Percussive Massage Improved Quadriceps Pain Intensity, Fatigue, and Perceived Recovery After Habitual Running but had No Effect on Vertical Jump: Randomized Trial

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate whether percussive massage reduces the intensity of quadriceps pain and perceived fatigue and improves perceived recovery and vertical jump after habitual running. DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial. SETTINGS: Road race. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-four runners aged 18 to 60 years, 1-year experience in running and a training frequency of twice a week, were included (experimental group: n = 39, 34.33 ± 1.61 years, 61% M, 5.68 ± 1.16 years of running experience; control group: n = 45; 34.51 ± 1.50 years; 71% M; 6.01 ± 1.02 years of running experience). INTERVENTIONS: The experimental group received 10 minutes of percussive massage on the quadriceps, and the control group received sham hip and knee joint mobilization. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Quadriceps pain intensity and fatigue (visual analog scale), perceived recovery (perceived global effect scale), and vertical jump after habitual running. RESULTS: The experimental group showed better results for quadriceps pain intensity (0.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], -1.63 to -0.34), fatigue (0.7; 95% CI, -1.45 to -0.05) and perceived recovery (0.54; 95% CI, 0.02-1.07), but not for vertical jump performance (0.95; 95% CI, -1.57-3.47). CONCLUSIONS: Percussive massage improved pain intensity, fatigue, and perceived recovery after running but had no effect on vertical jump.