EFFECTS OF KINESIOLOGICAL MASSAGE ON POSTURAL CONTROL IN WOMEN AGED 20–25

Abstract

Aim. This paper aims to assess the effectiveness and sustained effects of kinesiological massage on objective parameters of statokinetic stability. Materials and methods. This randomized trial involved 226 females aged 20–25 years stratified into three groups: the treatment group (TG; stress + kinesiological intervention), the placebo group (PG; tactile imitation), and the resilience group (RG; physiological norm). Computer stabilometry was performed with eyes open and closed at T0 (baseline), T1 (immediately post-intervention), and T2 (24-hour post-intervention). Results. In the treatment group, kinesiological massage significantly reduced center of pressure velocity (V) by 30.4% (T1) and 22.8% (T2) with eyes open and by 35.7% (T1) and 25.9% (T2) with eyes closed. Stabilogram area (S) decreased by 46.2% in the eyes-closed test. A significant shift in frequency characteristics (Fx, Fy) toward the low-frequency range indicated the formation of an efficient, centrally programmed balance strategy. In the placebo group, the effects were transient and disappeared by T2. Conclusion. Kinesiological massage provides prolonged optimization of proprioceptive-vestibular integration, establishing a sustained strategy of postural control that outperforms the non-specific placebo effect.