Effectiveness of Massage after Impulse Exercises on Pain and Proprioception Sense of Ankle in Female Beginner Taekwondo

 Aims and background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of massage after impulse exercises on pain and proprioception sense of ankle in female beginner taekwondo players.  Materials and Methods: Eighteen 20-30 years old beginner taekwondo players in Meshkinshahr were selected by voluntary sampling and were divided randomly into experimental (massage) and control groups; each group contains 9 people. Both groups performed 3 repetitions of 20 seconds kick exercises with 20 seconds rest between repetitions and then the experimental group received 30 minutes massage. The level of pain and proprioception sense of ankle was measured respectively with McGill pain questionnaire and reconstruction error method for 20 and 25 degree of plantar flexion at rest, immediately after exercise, immediately after massage, 2 and 48 hours after exercise. One way Anova with repeated measure and independent t-test were used for within subjects effects and between subjects effects respectively. Findings: The level of pain was significantly higher at all measuring time compared to rest time in both groups (p<0.05) however after applying massage, it was significantly lower in massage group compared to control group at all times (p<0.05). Intra -group changes for reconstruction error of 20 degree in plantar flexion was not significant in none of experimental and control groups (P=0.103, P=0.833, respectively), however intra-group changes for reconstruction error of 25 degree in plantar flexion was significant in massage group (P = 0.001), but not in control group (p=0.18). Intra group differences for reconstruction error of 20 and 25 degree in plantar flexion was significant only 2 hours after exercise and it was lower in massage group (p=0.026 and p=0.003 respectively). Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate that massage decreases pain and improves proprioception sense 2 hours after applying.