Comparison of massage, static stretching and combination of massage and stretching methods in lower limb muscle on flexibility, anaerobic power and agility tests performance in soccer players

Introduction: The purpose of the study was comparing the three methods including massage, static stretching and combination of massage and stretching in lower limb muscle on flexibility, power and agility tests performance in soccer players. Methods: 45 soccer players contributed in this semi-experimental study. The players were randomly assign in three groups massage (15 cases), stretching (15 cases) and a combination of massage and stretching group (15 cases) . They warmed up themselves by 5-min jogging before test. Massage, static stretching and combination of massage and stretching were performed on lower limbs for 15 min. Each test was performed three times and the best record was accepted. Flexibility, power and agility of all players were evaluated before and after the interventions. In order to compare the effect of these three protocols, correlated t-test and analysis of variance were used and p<0.05 was considered significant. Results: Results showed that the records of flexibility and power tests (except for massage group ) have significantly increased after massage, static stretching and combination of massage and stretching (P<0.05). Significant changes in agility test (except for combination of massage and stretching group) records was also observed (P<0.05). Conclusion: In general, athletes can use massage, static stretching and combination of massage and stretching protocol before competition or maximal flexibility-required and power exercise, but in shorter periods than usual, in order to obtain more benefit from increased flexibility as well as reduce risk of their muscle injuries.