The impact of massage on the leukocyte system in peripheral blood

Waldemar Andrzejewski, Krzysztof Kassolik

Waldemar Andrzejewski, Krzysztof Kassolik – The impact of massage on the leukocyte system in peripheral blood. Fizjoterapia Polska 2004; 4(4); 369-377

Abstract

Background. Our research was directed to the following questions: 1. Can muscle massage cause changes in the absolute number of leukocytes in peripheral blood? 2. Can massage cause changes in the proportions of neutrocytes, lymphocytes and monocytes? 3. Do these changes, if any, resemble the changes occurring during an inflammatory process? Material and methods. We studied 60 male Buffalo rats, 8 months old, procured from our own breeding facility. The rats were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group (30 animals each). The experimental rats were subjected to daily massage of the hind limbs for 30 days. The control animals were not massaged, but were removed from the cage and held in the same way as the experimental animals. Three days before the experiment and again on days 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, and 30, blood samples were collected for analysis from all animals in both groups directly after massage. Results. Massage caused changes in the absolute number of leukocytes in peripheral blood. No statistically significant changes were noted in the percentages of neutrocytes and lymphocytes, but the monocyte value changed, achieving a significant increase on the 10th and 20th days in comparison to the control group. Conclusion. The changes we observed are similar in their dynamics to the leukocyte reaction during inflammation, and may indicate that massage as a mechanical factor of low intensity can function as a stimulant for the immune system.

Key words:
neutrocytes, Lymphocytes, Monocytes, Immune System
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