It is interesting that increases in plasma CK activity were
significantly smaller for the massage condition than the control
(see Figure 2). The blunted CK response for the massaged arm
could be explained either by smaller CK efflux from the damaged
muscle or increased clearance of CK from the circulation.
It may be that massage enhanced the transport of CK from the
damaged muscle to the circulation via the lymph fluid and
increased CK clearance from the blood by increasing blood
and lymph flow.13 It is also possible to assume that massage
assists in flushing neutrophils and macrophages from the injured
area, thus avoiding fiber necrosis and CK efflux.26 However,
no concrete evidence to support these speculations is
available at this time.