Effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (pnf) and sport massage on muscle soreness among Negeri Sembilan U-19 junior league hockey players / Noer Fatimah El-Zahra Hasan, Mardiana Mazaulan and Muhamad Noor Mohamed

Muscle soreness is a frequent issue for hockey players due to the sport’s high intensity, involving explosive movements, quick direction changes, and physical contact. Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) refers to the discomfort characterized by soreness, stiffness, tightness, swelling, and muscle weakness experienced 24 to 72 hours after engaging in intense or unfamiliar exercise. Previous studies have suggested that PNF stretching might be an effective strategy for athletes to accelerate recovery, but further research is necessary. Similarly, research has indicated that sports massage could enhance recovery and lessen muscle soreness, though additional studies are required. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of PNF stretching and sports massage in alleviating muscle soreness among Negeri Sembilan junior league hockey players after a match. There were 10 participants exposed to the PNF stretching group and sports massage group. This study was a quasi-experimental design. For PNF stretching, participants started by holding the position for 10 seconds, and the player pressed back against the trainer for 6 seconds. The trainer resisted and kept the leg in the same position. Finally, the player engaged his hip muscles while the trainer carefully pushed the leg to its maximum stretch. They performed one repetition for each muscle. For sports massage, a certified sports therapist administered 20-minute treatments using hypoallergenic oil, massaging each muscle group for 2.5 minutes with effleurage, petrissage, and tapotement, including cupping, hacking, and knuckling. The participant’s pain scale (PS), knee range of motion (ROM), and muscular power (PWR) were recorded at five different time points: before the match, immediately after the match, and 24-, 48-, and 72-hours post-treatment. The differences in muscle soreness scores between the two groups were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. The results indicated that both proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching (PNF) and sports massage had a significant effect on the pain scale (PS), knee range of motion (ROM), and muscular power (PWR) between five time frames (p < 0.05). Therefore, there was a significant difference in the effect of PNF stretching and sports massage. It can be concluded that PNF stretching was the best treatment overall for hockey players to reduce soreness after a match or training.