Myofascial Release and Foot Mobility in Basketball Players: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Acute Effects of Myofascial Release on Foot Mobility and Performance in Basketball Players With Hypomobile feet-a Randomized Controlled Trial

The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute effects of myofascial release on foot mobility and sportive performance in basketball players with hypomobile feet. This study was designed as randomized controlled experimental research.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Foot Deformities
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Myofascial release; Other: Placebo myofascial release

Detailed Description

Hypomobility in the foot structure causes functional limitations. These functional limitations affect the sportive performance negatively, especially in basketball where dynamic movements such as jumping and sudden change of direction are very intense. In this context, reducing hypomobility is important in terms of eliminating performance disorders caused by hypomobility. The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute effects of myofascial release on foot mobility and sportive performance in basketball players with hypomobile feet. This study was designed as randomized controlled experimental research. Twenty-four male basketball players (23.46±2.81 years) participated in the study. Athletes were first subjected to foot mobility, balance and vertical jump tests. Then the participants were divided into two groups as myofascial release (MR) and placebo myofascial release (PMR). Myofascial release was applied to the MR group and placebo myofascial release was applied to the PMR group. After the application, foot mobility and performance measurements were performed again and the results were analyzed. It was observed that there was a significant difference in right foot mobility (RFM), left foot mobility (LFM), vertical jump (VJ) and dynamic balance (DB) parameters after the application in MR group (p<0.001), while there was no change in any parameter after the application in PMR group (p>0.05). The results of this study show that a single session of myofascial release applied to the plantar sole temporarily increased foot mobility and improved vertical jump and dynamic balance performance in basketball players with chronic hypomobility.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 24
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Giresun, Turkey, 28200
    • Giresun University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Basketball players who had hypomobility in at least one foot, had not had a serious foot or ankle injury in the last year, and had been actively licensed for the last five years were included in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Those who did not meet the inclusion criteria were excluded from the study.

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
Active Comparator: Myofascial release (MR) group; The group that received Graston myofascial application	Other: Myofascial release; Graston massage technique was used in the application. In the application, the participant was placed in a prone position and the feet were left slightly outside the massage table. The application was performed on the entire plantar surface between the calcaneal tuberosity and metatarsophalangeal joints in the form of multidirectional strokes at 30-60 degrees with the GT 4 graston tool. The total application took an average of 5 minutes for each foot. An average of 60-70 strokes were performed per minute and 10 seconds of rest was given every minute. The application was performed as a single session by an expert physiotherapist.; Other Names: Placebo myofascial release
Placebo Comparator: Placebo myofascial release (PMR) group; The group that received placebo Graston myofascial application	Other: Placebo myofascial release; Graston massage technique was used in the application. In the application, the participant was placed in a prone position and the feet were left slightly outside the massage table. The application was performed on the entire plantar surface between the calcaneal tuberosity and metatarsophalangeal joints in the form of multidirectional strokes at 30-60 degrees with the GT 4 graston tool. The total application took an average of 5 minutes for each foot. An average of 60-70 strokes were performed per minute and 10 seconds of rest was given every minute. The application was performed as a single session by an expert physiotherapist. Since it was a placebo application, no pressure was applied to the tissues by the physiotherapist during the strokes.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
hypomobility measurement	Therefore, firstly, the degree of foot mobility of all participants was measured, and height and body weight measurements the balance characteristics and vertical jump levels of the participants who met the inclusion criteria were determined. TParticipants were not informed which group they were in. The MR group received myofascial release and the PMR group received placebo (superficial) myofascial release. All myofascial release applications were performed by an expert physiotherapist. After the application, the degree of foot mobility, balance characteristics and vertical jump levels of the participants were measured again. In order to determine the duration of the acute effects of mobility after myofascial release, the MR group was subjected to a 2-hour standard basketball training after the second measurements. Foot mobility was measured three more times at one-hour intervals in the first hour of the training, at the end of the training and then at rest.	6 hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Height and body weight measurements	The height measurements of the participants were measured with wall-mounted holtain stadiometer and body weight and body mass index (BMI) measurements were measured with Tanita MC-580 body analyzer.	4 hours
Evaluation of foot mobility	The modified navicular drop (MND) test was used to assess foot mobility. The MND test is an easy, valid and clinical method used in the evaluation of foot mobility. In the navicular drop test, the navicular process was palpated externally while the subject was sitting on a chair with the foot in neutral position and the height above the ground was measured. The subject was then made to stand up and place one foot on a specially designed 10.16 cm (4 inch) high box without weight. The height above the ground of the navicular process of the loaded foot was measured again. Feet with a difference of less than 4 mm between unweighted and weighted measurements were recorded as hypomobile. The reference values of navicular mobility in the MND test are 0-4 mm hypomobile foot, 5-9 mm neutral foot and 10 mm or more hypermobile foot.	4 hours
Vertical jump measurements	Vertical jump values were performed with arm swing countermovement jump technique using smart speed brand electronic jump mat. The athlete took a position on the jumping mat with feet one shoulder length apart. Then, when he felt ready, he stretched downward and jumped vertically to the highest point he could jump and fell back on the mat. Three attempts were made in the correct position, 3 seconds rest time was allowed between each jump, and the best degree was recorded in cm. The jumps were repeated with the knees flexed while the athlete remained in the air.	4 hours
Determination of balance levels	The balance score was calculated by summing the standard deviation of the front-to-back swing and the standard deviation of the right-to-left swing. The multiaxial proprioceptive assessment module of the isokinetic measurement system was used to determine the dynamic balance levels. First, the device was calibrated and the system was introduced to the volunteers. The volunteers' feet were placed on the platform with reference to the x and y lines on the platform. In the measuring position, the hands were drooping and the feet were bare. Measurements were made in bipedal and 10 difficulty levels for 60 seconds. The test was stopped and restarted when situations such as falling or touching any part of the device occurred during the measurement. Dynamic balance levels were assessed using the average tracking error (ATE).	4 hours
Myofascial release application	Graston massage technique was used in the application. In the application, the participant was placed in a prone position and the feet were left slightly outside the massage table. The application was performed on the entire plantar surface between the calcaneal tuberosity and metatarsophalangeal joints in the form of multidirectional strokes at 30-60 degrees with the GT 4 graston tool. The total application took an average of 5 minutes for each foot. An average of 60-70 strokes were performed per minute and 10 seconds of rest was given every minute. The application was performed as a single session by an expert physiotherapist.	4 hour

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Giresun University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Nihat SARIALİOĞLU, PhD, Giresun University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 15, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 15, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): July 17, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 12, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 12, 2024
• First Posted (Estimated): September 19, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): September 19, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 12, 2024
• Last Verified: September 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: performance; myofascial release; basketball players; hypomobile feet; foot mobility
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Congenital Abnormalities; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Musculoskeletal Abnormalities; Limb Deformities, Congenital; Lower Extremity Deformities, Congenital; Foot Deformities; Foot Deformities, Congenital
• Other Study ID Numbers: GRU-SBF-NS-01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No