The Effect of Graston Technique on Ankle Mobility, Sit-Reach Test and Y-Balance Test

February 19, 2026 updated by: Emre Serdar Atalay, Sultan Abdulhamid Han Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

Assessment of Ankle Mobility, Flexibility, and Y-Balance Test Before and After Plantar Fascia Stretching and Plantar Fascia Stretching Combined With Graston Technique in Recreationally Active Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Study

This study investigates the effects of plantar fascia stretching and plantar fascia stretching with graston application on ankle mobility, flexibility and Y-Balance test results in recreationally active young adults. By comparing the effects of the two treatment methods on ankle function, it aims to demonstrate the potential benefits of both treatments.

It was intended to involve 60 participants, or 95% of the interval 0.80's study power.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The plantar fascia, also known as the plantar aponeurosis, is a thick, fibrous band of connective tissue that extends from the medial tubercle of the calcaneus to the proximal phalanges of the toes. It consists of three different segments: medial, central and lateral bands.

The Graston technique (GT) is an instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization technique that reduces pain, improves overall function and increases range of motion. GT reduces the overall rehabilitation time, uses less pressure and energy, and increases the depth of tissue that can be treated. Furthermore, GT does not compress tissues; the superficial fascia layer is easily mobilized, allowing access to deeper restrictions.

The Y-Balance Test (YBT) is a clinical measurement tool used to assess dynamic balance. Asymmetries between extremities in the anterior direction have been associated with a 2-fold increased risk of lower extremity injury. This study examines how ankle mobility, flexibility, and Y-Balance examination results are affected in young adults who engage in recreational activities by plantar fascia stretching and plantar fascia stretching with graston application. It seeks to illustrate the possible advantages of both therapies by contrasting how the two approaches affect ankle function. People between the ages of 18 and 35 who regularly exercise for leisure at least two to three times a week and who have signed a voluntary permission form committing to actively participate in all study phases will be included. If a participant has a history of lower limb, plantar fascia, or ankle injuries, has had a major injury, surgery, or trauma to the lower extremities in the previous six months, plays professional sports, or declines to participate or withdraws during the evaluations, they will be disqualified. The control group will receive plantar fascia stretching. In addition to stretching the plantar fascia, the experimental group will also receive graston method treatment. A goniometer will be used to objectively measure ankle mobility both before and after the treatment. The Sit and Reach Box (Lafayette Instrument Sit and Reach Box, Flexibility Tester) at the faculty will be used to measure the applicant's flexibility both before and after the application. The participants' balance will be evaluated using the Y Balance TestTM. There shouldn't be any risks or difficulties prior to, during, or following the tests and procedures. It was intended to involve 60 participants, or 95% of the interval 0.80's study power.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

40

Phase

  • 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

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Kecioren
      • Ankara, Kecioren, Turkey (Türkiye), 06610
        • University of Health Sciences

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • To be between the ages of 18-35
  • Doing regular physical activity at least 2-3 times a week (Individuals who do sports recreationally)
  • Individuals who signed the voluntary consent form before participating in the study and agreed to participate in all stages consciously

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Having an ankle injury, plantar fascia or lower limb condition
  • Serious injury, surgery or trauma to the lower extremity within the last 6 months
  • Individuals practicing sports at a professional level
  • Not volunteering to participate in the study or wanting to leave the study during the assessments

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: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Plantar Fascia Stretching.
In the sitting and cross-legged position, the patient will be taught self-plantar fascia stretching. It will be done with 10 repetitions for each 2 extremities.
Other: Plantar Fascia Stretching.
It consists of participants who will undergo plantar fascia stretching.
Experimental: Plantar Fascia Stretching and Graston Technique Application
The patient will be taught self-plantar fascia stretching in sitting and cross-legged position. It will be done with 10 repetitions for each 2 extremities. Then, in prone position, 5 minutes of Graston application will be performed on both plantar fascia.
Other: Plantar Fascia Stretching.
It consists of participants who will undergo plantar fascia stretching.
Other: Graston Technique
It consists of participants who will underwent graston technique application.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Ankle Mobility
Time Frame: before and after the intervention, within 1 hour
Ankle mobility; dorsiflexion, plantar flexion, inversion and eversion movements will be evaluated with a goniometer before and after the intervention.
before and after the intervention, within 1 hour
Flexibility Assessment
Time Frame: before and after the intervention, within 1 hour.
Flexibility Assessment, Sit and Reach Test will be measured before and after the intervention using the Flexibility Measurement Stand
before and after the intervention, within 1 hour.
Balance
Time Frame: before and after the intervention, within 1 hour.
Balance assessment will be measured before and after the intervention with the Y-Balance test.
before and after the intervention, within 1 hour.

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Sultan Abdulhamid Han Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

Collaborators

Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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)

June 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

February 1, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

February 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 28, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 4, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

April 8, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 20, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 19, 2026

Last Verified

February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2024-576
  • Academician (Other Identifier: University of Health Sciences Turkiye)

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

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

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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