Effects of different doses of sports liniment with massage on changes of myoglobin among male Muay Thai fighters: A randomised cross-over pilot study

Abstract

The pre-training application of sports liniment, whose pungent smell is a common feature of Muay Thai gyms, is routinely used by male Thai Muay Thai fighters, yet little research has examined its physiological effects on intramuscular oxygen stores. This study investigated the impact of different dosages (1, 3, and 5 mL) of Namman Muay (NM) liniment compared to a control (Baby Oil) on myoglobin oxygen saturation (Mb%) in the Rectus femoris muscle, crucial for kicking techniques. To enhance liniment permeation, two mechanical methods were utilized: Tape Stripping (TS) and Massage (MG). In a randomized, cross-over design, twelve male Muay Thai fighters participated in TS on Day 1, followed by MG on Day 2, receiving randomly allocated NM dosages or the control. A Moxy monitor measured Mb% at baseline, 20 min, and 45 min post-intervention. The results revealed all NM dosages combined with MG led to significant increases in Mb% at 20 minutes post-application. Notably, the 5 mL dosage with MG sustained significant increases at both 20 and 45 min post-application, showing a 26% increase at 20 min (p < 0.001) and a 17% increase at 45 min compared to baseline. The 5 mL TS group also exhibited a significant 9.1% increase post-application at 20 min (p = 0.016). These findings suggest that a 5 mL dosage of NM, particularly when applied with massage, significantly enhances myoglobin oxygenation. This implies that a higher amount of NM could potentially benefit the performance of male Muay Thai fighters.