Effects of Diacutaneous Fibrolysis on Flexibility and Active Neuromuscular Response

Effects of Diacutaneous Fibrolysis on Flexibility and Active Neuromuscular Response on Posterior Muscular Chain of Lower Limb in Athletes

Diacutaneous fibrolysis is a physiotherapeutic instrumental technique, used to treat musculoskeletal conditions causing pain and/or movement restriction. It is applied by means of metallic hooks, ending in a spatula with beveled edges, that seems to allow a better pressure distribution on the skin and a deeper and more precise application, compared to the manual approach. Recent studies indicate positive responses regrading pain intensity decrease in sports people suffering anterior knee pain, improving range of motion in subacromial impingement syndrome, improving sensory conductivity in symptomatic patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, decreased pain in patients with chronic epicondialgia or improveing function athletes with anterior knee pain. However, the specific action mechanism, have not been investigated in depth yet. There are no studies evaluating its effects on posterior muscular chain of lower extremity in athletes, where FD effects on neuromuscular response could be more evident due to the overload involved on this area. The aim of this study is to evaluate the immediate, and after 30 minutes, effects of a single diacutaneous fibrolysis session on flexibility, strength and neuromuscular activity on hamstring in athletes. A randomized controlled trial with blind evaluator. Randomization will be done between lower extremities of each subject (Random.org). Regardless of its own dominance, diacutaneous fibrolysis will be applied to de following muscles and intermuscular septums: gluteus maixmus, biceps femoris and semitendinosus to de lower experimental limb. The other extremity will not be treat (control limb).

Sample recruitment. Athletes from UIC university community, who compete officially or institutionally, whether they are federated or recorded in a sport official register where the predominant activity focuses on the lower train (athletics, cycling, football, rugby...). Procedure. The anthropometric data will be collected at the beginning of the study. Each outcome assessment will be performed by a blinded evaluator at the baseline, immediately after the technique application and 30 minutes after.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Hamstring Contractures
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Diacutaneous fibrolysis

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 66
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Aida C Arróniz, MsC; Phone Number: 635246977; Email: acadellans@uic.es

Study Locations

• Spain
  • Barcelona
    • Sant Cugat Del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain, 08195
      • Recruiting
      • Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
      • Contact: Aida Ms Cadellans-Arróniz, MsC; Phone Number: +34635246977; Email: acadellans@uic.es

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 14 years to 56 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Athletes
• <160º in the Passive Knee Extension test
• Participants must sign and have informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Poor skin
• Trophic condition
• Taking anticoagulants
• Inflammatory process
• Recent musculoskeletal lower limb injury (< 6 month)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Diacutaneous fibrolysis group; Diacutaneous fibrolysis is a physiotherapeutic instrumental technique, used to treat musculoskeletal conditions causing pain and/or movement restriction. It is applied by means of metallic hooks, ending in a spatula with beveled edges. Regardless of its own dominance, diacutaneous fibrolysis will be applied to de following muscles and intermuscular septums: gluteus maximus, biceps femoris and semitendinosus to de lower experimental limb. A single session of 10 minutes will be applied.	Other: Diacutaneous fibrolysis; Diacutaneous fibrolysis is a physiotherapeutic instrumental technique, used to treat musculoskeletal conditions causing pain and/or movement restriction. It is applied by means of metallic hooks, ending in a spatula with beveled edges. Regardless of its own dominance, diacutaneous fibrolysis will be applied to de following muscles and intermuscular septums: gluteus maximus, biceps femoris and semitendinosus to de lower experimental limb. A single session of 10 minutes will be applied.
No Intervention: Control group; Participants will be used as their own controls, with one lower extremity randomly receiving intervention. The control extremity will not receive any intervention

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Hamstring neuromuscular activity	Hamstring neuromuscular activity (% of muscular fiber recruitment) will be assessed by surface electromyogram (mDurance). The electrodes will be placed on hamstring muscle while performing a functional movement.	Change between baseline (immediately before intervention) and post intervention (immediately after intervention); Change between baseline (immediately before intervention) and 30 minutes after intervention]
Gluteus maximus neuromuscular activity	Gluteus maximus neuromuscular activity (% of muscular fiber recruitment) will be assessed by surface electromyogram (mDurance). The electrodes will be placed on gluteus maximus muscle while performing a functional movement.	Change between baseline (immediately before intervention) and post intervention (immediately after intervention); Change between baseline (immediately before intervention) and 30 minutes after intervention]
Hamstring isometric strength	Isometric muscle strength (Kg) will be evaluated by means of a digital dynamometer (Microfeet 2). This measures will be taken across a knee flexion.	Change between baseline (immediately before intervention) and post intervention (immediately after intervention); Change between baseline (immediately before intervention) and 30 minutes after intervention]
Guteus maximus isometric strength	Isometric muscle strength (Kg) will be evaluated by means of a digital dynamometer (Microfeet 2). This measures will be measured by means of hip extension.	Change between baseline (immediately before intervention) and post intervention (immediately after intervention); Change between baseline (immediately before intervention) and 30 minutes after intervention]
Height on counter movement jump	Height (centimeters) on counter movement jump will be assessed using a mobile application called "My jump". Its data has been used as an indirect indicator of explosive muscular strength of lower limb	Change between baseline (immediately before intervention) and post intervention (immediately after intervention); Change between baseline (immediately before intervention) and 30 minutes after intervention]
Time flight on counter movement jump	Time flight (milliseconds) on counter movement jump will be assessed using a mobile application called "My jump".	Change between baseline (immediately before intervention) and post intervention (immediately after intervention); Change between baseline (immediately before intervention) and 30 minutes after intervention]
Force on counter movement jump	Force (newtons) on counter movement jump will be assessed using a mobile application called "My jump".	Change between baseline (immediately before intervention) and post intervention (immediately after intervention); Change between baseline (immediately before intervention) and 30 minutes after intervention]
Back chain flexibility Changes	Back chain flexibility is going to be assessed by means of modified Back Saver Sit and reach test (centimeters).	Change between baseline (immediately before intervention) and post intervention (immediately after intervention); Change between baseline (immediately before intervention) and 30 minutes after intervention]
Hamstring flexibility changes	Hamstring muscles flexibility will be assessed using the passive knee extension test (degrees) by means of goniometer.	Change between baseline (immediately before intervention) and post intervention (immediately after intervention); Change between baseline (immediately before intervention) and 30 minutes after intervention]

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universitat Internacional de Catalunya

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Anticipated): April 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): May 1, 2021
• Study Completion (Anticipated): July 1, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 28, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 31, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): April 1, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 1, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 31, 2021
• Last Verified: March 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Physiotherapy; Diacutaneous fibrolysis; Neuromuscular response
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Muscular Diseases; Contracture
• Other Study ID Numbers: FIS202004

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