2 demonstrated a 27% mean group decrease in the H-reflex peak-to-
peak amplitude during the massage for all subjects, with variations in
individual responses ranging from an increase in the H-reflex amplitu
de of 20% to a decrease of 84%. An analysis of variance revealed that
the H-reflex means of the five conditions were significantly different
. Newman-Keuls post hoc analyses revealed that the mean of the MASS co
ndition (2.01 mV) was significantly different from the means of C1, C2
, and C4 (2.79, 2.81, 2.58 mV). The mean of C3 (2.42 mV) was not found
to be statistically different from the means of the other conditions.
These changes were noted against a stable M-response. Conclusion and
Discussion. The results recorded in study 1 are comparable to those ob
tained with the subjects in the prone position. Based on these results
, the supine position was adopted as the testing position for study 2.
Study 2 further showed a decrease in H-reflex amplitude concomitant w
ith massage in persons with SCI, but no long-term effects were noted.
[Goldberg J, Seaborne DE, Sullivan SJ, Leduc BE. The effect of therape
utic massage on H-reflex amplitude in persons with a spinal cord injur
y. Phys Ther. 1994;74:728-737.]