Investıgatıon Of The Effects Of Lower Extremıty Massage Performed Before Oraınıng On Flexıbılıty In Volleyball Players

Year 2025, Volume: 13 Issue: 1, 90 - 106

Onur Aktürk , Vedat Ayan

Abstract

Investigation of the Effects of Lower Extremity Massage Performed Before Training on Flexibility in Volleyball Players
Although there are studies examining the effects of massage on flexibility in the literature, those specifically conducted on volleyball athletes are limited. Therefore, the aim of our study is our study aims to to investigate the effects of lower extremity massage performed before training on flexibility in volleyball players. The research group of our study consists of the Gümüşsu Gümüşhanespor volleyball team competing in the Turkish Volleyball 1st League. Necessary explanations were provided to the player group before measurements were taken. The study group consists of 12 athletes who volunteered to participate. The participants were divided into two groups: the experimental group (6 athletes) and the control group (6 athletes). During the measurements, pre-test measurements were taken for the experimental group, followed by a 5-minute lower extremity massage. Subsequently, post-test measurements were taken for the experimental group. For the control group, pre-test measurements were taken, followed by no massage application, and then then x post-test measurements were taken. These measurements were spread over a 4-week period instead of a 4 week just 4 weeks, planned as only one day per specified week. During the measurements, the Digital Flexion Meter device was used for vertical flexibility testing. The statistical analysis of the results was performed using SPSS for Windows 22.0 package program. Considering the error rate set at (α=0.05), differences were considered statistically significant when p<0.05.

According to the findings of the study’s findings, the average age of the control group was 25.17±6.55 years, and the average age of the experimental group was 29.50±6.41 years. The average age of starting sports was found to be 11.33±4.63 years for the control group and 13.00±2.45 years for the experimental group. The average height was 191.00±6.48 cm for the control group and 193.67±6.35 cm for the experimental group. The average weight was 83.17±5.15 kg for the control group and 88.67±8.73 kg for kilograms for the experimental group. The average BMI was 22.88±2.36 kg/m2 for the control group and 23.76±3.48 kg/m2 for the experimental group.
Examining the flexibility measurement results, the 1st flexibility pre-test average of the experimental group was 4.9±9.56 cm, and the post-test average was 9.02±9.44 cm. The 1st flexibility pre-test average of the control group was 0.03±6.00 cm, and the post-test average was 0.05±5.68 cm. As a result of the 4th flexibility measurement, the post-test average of the experimental group was 6.87±6.13 cm, and the post-test average was 6.87±6.13 cm. The pre-test average of the control group was 1.47±4.74 cm, and the post-test average was 1.75±4.67 cm. According to the flexibility measurement results, an Independent Samples t-test was applied to determine whether there was a difference in flexibility levels between groups in pre-test and post-test measurements. As a result of this analysis, a significant difference was found between the experimental and control groups in the 3rd and 4th flexibility measurements (p<0.05). Furthermore, another intergroup comparison found that in the post-test, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th flexibility levels of the participants in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group. To determine whether there was a difference between pre-test and post-test flexibility levels within the groups, a Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test was applied to the 1st flexibility pre-test and post-test scores, and a statistically significant difference was observed (p<0.05). It was found that the post-test scores of the 1st flexibility in the experimental group were higher than the pre-test scores.
To determine whether there was a difference in flexibility levels within the groups, a Dependent Samples t-test was applied to the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th flexibility pre-test and post-test scores, and it was found that the post-test scores of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th flexibility in the experimental group were higher than the pre-test scores.
In conclusion, according to the data obtained from our study, it was found that the flexibility measurement results of the experimental group were higher than those of the control group in both pre-test and post-test. Additionally, it was observed that the post-test flexibility results of the experimental group were higher than the pre-test results, indicating that massage application was effective on flexibility. Furthermore, it was determined that the post-test scores of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th flexibility in the experimental group were higher than the pre-test scores, confirming the effectiveness of massage application. The study concluded that massage has positive and significant effects on flexibility in volleyball players. The results of this study are thought to contribute to determining the necessary performance criteria for athletes in volleyball and are considered important for coaches, athletes, and sports science literature.

Keywords

Volleyball, Massage, Flexibility, Lower Extremity

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