THE MYOFASCIAL SYSTEM AND MINIMIZING THE RISK OS INJURY IN SPORT

EFFECT OF SELF-MYOFASCİAL RELEASE ON MUSCLE MECHANİCAL PROPERTİES, PERFORMANCE, NEUROMUSCULAR FUNCTİON AND MİNİMİZATİON OF İNJURY RİSK İN YOUNG SOCCER PLAYERS

The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of myofascial self-release on muscle mechanical properties, performance, neuromuscular function, and injury risk reduction in young soccer players. The hypothesis is a reduction in the number of injuries in the experimental group, as well as improvements in muscle mechanical properties, performance, and neuromuscular function in young soccer players.The study will be a randomized clinical trial with a convenience sample of approximately 65 male athletes aged between 14 and 18 years, divided into control and experimental groups. Athletes with no history of injury in the three months prior to the study will be included, while those with a history of previous surgery or lower limb fractures in the past five years, or who are undergoing physiotherapy at the time of the study, will be excluded.Muscle mechanical properties (myotonometry), flexibility (sit-and-reach test), ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (Weight Bearing Lunge Test), motor control (Y Balance Test), and the reactive strength index (Myjump App) will be assessed before, immediately after, and at 8 and 16 weeks post-intervention. Myofascial self-release will be performed bilaterally on the quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves for 2 minutes per region, twice a week, using a structured massage roller. All procedures will be demonstrated beforehand during the study.

For the Myoton procedure, the athlete will simply lie in a supine and prone position on the examination table. The athlete will only be asked to remain still in the "face-up" or "face-down" position, feeling only the light contact of the device's probe, which is painless and will be demonstrated beforehand.

In the Y Balance Test, athletes will be asked to balance on one foot atop a grid placed on the floor, with their hands on their hips, and reach as far as possible with the non-supporting leg in three marked directions on the floor, without lifting the heel of the supporting leg.

For the Ankle Range of Motion - Weight Bearing Lunge Test, the athlete will place the tested foot on a measuring tape positioned on the floor and will be instructed to touch their knee to the wall in front of them without lifting the heel of the tested foot. Three attempts will be allowed, and the longest distance from the big toe to the wall will be recorded.

In the Sit-and-Reach Test, the athlete will sit on the floor with bare feet and both legs extended. They will be instructed to keep their hands side by side and try to reach the greatest possible distance on the ruler in front of them by bending forward without bending their legs, holding the position for one second to measure the distance. Three attempts will be allowed, and the greatest distance reached will be recorded.

For ground reaction strength, the athlete will be asked to jump off a 40 cm high box, and as soon as their feet touch the ground, they will be encouraged to jump upward as quickly and as high as possible.

In myofascial self-release, athletes in the experimental group will be asked to use the myofascial release roller for 2 minutes before training on each of the three muscle groups - anterior and posterior thigh and posterior leg. Athletes will be instructed to roll using as much pressure as possible on the roller. For the anterior thigh, they will roll across the entire front part of the thigh; for the posterior thigh, they will roll from just below the gluteal region to just above the knee; and for the posterior leg, they will roll from just below the knee to just above the heel.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Muscle Stiffness; Muscle Tonus; Balance; Flexibility; Sports Injuries; Jumping Performance; Ranger of Motion; Reactive Strength Index; Muscle Elasticity
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Myofascial Self-Release

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 65
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Bruno Ferreira Linhares, PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences; Phone Number: +351931131831; Email: brunolinharesfisio@hotmail.com

Study Locations

• Portugal
  • Porto District
    • Fão, Porto District, Portugal, 4740-364
      • Recruiting
      • Azevedo Coutinho Street No. 5
      • Contact: Bianca A Gouveia; Phone Number: +351919306892; Email: biancagouveialinhares@gmail.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Athletes at the youth and junior levels
• Registered with the respective football association
• Athletes with no history of injury in the past 3 months

Exclusion Criteria:

• Athletes who failed pre-season medical examinations
• Athletes with a history of previous surgery or lower limb fractures in the last 5 years
• Athletes undergoing physiotherapy rehabilitation at the time of the study
• Athletes participating in another injury prevention program or specific training

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Experimental Group - Myofascial Self-Release; In this group, the following will be evaluated: muscle mechanical properties using the Myoton, flexibility using the sit-and-reach test, dorsiflexion range of motion using the Weight Bearing Lunge Test, motor control using the Y Balance Test, and the reactive strength index using the Myjump App. Myofascial self-release will be performed using a structured roller.	Other: Myofascial Self-Release; Athletes will be asked to use the myofascial release roller for 2 minutes before training on each of the three muscle groups: anterior and posterior thigh and posterior leg. They will be instructed to roll while applying as much pressure as possible on the roller. For the anterior thigh, the roller will be moved along the entire front part of the thigh; for the posterior thigh, it will be rolled from just below the gluteal region to just above the knee; and for the posterior leg, it will be rolled from just below the knee to just above the heel.; Other Names: Foam rolling
No Intervention: No Intervention: Control Group; Athletes will maintain regular training sessions

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Incidence of sports injuries	Monitor the incidence of injuries in the control and experimental groups	Until the completion of the studies, an average of 5 months.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Evaluate Muscle Mechanical Properties	Muscle elasticity will be assessed using myotonometry.	For a period of 8 and 16 weeks
Evaluate Muscle Mechanical Properties	Tone will be assessed using myotonometry.	For a period of 8 and 16 weeks
Evaluate Muscle Mechanical Properties	Stiffness will be assessed using myotonometry.	For a period of 8 and 16 weeks
Evaluate Neuromuscular Control	Neuromuscular control will be assessed using the Y Balance Test.	For a period of 8 and 16 weeks
Evaluate Ankle Dorsiflexion Range of Motion	Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion will be assessed using the Weight-Bearing Test.	For a period of 8 and 16 weeks
Evaluate Flexibility	Flexibility will be assessed using the Sit and Reach Test.	For a period of 8 and 16 weeks
Evaluate the Reactive Strength Index	The Reactive Strength Index will be assessed using the MyJump application.	For a period of 8 and 16 weeks
Evaluate the Jump Height	The Jump Height will be assessed using the MyJump application.	For a period of 8 and 16 weeks
Evaluate the air time after the jump	The air time after jump will be assessed using the MyJump application.	For a period of 8 and 16 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Aveiro University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): January 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 26, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): April 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 5, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 19, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): March 26, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 2, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 25, 2025
• Last Verified: November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Injury prevention; Self-myofascial release; Muscle mechanical properties
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries; Athletic Injuries
• Other Study ID Numbers: 12-CED/2024

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