earticle

영어

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) on exercise-induced muscle damage. Sixteen healthy male university students were randomly assigned to the IASTM group (n = 8) and the control group (n = 8). Each subject performed two sets of 25 eccentric contractions while positioning the elbow flexor on a modified preacher curl machine. IASTM was applied using a concave-shaped stainless-steel instrument for 8 minutes immediately and 48 hours after eccentric exercise. Maximal isometric strength (MIS), muscle soreness, and creatine kinase (CK) activity were measured as indicators of muscle damage. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) levels were also assessed as a fibrotic factor. The recovery of MIS was quicker (control vs. IASTM: 96h: 60.7% ± 7.9% vs. 89.1% ± 10.4%, P < 0.001), and that of TGF-β1 level was lower (control vs. IASTM: 48h: 5.5 ± 1.9 vs. 2.4 ± 0.6, P < 0.01; 72h: 5.6 ± 1.7 vs. 2.6 ± 0.5, 96h: 5.2 ± 1.6 vs. 1.9 ± 0.5 ng/mL, P < 0.001) in the IASTM group than in the control group. However, no significant differences in muscle soreness or CK activity was found between the two groups (P > 0.05). In conclusion, IASTM can be an effective method for reducing fibrous scar tissue and restoring muscle function quickly after exercise-induced muscle damage.