Failure of manual massage to alter limb blood flow: measures by Doppler ultrasound

10 healthy individuals

Manual massage (effleurage, petrissage, and tapotement) administered by a certified massage therapist to the forearm flexors (small muscle mass) and quadriceps (large muscle mass) muscle groups

Rest (prior to treatment) and mild voluntary contractions (handgrip and knee extension)

Limb blood flow determined from mean blood velocity (pulsed Doppler) and vessel diameter (echo Doppler) at 5, 10, and 20 s and 5 min following the onset of massagesurrogate