Deep Friction Massage and the Minimum Skin Pressure Required to Promote a Macroscopic Deformation of the Patellar Tendon

• Published in: Journal of chiropractic medicine Vol. 17; no. 4; pp. 226 - 230
• Main Authors: Chaves, Paula, Simões, Daniela, Paço, Maria, Pinho, Francisco, Duarte, José A., Ribeiro, Fernando
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.12.2018; Elsevier
• Subjects: Elastic Modulus; Massage; Original Research; Stress, Mechanical; Tendons; Stress, Mechanical; Elastic Modulus; Massage; Tendons
• ISSN: 1556-3707; 1556-3715
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcm.2018.04.007

The purpose of this study was to determine the skin pressure needed to promote the macroscopic deformation of the asymptomatic patellar tendon and to verify if the pressure is associated with the individual’s characteristics. A descriptive laboratory study was performed with a convenience sample of 18 young, voluntary, and asymptomatic individuals of both sexes. A progressively increasing pressure was applied on the skin over the patellar tendon, through an instrument designed to perform and control the pressure upon an ultrasound probe; data were recorded and analyzed by 2 blind investigators. All statistical analyses were conducted considering α = 0.05. The average pressure needed to promote a macroscopic deformation of the patellar tendon was 1.12 ± 0.37 kg/cm2. Female sex and age were inversely but not significantly associated with the pressure performed. Sports practice, weight, height, body mass index, muscle mass, and subcutaneous thickness were positively but not significantly associated with the pressure executed. The average pressure needed to promote the macroscopic deformation of the patellar tendon was 1.12 ± 0.37 kg/cm2, which was not influenced by the characteristics of the participants.