BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Biokinergia (BK) is a massage aimed at improving "biological" potential. An initial pilot study demonstrated that a BK session could alter blood lactate concentration during prolonged exercise.

OBJECTIVE: To confirm the effect of BK on performance and physiological adaptations during maximal aerobic muscular exercise.

METHODS: Two groups of 10 subjects each performed a maximal progressive exercise on a cycle ergometer before and 10 days after a BK session (B group) or a feigned one (C group) in a simple-blinded manner.

RESULTS: No modifications were noticed in the C group. After BK in the B group, maximum oxygen consumption was slightly increased (7%) and submaximal heart rate slightly lowered (4.7%) in 65% of the subjects; tidal volume was higher and breathing frequency was lower for 45% of the subjects.

CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION: The slight modifications induced by BK suggest that BK altered the sympathetic nervous system, but this needs confirmation.

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