Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26416265›Full record

Trial reportBMC musculoskeletal disorders2015

Pain pressure threshold of a muscle tender spot increases following local and non-local rolling massage.

S J Aboodarda, A J Spence, Duane C Button

2 registry-linked trialsOpen access · goldAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 100 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
100citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
7.2field-weighted citation impact, top 2% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT02528812 nacompletednot on this map

Pain Pressure Threshold of a Muscle Tender Spot Increases Following Local and Non-local Rolling Massage

TypeinterventionalSponsorMemorial University of NewfoundlandRan2014 to 2014Enrolled150ConditionsPainArmsTheraBand Roller Massager, Manual Massage
NCT04765891 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2017, after this paper: background citation

Positional Release Therapy and Therapeutic Massage Reduce Muscle Trigger and Tender Points

TypeinterventionalSponsorBrigham Young UniversityRan2017 to 2018Enrolled60ConditionsTrigger Point Pain, MyofascialArmsPositional release therapy, Therapeutic Massage
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

100 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 203 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. The effects of chronic stretch training on musculoskeletal pain.European journal of applied physiology · 2025
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40 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

S J AboodardaSchool of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 230 Elizabeth Avenue, St. John's, Newfoundland, A1C 5S7, Canada. Jaboodarda@mun.ca.
A J SpenceSchool of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 230 Elizabeth Avenue, St. John's, Newfoundland, A1C 5S7, Canada. aspence@mun.ca.
Duane C ButtonSchool of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 230 Elizabeth Avenue, St. John's, Newfoundland, A1C 5S7, Canada. dbutton@mun.ca.
Memorial University of Newfoundland · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe aim of the present study was to determine the acute effect of rolling massage on pressure pain threshold (PPT) in individuals with tender spots in their plantar flexor muscles.

methodsIn a randomized control trial and single blinded study, tender spots were identified in 150 participants' plantar flexor muscles (gastrocnemius or soleus). Then participants were randomly assigned to one of five intervention groups (n = 30): 1) heavy rolling massage on the calf that exhibited the higher tenderness (Ipsi-R), 2) heavy rolling massage on the contralateral calf (Contra-R), 3) light stroking of the skin with roller massager on the calf that exhibited the higher tenderness (Sham), 4) manual massage on the calf that exhibited the higher tenderness (Ipsi-M) and 5) no intervention (Control). PPT was measured at 30 s and up to 15 min post-intervention via a pressure algometer.

resultsAt 30 s post-intervention, the Ipsi-R (24 %) and Contra-R (21 %) demonstrated higher (p < 0.03) PPT values compared with Control and Sham. During 15 min post-intervention, PPT was higher (p < 0.05) following Ipsi-R (19.2 %), Contra-R (15.9 %) and Ipsi-M (10.9 %) compared with Control. There was no difference between the effects of three deep tissue massages (Ipsi-R, Ipsi-M and Contra-R) on PPT. DISCUSSION: Whereas the increased PPT following ipsilateral massage (Ipsi-R and Ipsi-M) might be attributed to the release of fibrous adhesions; the non-localized effect of rolling massage on the contralateral limb suggests that other mechanisms such as a central pain-modulatory system play a role in mediation of perceived pain following brief tissue massage.

conclusionOverall, rolling massage over a tender spot reduces pain perception.

trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT02528812 ), August 19(th), 2015.

Indexed as

Pain ThresholdAdolescentAdultFemaleHealthy VolunteersHumansMaleMassageMuscle, SkeletalYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID26416265
PMCPMC4587678
OpenAlexW1830813572

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.