ReviewSports (Basel, Switzerland)2023
The Effects of Massage Therapy on Sport and Exercise Performance: A Systematic Review.
Review in Sports (Basel, Switzerland), 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06780072 (The Acute Effect of Manual Massage Therapy on Daytime Napping in Poor Sleepers), which is not on this map. Cited by 27 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled 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.
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.
The Acute Effect of Manual Massage Therapy on Daytime Napping in Poor Sleepers
Who cites it
27 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 41 citations in OpenAlex.
- Rethinking neurophysiology of delayed onset muscle soreness: updated concepts and mechanisms for mitigation across endurance, resistance, and plyometric exercise.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2026Pooled it
- Evaluating the Impact of Massage Therapy on Performance and Well-Being in Taekwondo Practitioners: A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025Pooled it
- Effects of lymphatic drainage and intense sports massage on muscle properties, damage, and function after eccentric plyometric training: a randomized controlled parallel trial.European journal of applied physiology · 2026Trial
- Active release techniquesJournal of back and musculoskeletal rehabilitation · 2026Trial
- Massage positively influences daytime brain activity and reduces arousal state in poor sleepers: a randomized controlled trial.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2025Trial
- Immediate effect of ice and dry massage during rest breaks on recovery in MMA fighters : a randomized crossover clinical trial study.Scientific reports · 2025Trial
- Trial
- Recovery effect of self-myofascial release treatment using different type of a foam rollers.Scientific reports · 2024Trial
- Short-Term Recovery Interventions Using Cryosauna, Cold-Water Immersion, and Foam Rolling in Mixed Martial Arts Athletes: A Polish Pilot Study.Sports (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Time to Blow the Whistle on Mental Fatigue in Soccer Referees: A Current Opinion on the Impact of Cognitive and Physical Demands on Performance and Training Interventions.Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2026Review
- An implantable mechano-electro cascade platform synchronizes neuro-muscle repair.Nature communications · 2026Article
- Short-Term Tensiomyography Responses of the Vastus Medialis to Percussive Massage Therapy with Different Frequency-Duration Combinations.Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology · 2026Article
- Lavender Essential Oil-Induced Enhancement of Exercise-Responsive Myokine Expression and Alteration of Muscle-Related Gene Networks in an in Vitro Muscle Contraction Model.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Article
- Two-Week Recovery Strategies to Enhance Performance Readiness in Martial Arts Athletes: A Pilot Study.Sports (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- A health resort-based intervention reduces insomnia with minimal changes in quality of life in COVID-19 survivors and non-COVID-19 controls.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Effects of early postpartum massage on physical discomfort, mood, and emotional well-being: A randomized controlled trial.European journal of midwifery · 2026Article
- Therapeutic massage with nanostructured lipid carrier gel containing quercetin for muscle injury treatment in rats.Brazilian journal of medical and biological research = Revista brasileira de pesquisas medicas e biologicas · 2026Article
- Effects of Pneumatic Compression and Manual Massage on Recovery and Performance in Elite Brazilian Under-20 Soccer Players: A Crossover Trial.Sports (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Effects of Magnetic Field Therapy and Massage on Upper Trapezius Muscle Tone, Craniovertebral Angle, and Scapular Index.Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Deep Tissue Massage Therapy: Effects on Muscle Recovery and Performance in Athletes.International journal of therapeutic massage & bodywork · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors at 4 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundA massage is a tool that is frequently used in sports and exercise in general for recovery and increased performance. In this review paper, we aimed to search and systemize current literature findings relating to massages' effects on sports and exercise performance concerning its effects on motor abilities and neurophysiological and psychological mechanisms.
methodsThe review has been written following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis) guidelines. One hundred and fourteen articles were included in this review.
resultsThe data revealed that massages, in general, do not affect motor abilities, except flexibility. However, several studies demonstrated that positive muscle force and strength changed 48 h after the massage was given. Concerning neurophysiological parameters, the massage did not change blood lactate clearance, muscle blood flow, muscle temperature, or activation. However, many studies indicate pain reduction and delayed onset muscle soreness, which are probably correlated with the reduction of the level of creatine kinase enzyme and psychological mechanisms. In addition, the massage treatment led to a decrease in depression, stress, anxiety, and the perception of fatigue and an increase in mood, relaxation, and the perception of recovery.
conclusionThe direct usage of massages just for gaining results in sport and exercise performance seems questionable. However, it is indirectly connected to performance as an important tool when an athlete should stay focused and relaxed during competition or training and recover after them.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
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.