Massages Cause Changes in Blood Fluidity

Journal/Book: Physiotherapy. 1987; 73: 43.

Abstract: Various forms of physical therapy have recently been shown to alter blood fluidity. As there are no published data on the haemorheological effects of massages, experiments were performed to investigate the question. Twelve healthy volunteers as well as 10 patients suffering from ankylosing spondylitis were tested. Blood rheology was quantified by measuring blood viscosity at native and 45% haematocrit, plasma viscosity, haematocrit, red cell filterability and red cell aggregation. Volunteers were tested before and after one standard whole body muscular massage of 20 minutes. Patients were examined in the same way, but additionally tested after one series of six such massages during a two-week period. Results show that blood viscosities, haematocrit and plasma viscosity decline after both acute and long-term treatment. The changes in blood rheology seem to be caused mainly by haemodilution.

Keyword(s): Massages

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