Massage science shows increased power on bike

A study by researchers at Chukyo University in Japan shows that 10 minutes of Swedish Petrissage massage after a tough workout increased power and lowered leg fatigue.

Eleven athletes performed the tests over the course of a week, and at random they either performed a series of five-second sprints on the bike followed by a massage and 35 minutes of bed rest before repeating the workout, or they did the same without the massage.

The massage had no effect on lactic acid levels, but the massage group outperformed the control group during the second set.

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