Deep Transverse Cross Frictions

[Guest guest]

Perle contributed a few more articles relating to friction massage.

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son et al found that massage that was longitudinal (not transverse)

which they call Augmented Soft Tissue Mobilization (ASTM) results in

increase numbers of fibroblasts and increased collagen deposition in rat

tendon model. On the other hand Stratford et al found that transverse

friction massage had no significant effect in human's with lateral

epicondylitis.

son C, Ganion L, Gehlsen G, Verhoestra B, Roepke J, Sevier T. Rat

Tendon Morphologic and Functional Changes Resulting from Soft Tissue

Mobilization. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1997; 29(3):313-9.

Abstract:

Augmented Soft Tissue Mobilization (ASTM) is a new non-invasive soft

tissue mobilization technique which has been used successfully to treat

a variety of musculoskeletal disorders. The purpose of this study was to

determine the effects of ASTM therapy on the morphological and

functional characteristics of enzyme induced injured rat Achilles

tendons. Four groups of five rats were allocated as follows: (A)

control, ( tendinitis, © tendinitis plus ASTM, and (D) ASTM alone.

Collagenase injury was induced, and the surgical site was allowed to

heal for 3 wk. ASTM was performed on the Achilles tendon of groups C and

D for 3 min on postoperative days 21, 25, 29, and 33 for a total of four

treatments. Gait data were gathered prior to each treatment. The

Achilles tendons of each group were harvested 1 wk after the last

treatment. Specimens were prepared for light and electron microscopy,

and immunostaining for type I and type III collagen and fibronectin was

performed.

Light microscopy showed increased fibroblast proliferation in

the tendinitis plus ASTM treatment group. Although healing in rats may

not translate directly to healing in humans, the findings of this study

suggest that ASTM may promote healing via increased fibroblast

recruitment.

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Stratford PW, Levy DR, Gauldie S, Miseferi D, Levy K. the Evaluation of

Phonophoresis and Friction Massage as Treatments for Extensor Carpi

Radialis Tendinitis: a Randomized Controlled Trial. Physiotherapy

Canada 1989; 41(2):93, 7-8.

Abstract:

The purposes of this study were to determine whether ultrasound and a

10% hydrocortisone ointment (phonophoresis) was superior to ultrasound

and a placebo ointment, and to determine whether friction massage was

superior to no friction, in patients with the clinical diagmosis of

extersor carpi radialis tendinitis (proximal tendon). Forty consecutive

lateral epicondylitis patients fulfilling the eligibility criteria were

entered into the study. Using a 2 by 2 factorial design, the patients

were stratified on the basis of pain-free grip strength. They were

then randomly assigned to 1 of the 4 treatments within 5 weeks of the

initial visit.

No one therapy was demonstrated to be superior to

another; however, site of lesion and history of a prior occurrence were

found to be predictors of outcome, independent of therapy. The results

suggest that the most cost-effective method of treating the lateral

epicondylitis patient is by ultrasound alone.

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Dr Mel C Siff

Denver, USA

mcsiff@...