Investigation of the Acute Effect of Myofascial Release Techniques and Dynamic Stretch

Investigation of the Acute Effect of Myofascial Release Techniques and Dynamic Stretch on Vertical Jump Performance in Recreationally Active Individuals

Fascia is a connective tissue that contains a large amount of water and contains blood vessels, nerves that surround the muscles and connect the various structures of the body. In the event of an injury, the fascia has to cause some limitations to reduce muscle spasms, neuromuscular changes and pain. In order to achieve this, it can adhere to muscles and other body structures. In the physically active population, these facial adhesions may cause a decrease in performance over time, while the body heals itself after mechanical stresses and injuries. It is remarkable that various facial techniques are tried and compared with each other in order to increase performance. The most noteworthy of these techniques is foam roller (FR) and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM). As well as myofascial techniques, a preferred and highly studied method for performance improvement, especially before competitions, is dynamic stretching. The aim of this study is to compare the effects of these three techniques on vertical jump performance and their advantages over each other.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healthy
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Graston Technique; Other: Dynamic stretch exercise

Detailed Description

Fascia is a connective tissue that contains a large amount of water and contains blood vessels, nerves that surround the muscles and connect the various structures of the body. In the event of an injury, the fascia has to cause some limitations to reduce muscle spasms, neuromuscular changes and pain. In order to achieve this, it can adhere to muscles and other body structures. In the physically active population, these facial adhesions may cause a decrease in performance over time, while the body heals itself after mechanical stresses and injuries. It is remarkable that various facial techniques are tried and compared with each other in order to increase performance. The most noteworthy of these techniques is foam roller (FR) and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM).

The IASTM technique is a therapeutic approach developed by James Cyriax. There are many different instruments used for myofascial release. The most popular one is Graston Technique® (GT® ). With specially designed instruments, longitudinal pressure is applied along the fibers of the respective muscles. Damaged tissues are detected by varying tissue vibration under the instrument. The therapeutic efficacy of the instruments, in particular by microtrauma created in the damaged areas, induces local inflammation response, enhances scar tissue destruction, enhances adhesion relaxation, enhances collagen synthesis and stimulates connective tissue remodeling. In addition to its rehabilitative use, IASTM has been found to be effective as a method that stimulates the nerves in muscles and increases muscle strength, performance and endurance. In addition, as tissue mobility and range of motion increase, performance increases and shortening of the recovery period after physical activity occurs.

In addition to manual therapy methods for myofascial release techniques, there are also applications that patients can perform on their own. FR and Stick Roller are examples. The use of pre-competition FR increases joint range of motion, reduces pain and tension, increases blood flow and joint flexibility, and reduces injury rate when exercising. It also relaxes scar tissue and facial adhesions, regulates muscle tone, provides relaxation in excessively active muscles and improves movement quality.

FR application is carried out with a foam roller which can vary in size, shape and density. It has become popular in clinics and athletic training halls because of their ease of use and versatility. They are available in different lengths, making them easier to move and easier to maneuver in different parts of the body. Best used in the treatment of large muscle groups. Each muscle group has a defined position and protocol with different starting and ending points. Individuals with poor collagen load ability and individuals new to FR studies often have to spend more time on the cylinder to achieve the best results. Foam roller sessions can be held once or twice a day and can be used as a warm-up tool before a training session or as a regeneration option after training. It increases tissue extensibility by opening both IASTM and FR adhesions.

A preferred and highly studied method for performance improvement, especially before competitions, is dynamic stretching. Dynamic stretching (DS) exercises are used for warm-up and relaxation before and after sports exercises. It is one of the common applications used for preparation before physical exercise. Dynamic stretching exercises are a series of exercises to prepare the muscles and joints in the body for the activity to be done, to reduce the incidence of possible injuries and to accelerate the regeneration process after sports. In addition, there are studies showing that dynamic stretching exercises affect performance positively and it has been found to give better results in areas such as jump and sprint compared to static stretching exercises.

The aim of this study is to compare the effects of these three techniques on vertical jump performance and their advantages over each other.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 42
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • İstanbul, Turkey, 34353
    • Pelin Pişirici

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 35 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• being between18-35 years old,
• being recreationally active,
• volunteering to participate in the study
• no pain complaints.

Exclusion Criteria:

• body mass index of 30 kg / m² or more,
• previous lower extremity surgery and joint,
• meniscus or ligament injury,
• chronic knee instability,
• cardiac, musculoskeletal, vestibular and neurological problems,
• long-term use of corticosteroids
• pregnancy.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Graston Technique® Group; The application was applied by a GT® certified therapist with 12 years of experience in orthopedic rehabilitation and soft tissue treatments. Hamstring, gastrosoleus and plantar fascia were scanned with GT® instruments and the treated soft tissue was treated. The instruments used differ according to the application protocol and regions are determined with reference to the GT® manual. The treatment lasted 8 minutes for each leg and was applied to both legs equally and by the same person for a total of 16 minutes.	Device: Graston Technique; FR is a dense foam cylinder that the person rolls before using the body weight to warm up and increase their ROM. There are different types that vary in size, shape and density.; Other Names: Foam Roller
Experimental: Foam Roller Group; FR was applied to gastrosoleus and hamstring muscle groups and plantar fascia. TriggerPoint Grid X Foam Roller and Nano Foot X Roller were used in the application. Hamstring, gastrosoleus and plantar fascia for 3 minutes were performed for a single leg. The treatment lasted 8 minutes on one leg and was applied equally to both legs for a total of 16 minutes. Before the application, the participants were informed with verbal and visual warnings about how to do the applications. During the application, the participant was instructed about the time with a stopwatch. The patient himself regulated the pressure applied to the FR; however, the participant was instructed to apply FR as much body weight as possible. The frequency of application was about 0.5 Hz (ie, each rolling cycle lasted for about 2 seconds).	Device: Graston Technique; FR is a dense foam cylinder that the person rolls before using the body weight to warm up and increase their ROM. There are different types that vary in size, shape and density.; Other Names: Foam Roller
Experimental: Dynamic Stretch; DS protocol was prepared with reference to the work of Faigenbaum et al 2005. The protocol consists of 10 dynamic exercises of 10 minutes of medium and high intensity. Each dynamic stretching exercise was performed at a distance of 13 meters. The participants were given a 10-second rest period between each exercise. The participants were given verbal feedback about their postures during the exercises and the video of the exercises was shown to the participant.	Other: Dynamic stretch exercise; Dynamic stretch includes controlled movements in the active ROM for a joint. This type of exercise is actually the basis of sports movements used in training or competition.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The Optojump system (Microgate, Bolzano, Italy)	Vertical Jump Performance evaluation with The countermovement jump without armswing test	Pre evaluation before the intervention
The Optojump system (Microgate, Bolzano, Italy)	Vertical Jump Performance evaluation with The countermovement jump without armswing test	post evaluation right after the intervention.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Bahçeşehir University
• Collaborators: Medipol University
• Investigators: Study Chair: Mert Batuhan Ekiz, PT, Bahçeşehir University Health Sciences Faculty; Study Chair: İlhan Can Kulak, PT, Bahçeşehir University Health Sciences Faculty

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 1, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 5, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): November 24, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 25, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 26, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): March 27, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): November 26, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 23, 2024
• Last Verified: November 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Graston Technique®, Dynamic Stretching, Foam Roller, Jumping Performance, Soft Tissue Mobilization
• Other Study ID Numbers: Jump.2019-07.19

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