Introduction
Tsujita (2014) stated that skin suction improves joint range of motion through passive movement. Furthermore, Tsujita (2017) reported that percutaneous fascial suction enables fascial gliding, producing effects comparable to those of myofascial release. In recent years, it has become evident that treatment using a percutaneous suction stimulation device (hereinafter referred to as “Medicell,” manufactured by MJ Company) improves both fascial gliding and joint range of motion. However, the effect of Medicell treatment on muscle strength remains unclear. Therefore, clarifying how Medicell treatment influences muscle strength could provide foundational data for determining its application in clinical settings such as sports activities.
Purpose
- To examine the effects of percutaneous suction stimulation by Medicell treatment on muscle strength.
- To compare and examine the effects of percutaneous suction stimulation by Medicell treatment on isokinetic knee muscle strength with those of static stretching on the same site.
These two objectives form the purpose of this study.
Methods
Percutaneous suction treatment using Medicell was applied to the posterior thigh for 2 minutes on 20 healthy male university rugby players. Isokinetic knee extension and flexion strength (at 60 deg/sec and 180 deg/sec) was measured immediately before, immediately after, and 20 minutes after the treatment. One week later, the same subjects received 2 minutes of static stretching on the same area. Isokinetic knee extension and flexion strength (at 60 deg/sec and 180 deg/sec) was again measured immediately before, immediately after, and 20 minutes after the stretching. Changes in measurements were analyzed using ANOVA.
Results
No significant changes were observed in isokinetic muscle strength before and after Medicell treatment at either 60 or 180 deg/sec, in any of the knee extension or flexion conditions (Figures 1–2).
Figure 1: Change in Isokinetic Knee Muscle Strength Before and After Medicell Treatment (60deg/sec) *P<0.05
Figure 2: Change in Isokinetic Knee Muscle Strength Before and After Medicell Treatment (180deg/sec) *P<0.05
As for static stretching, there were no significant changes at 60 deg/sec or in knee extension at 180 deg/sec. However, a significant decrease in knee flexion strength was observed at 180 deg/sec between immediately before and immediately after, and between immediately before and 20 minutes after the treatment (P < 0.05) (Figures 3–4).
Figure 3: Change in Isokinetic Muscle Strength Before and After Static Stretching (60deg/sec)*:P<0.05
Figure 4: Change in Isokinetic Muscle Strength Before and After Static Stretching (60deg/sec)*:P<0.05
Discussion
Previous studies have reported that static stretching can lead to a decrease in muscle strength and power, making it undesirable immediately before athletic performance (Ichihashi, 2014; Fletcher et al., 2014; Pearce et al., 2009). One possible reason for this decrease is the occurrence of Ib inhibition, in which muscle activity is suppressed due to stretching of the tendon. However, since Medicell treatment does not involve stretching of muscles or tendons, it is assumed that no Ib inhibition occurs, and thus no reduction in muscle strength was observed. These findings suggest that Medicell treatment may be a useful conditioning method immediately before athletic performance.
Conclusion
Muscle strength after percutaneous suction stimulation with Medicell was measured and compared with that after static stretching.
- Muscle strength did not decrease immediately or 20 minutes after Medicell treatment.
- Muscle strength decreased immediately and 20 minutes after static stretching.
From these results, it can be concluded that while Medicell treatment improves joint range of motion, it does not cause a reduction in muscle strength, making it a beneficial conditioning method prior to athletic activities.
References
- Alan J. Pearce et al. (2009), Effects of secondary warm up following stretching, Eur J Appl Physiol.
- Iain M. Fletcher et al. (2014), Ballistic Exercise as a Pre-Activation Stimulus: A Review of the Literature and Practical Applications, Sports Med.
- Noriyasu Ichihashi (2014), Evidence of Stretching, Japanese Journal of Physical Therapy.
- Junzo Tsujita (2014), Skin suction improves joint range of motion through passive movement, Japanese Journal of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine.
- Junzo Tsujita (2017), Percutaneous fascial suction induces fascial gliding and achieves effects comparable to myofascial release, Japanese Journal of Physical Therapy
