Effects of Myofascial Release, Dynamic and Static Stretching in Adolescent Karate Athletes

May 1, 2026 updated by: Mirsad Alkan, Istinye University

A Comparison of the Acute Effects of Myofascial Release, Dynamic Stretching, and Static Stretching Exercises on Posture, Flexibility, Balance, and Performance in Adolescent Karate Athletes

This randomized single-blind crossover trial investigated the acute effects of three different exercise modalities, namely self-myofascial release with a foam roller, dynamic stretching, and static stretching, on posture, flexibility, dynamic balance, and lower-extremity performance in adolescent karate athletes (12-18 years). Participants attended four weekly sessions at the same time of day and after a 48-hour rest period. In the first week a baseline (control) measurement was performed, and in the following three weeks each participant received the three interventions in a randomized order. Outcomes included a four-view smartphone-based posture analysis (PostureScreen Mobile), the Sit-and-Reach Test, the Y Balance Test, the 30-second Sit-to-Stand Test, and the Vertical Jump Test (My Jump Lab 2). The aim was to identify which warm-up modality offers the greatest acute benefit before karate-specific performance

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Design: This study was a randomized, single-blind, three-period crossover trial conducted at the Usak Karate Ozlem Sport Club, Usak, Turkiye. Adolescent karate athletes aged 12-18 years training at least 4 days/week and a minimum of 10 hours/week were eligible. After signing the assent and parental informed consent forms, participants were randomly allocated to one of three treatment-order sequences using sealed opaque envelopes. Procedures: All assessments and interventions were carried out by the same physiotherapist on the same day of the week, with one-week wash-out periods between sessions, and after a 48-hour abstention from training in order to capture purely acute effects. Week 1 served as the control measurement (no intervention). In Weeks 2-4, the three interventions (static stretching, dynamic stretching, self-myofascial release) were applied in a randomized order; outcome measures were repeated immediately after each intervention with a standardized 2-minute rest interval. Interventions: (1) Static stretching: 30-second hold per muscle group (knee flexors, knee extensors, hip extensors), 5 repetitions, with 15-second inter-set rest. (2) Dynamic stretching: walking knee-to-chest, walking quadriceps stretch (heel-to-buttock), and walking straight-leg kicks; each performed for 30 seconds (one repetition every 2 seconds), 5 sets with 15-second inter-set rest. (3) Self-myofascial release (SMR): EVA medium-density foam roller applied to knee extensors, knee flexors, and hip extensors; 5 sets of 30 seconds at 40-60 bpm rolling cadence per muscle group. Outcome assessment: Posture was evaluated with the PostureScreen Mobile (PSM) application using anterior, posterior, right and left lateral photographs and analyzing head, shoulder, pelvis and knee anterior/lateral translations. Flexibility was assessed using the Sit-and-Reach Test on a standard reach box. Dynamic balance was assessed with the Y Balance Test (anterior, posteromedial, posterolateral reach distances normalized to leg length) on both lower extremities. Lower-extremity muscular endurance was assessed with the 30-second Sit-to-Stand Test. Vertical jump performance was measured using the My Jump Lab 2 smartphone application with a tripod-fixed iPhone camera. Statistical analysis: A priori power analysis was performed using G*Power 3.1 (effect size f = 0.25, alpha = 0.05, power = 0.95) which yielded a minimum required sample of 36 participants; 48 athletes were enrolled to account for potential drop-outs. Normality was tested with the Shapiro-Wilk test. Because data were not normally distributed, the Friedman test was used for within-subject comparisons, with Wilcoxon signed-rank tests applied for pairwise post-hoc analyses. A change-score (delta) analysis was used to compare interventions head-to-head. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS 25.0 with significance set at p<0.05. There was no external funding for the study and the authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
48

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 12-18 years.
  • Active karate training of at least 4 days per week and at least 10 hours per week.
  • Ability to communicate in Turkish or English (written and verbal).
  • Written informed assent of the participant and informed consent of the parent/legal guardian.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Any systemic, orthopedic, neurologic, chronic or psychiatric disease.
  • Any health problem precluding regular training participation.
  • Long-term steroid use.
  • Use within the past 48 hours of medications known to influence musculoskeletal performance.
  • During the study: pain greater than 3/10 on the VAS, intercurrent illness or injury, or participant request to withdraw.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Static Stretching (SS)
Supervised static stretching of knee flexors, knee extensors and hip extensors. Each stretch was held for 30 seconds at the end-range, repeated 5 times per muscle group with 15-second rest between repetitions.
Behavioral: Static Stretching
Single-session static stretching protocol for the lower-extremity (knee flexors, knee extensors, hip extensors): 30-second hold x 5 repetitions x 15-second rest, performed under physiotherapist supervision.
Experimental: Dynamic Stretching (DS)
Supervised dynamic stretching protocol comprising walking knee-to-chest, walking heel-to-buttock (quadriceps), and walking straight-leg kicks. Each exercise was performed for 30 seconds (one repetition every 2 seconds), 5 sets with 15-second inter-set rest.
Behavioral: Dynamic Stretching
Single-session dynamic stretching protocol targeting the hip flexors/extensors and knee flexors/extensors with continuous walking-based movements; 30 seconds x 5 sets per exercise with 15-second rest, performed under physiotherapist supervision.
Experimental: Self-Myofascial Release (MR)
Supervised foam-roller application to the knee extensors, knee flexors and hip extensors. Each muscle group was rolled for 30 seconds x 5 sets at a cadence of 40-60 bpm using a medium-density EVA foam roller while transferring body weight onto the roller.
Behavioral: Self Myofascial Release
Self-myofascial release applied with a medium-density EVA foam roller. Each lower-extremity muscle group received 5 sets of 30-second rolling at 40-60 bpm, with 4-second forward-and-back rolling cycles, performed under physiotherapist supervision

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Sit-and-Reach Test (cm)
Time Frame: Immediately before and immediately after each intervention session
Lower-extremity flexibility was measured with a standard sit-and-reach box. Participants reached forward as far as possible with both hands while keeping the knees extended; the most distal point reached was recorded in centimeters. Higher values indicate greater flexibility. Safety Issue: No.
Immediately before and immediately after each intervention session

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Y Balance Test (composite reach distance, cm)
Time Frame: Immediately before and immediately after each intervention session
Dynamic balance was assessed with the Y Balance Test. Participants reached as far as possible with the free leg in the anterior, posteromedial and posterolateral directions while balancing on the stance leg. Reach distances were summed and normalized to leg length; both lower extremities were tested separately. Higher values indicate better dynamic postural control. Safety Issue: No.
Immediately before and immediately after each intervention session
30-Second Sit-to-Stand Test (number of repetitions)
Time Frame: Immediately before and immediately after each intervention session
Lower-extremity muscular endurance was assessed with the 30-second Sit-to-Stand Test using a standard chair without armrests. Participants performed as many full sit-to-stand repetitions as possible in 30 seconds with arms crossed over the chest. Higher values indicate greater lower-extremity endurance. Safety Issue: No.
Immediately before and immediately after each intervention session
Vertical Jump Height (cm) - My Jump Lab 2
Time Frame: Immediately before and immediately after each intervention session
Counter-movement vertical jump height was measured with the validated My Jump Lab 2 smartphone application using a tripod-mounted iPhone (slow-motion video). Participants performed three maximal jumps with hands on the hips; maximum, minimum and mean jump heights were recorded. Higher values indicate greater lower-extremity power. Safety Issue: No.
Immediately before and immediately after each intervention session
Posture Analysis (PostureScreen Mobile - PSM)
Time Frame: Immediately before and immediately after each intervention session
Static posture was assessed using the PostureScreen Mobile (PSM) application with four-view photographs (anterior, posterior, right lateral, left lateral) taken with a tripod-mounted smartphone. Anterior translation of the head, shoulders and pelvis (sagittal plane) and lateral translations of the head, shoulders, pelvis and knees (frontal plane) were quantified by the application's computer-vision algorithm. Lower deviation values indicate better postural alignment. Safety Issue: No.
Immediately before and immediately after each intervention session

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Istinye University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
May 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
July 15, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
July 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 1, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 1, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 7, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 7, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 1, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • Karate- 2025-104

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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