Effect of pneumatic compression and manual massage on fatigue recovery and performance in under-20 soccer players: A crossover study.

Abstract

Acute neuromuscular fatigue, commonly observed in high-demand sports such as competitive football, impairs athletic performance and significantly increases the risk of musculoskeletal injuries. In this context, non-invasive therapeutic strategies such as manual massage (MM) and intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) have been employed to accelerate the muscle recovery process, although their effects remain a subject of debate in the scientific literature. This study aimed to compare the effects of MM and IPC on the recovery of biochemical and functional markers of muscle damage, strength, and power in the lower limbs of Under-20 football players. A randomized crossover clinical trial was conducted with 20 athletes who underwent standardized physical exertion followed, in separate sessions, by MM and IPC interventions, with a seven-day washout period between treatments. The variables analyzed included creatine kinase (CK) levels, maximal voluntary isometric contraction of the quadriceps (MVIC-QUAD) and hamstrings (MVIC-HAM), as well as vertical jump height (VJ). Results showed that both interventions significantly reduced CK levels: MM (382.5 ± 163.02 U/L vs. 305.4 ± 239.98 U/L; p = 0.042) and IPC in the crossover phase (307 ± 198 U/L vs. 256 ± 84.75 U/L; p = 0.028). However, no statistically significant differences were observed in muscle strength or power variables (p > 0.05), although a trend toward increased quadriceps strength after IPC was noted (p = 0.064), suggesting a potential delayed effect. It is concluded that MM and IPC are effective strategies for promoting short-term biochemical recovery while preserving the functional status of athletes without negatively affecting immediate neuromuscular performance. These findings have practical applications for planning intense microcycles in youth football, especially in competitive contexts where recovery optimization is essential for performance maintenance and injury prevention.