The effects of spodetrig massage combined with training

Abstract

Background: Athletes with lower-limb injuries commonly undergo rehabilitation to support return to training and competition. However, many continue to experience residual pain, postural deficits, and incomplete functional recovery, which may hinder return-to-play. Spodetrig massage (trigger-point release and soft-tissue mobilization) may improve tissue function, reduce muscle tension, and promote neuromuscular recovery. When combined with structured exercise therapy (whole-body, abdominal, and core training), it provides complementary benefits for postural control and change-of-direction performance. Purpose: To examine the effects of Spodetrig massage combined with whole-body, abdominal, and core training on pain, dynamic postural control, and change-of-direction performance in male athletes after non-specific lower-limb injury. Methods: A randomized controlled pretest-posttest design was used. Eighty male athletes were allocated to a treatment group (TG; n = 40) or a control group (CG; n = 40). TG received Spodetrig massage plus structured exercise training twice a week for eight weeks, while CG continued usual activity. Outcomes were pain (Visual Analog Scale), dynamic postural control (Y-Balance Test), and change-of-direction performance (T-Test). Data were summarized using descriptive statistics. Assumptions of normality and homogeneity were then assessed using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov and Levene’s tests. Changes within groups were examined using paired-samples t-tests, while differences between groups (at pretest, posttest, and for change scores) were analyzed using independent-samples t-tests. Statistical significance was established at p < .05. All analyses were conducted using SPSS version 25. Results: The combined intervention significantly reduced pain levels, improved dynamic balance, and enhanced the ability to change direction. Compared with CG, TG showed greater improvements in pain (TG: 2.38 ± 1.18; CG: 4.50 ± 1.10), dynamic balance (TG: 89.28 ± 7.36; CG: 77.36 ± 5.66), and change-ofdirection performance (TG: 10.59 ± 1.10 s; CG: 12.32 ± 1.25 s) (all p < .05). Conclusion: Spodetrig massage combined with whole-body, abdominal, and core training is effective in reducing pain and enhancing functional performance to support return-to-play readiness after non-specific lower-limb injury. These findings support the use of integrated treatment strategies to facilitate effective return-to-play in injured athletes.