[The effect of air massage on serum constituents]

This study investigated the effect of air massage of the legs on serum constituents. Five volunteers (aged 48.8+/-12.98 years, n=5) served as subjects. The study consisted of three periods as follows: control period for one month(no-mas), massage period receiving the massage for 15 minutes per day for one month(mas), and another massage period receiving the massage for 15 minutes per day along with 40% oxygen uptake for one month (O2-mas). Venous blood samples were drawn every week during the study periods. Serum constituents were examined using an auto analyzer(Hitachi Ltd., JEOL Ltd.). Albumin concentration significantly increased under the O2-mas condition, whereas free-cholesterol concentration was significantly decreased under the same condition. In addition, significant increases in concentrations of creatinine and calcium were seen in men under the O2-mas condition. Furthermore, there was a significant decrease in the activity of alkaline phosphatase in women under both the mas and O2-mas conditions. These findings suggested that massage has positive effects on nutritional recovery and metabolism of lipids, bone and muscle. Thus, it may be argued that massage could potentially be effective as a form of exercise.