IMMEDIATE EFFECTS OF THAI MASSAGE ON GAIT PARAMETERS IN NORMAL ADULTS: A PILOT STUDY

The purpose of this study was to determine the immediate effects of Thai massage on gait parameters including stride length, step length, step width, and gait speed, hamstring flexibility, trunk flexibility, and hip, knee and ankle range of motion while walking in normal adults aged 19-25 years. A randomized crossover trial was used. Thirty healthy subjects (17 females and 13 males) with the tightness of hamstring muscles as indicated by a straight-leg-raising (SLR) ranged between 40 to 70 degrees participated. Each of them received a session of 1-hour Thai massage and a controlled condition of 1-hour resting on a bed with a 2-day washout period. Changes in all parameters between Thai massage session and control session results were analyzed by independent t-test. Changes between pretest and posttest for both sessions were performed by dependent t-test. Significantly differences were found between-group comparison in hamstring flexibility (4.88o; 95%CI, 1.52 to 8.23), trunk flexibility (2.35 cm.; 95%CI, 1.25 to3.45), step length (1.94 cm.; 95%CI, 0.40 to 3.47), and stride length (4.77 cm.; 95%CI 2.12 to 7.41) (p<0.05). However, no differences were found in changes of gait speed, the range of motion of hip, knee, and ankle. We concluded that one session of Thai massage could provide immediate effects to improve some gait parameters, body flexibility, and hamstring flexibility.