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COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTS
OF GINGER ALMOND OIL AND TRADITIONAL
OLIVE OIL ON MUSCLE ELASTICITY AND
STIFFNESS DURING A SHORT SPORTS
MASSAGE SESSION
Poster Video
LAU Chit Leung, Elvis
BSocSc (Hons) in Sports and Recreation Management
Department of Sport and Recreation
OBJECTIVES RESEARCH BACKGROUND
• To investigate the potential Muscle elasticity and stiffness are crucial factors in physical fitness, athletic
effects of newly developed ginger performance, and injury prevention. Insufficient muscle elasticity and heightened
almond oil on muscle elasticity muscle elasticity muscle stiffness in the lower extremities are associated with an increased risk of
during sports massage sessions musculoskeletal injuries, such as patella tendinopathy and hamstrings strains.
versus traditional olive oil. Sports massage with oil application is a common therapeutic intervention for
• To investigate the potential improving muscle elasticity and reducing muscle stiffness. For this purpose,
effects of newly developed ginger olive and almond primarily consist of fatty acids and antioxidants, while ginger
almond oil on muscle stiffness muscle stiffness consists of various volatile compounds, including zingiberene and gingerol.
during sports massage sessions
versus traditional olive oil. METHODOLOGY
A quasi-experimental study was conducted with 23 healthy participants (aged
18 to 40, with no history of skin allergy). Each participant received three
interventions: massage without oil, massage with olive oil, and massage
with ginger almond oil. Interventions were applied to each side of quadriceps
and hamstrings muscle area for 7 minutes. Muscle elasticity and stiffness
were assessed before and after massage utilizing a MyotonPro device. All
measurements were standardized and performed on the quadriceps and
hamstrings of both limbs. For statistical analysis, a one-way ANCOVA analysis
was used to evaluate the effects of the intervention, followed by a post-hoc
ABOUT THE INVESTIGATOR test for multiple comparisons. Effect sizes were quantified using Cohen's d.
Measurement precision was determined through conservative coefficient of
Fueled by a passion for healing and variation (CV%), standard error of measurement (SEM), and minimal detectable
adventure, I thrive at the intersection change (MDC).
of sports therapy and scuba
coaching—mending musculoskeletal FINDINGS
injuries on weekdays and guiding
divers through underwater worlds on A significant difference in mean muscle stiffness reduction was observed in the
weekends. Committed to continuous dominant hamstrings between interventions [F(2,65) = 3.188, p = .048, ηp ² =
growth, I aim to be a small but mighty .089]. The results revealed that ginger almond oil led to a significant reduction
force in this vast forest of life. I am in muscle stiffness in dominant hamstrings compared to olive oil (p = 0.020, d
dedicated to evolving as a skilled, = 3.35), showing the greatest mean reduction (M = -16.037, SD = 6.747) with
compassionate therapist who inspires a large effect size. A conservative 5% CV threshold demonstrated excellent
others to move freely, both on land measurement precision, as evidenced by SEM, and the MDC fell within an
and under the sea. acceptable range, confirming that the results are statistically significant and
FYP Supervisor: Dr LUK Tsz Chung, clinically meaningful. This study demonstrates that specific massage oils can
Jim and Mr HO Man Kit, Indy enhance the therapeutic benefits of sports massage. As a potential targeted
preventive strategy, ginger almond oil shows promise for alleviating muscle
stiffness, particularly in the dominant hamstrings.
81 Student Applied Research Presentations 2025 Student Applied Research Presentations 2025
