Effects of whole body massage on serum protein, electrolyte and hormone concentrations, enzyme activities, and hematological parameters.

The effects of a 1-h whole body massage on blood parameters were studied in nine healthy male volunteers. The venous blood samples were drawn just before treatment, immediately after, and after 2, 24, and 48 h. The parameters measured were blood leukocyte and erythrocyte counts, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, red cell indices, the activities of serum creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase and their isoenzymes, and the concentrations of serum sodium, potassium, total protein, haptoglobin, growth hormone, prolactin, cortisol, and plasma corticotropin. Decreases in serum haptoglobin concentrations suggested slight hemolysis. The rises in the activities of creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and its isoenzymes LDH4 and LDH5 and in the concentrations of serum potassium are indicative of increased permeability of the muscle cells. No statistically significant changes were seen for the other parameters. There were large individual variabilities in the hormone concentrations after massage, but some trends could be seen.