The Effect of Eight Weeks of Relaxation Massage on the Mental Fatigue Control, Balance, Lower Extremity Function and Landing Mechanic in Physical Education Students

Mental fatigue usually occurs following prolonged cognitive activity. Mental fatigue is a psychological condition that occurs as a result of long-term cognitive activities. Mental fatigue can have significant effects on the daily life of healthy people. This study aimed to investigate the effect of eight weeks of relaxation massage on the mental fatigue control and balance, lower extremity function, and landing mechanic in physical education students.

This research is a quasi-experimental study, and the statistical population of this study was physical education students. From the statistical population, 30 male students with Mean±SD age= 19.5±5.5 years, weight= 69.6±6.8 kg, height= 187.75±4.5 cm, and sports history= 2.66±1.3 years. They were selected by purposeful and were randomly divided based on Research and Criteria into two groups: control group (n=15) and relaxation massage group (n=15). Before and after relaxation massage, mental exhaustion with 45 minutes of stroke activity (Stroop test), Dynamic Balance with Y test, Semi-dynamic balance with Lafayette Stability Platform, lower extremity function by the Lower Extremity Functional Test (LEFT) test and landing mechanic by LESS, Jump-landing skill film assessment by Auto CAD and Kinovea software were measured. Data analysis was performed in SPSS v. 22 software by using Statistical method of ANOVA test with repeated measures and paired t-test at the significant level P=0.05. 

The results showed that a significant difference was observed between the relaxation massage group and the control group on lower limb function, landing mechanics, dynamic balance, and semi-dynamic balance of physical education students (P=0.001).

Significant changes in lower limb function factors, landing mechanics, dynamic balance, and semi-dynamic balance in physical education students after relaxation massage exercises indicate the importance of this issue. Injury prevention specialists should study and research in introducing strategies to deal with the occurrence of mental fatigue.