Butterfield’s studies on massage have turned up intriguing evidence that massage performed shortly after exercise may increase protein synthesis in the muscle, at least in rats. “We think it’s the mechanical signal that the massage gives. We’re giving the cell a signal to react differently.” His results have been repeated in animal studies, but await confirmation in humans. If this happens in people too, it might mean that massage could help muscles heal from exercise-induced damage by promoting repairs via protein synthesis, but that idea remains theoretical and unproven as of yet.
