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Mechanisms of Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Manipulation (IASTM) Force Dose-Response Effects in the Calf-Foot Region

2 de novembro de 2026 atualizado por: Mary T. Loghmani, Indiana University

Dual Pathway Mechanisms of Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Manipulation (IASTM) Dose-Response Effects in the Calf-Foot Region: Mechanical and Contextual Contributions

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn how different levels of force applied during instrument-assisted soft tissue manipulation (IASTM), a common rehabilitation treatment, affect muscle and soft tissue function in healthy adults with limited ankle flexibility. The study will also examine whether participant expectations, treatment comfort, and other contextual factors influence treatment outcomes. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Do higher-force and lower-force IASTM treatments produce different changes in ankle flexibility, muscle stiffness, pressure pain sensitivity, walking performance, and jumping ability? How do participant expectations, anxiety, comfort, and treatment perceptions contribute to treatment outcomes?

Researchers will compare a higher-force IASTM treatment to a lower-force IASTM treatment to determine whether force dose influences physical and patient-reported outcomes.

Participants will:

Attend two study visits separated by a washout period of 3-7 days. Receive a lower-force IASTM treatment during one visit and a higher-force IASTM treatment during the other visit, in a randomly assigned order.

Complete questionnaires about expectations, anxiety, treatment comfort, and treatment experience.

Undergo assessments of ankle flexibility, calf muscle stiffness, sensitivity to pressure, walking speed, and lower-body performance before and after each treatment session.

The findings from this study will help researchers better understand how biomechanical and non-biomechanical factors contribute to the effects of soft tissue treatments and may help inform the development of more effective rehabilitation interventions.

Visão geral do estudo

Tipo de estudo

Intervencional

Inscrição (Estimado)

40

Estágio

  • Não aplicável

Contactos e Locais

Esta seção fornece os detalhes de contato para aqueles que conduzem o estudo e informações sobre onde este estudo está sendo realizado.

Contato de estudo

  • Nome: Mary Loghmani, PhD, PT
  • Número de telefone: 3176910175
  • E-mail: mloghman@iu.edu

Estude backup de contato

  • Nome: Rachael Powell, DPT
  • Número de telefone: 3173061072
  • E-mail: racpowel@iu.edu

Locais de estudo

    • Indiana
      • Indianapolis, Indiana, Estados Unidos, 46202
        • Indiana University School of Health and Human Sciences
        • Contato:
          • Rachael Powell, DPT
          • Número de telefone: 3173061072
          • E-mail: racpowel@iu.edu
        • Contato:
          • Mary T Loghmani, PhD, PT
          • Número de telefone: 3176910175
          • E-mail: mloghman@iu.edu
        • Investigador principal:
          • Mary T Loghmani, PhD, PT

Critérios de participação

Os pesquisadores procuram pessoas que se encaixem em uma determinada descrição, chamada de critérios de elegibilidade. Alguns exemplos desses critérios são a condição geral de saúde de uma pessoa ou tratamentos anteriores.

Critérios de elegibilidade

Idades elegíveis para estudo

18 anos a 50 anos (Adulto)

Aceita Voluntários Saudáveis

Sim

Gêneros Elegíveis para o Estudo

Tudo

Descrição

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Male or female
  2. Between the ages of 18-50 years old
  3. Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 18.5 kg/m2 but <30 kg/m2
  4. A tight calf with limited ankle dorsiflexion range of motion: < 8-9 cm on weight-bearing lunge test (WBLT) indicating restricted ankle dorsiflexion and/or side to side difference of >1.5 cm due to muscular tightness.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Any known musculoskeletal pain conditions, such as nerve impingement (radiculopathies), rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or inflammatory conditions that may interfere with study participation.
  2. Ankle joint limitations due to intra-articular, capsular tightness, or post-fracture abnormalities.
  3. Any known cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic disease, or other co-morbidities that could interfere with the clinician's ability to perform basic IASTM stroke patterns to the calf or subject participation.
  4. Any narcotics, blood thinners, or other medications that could alter sensation, consciousness, or tendency to bruise/bleed.
  5. Any recent surgeries, medical conditions, or injuries that could interfere with treatment or ability to participate.
  6. Acute injuries, unhealed, acute or unstable conditions.
  7. Any known contraindications to instrument-assisted soft tissue manipulation of the lower extremity, including but not limited to open wounds, active infection, unhealed fracture, deep vein thrombosis, severe vascular disorders, bleeding disorders, anticoagulant therapy associated with increased bleeding risk, or other conditions that, in the judgment of the investigator, would make study participation unsafe.
  8. Current smoking or recreational/illicit drug use.
  9. Individuals who answer "Yes" to any of Questions 1-7 on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) will be required to obtain written clearance from their physician or other qualified healthcare provider before participating in study procedures involving physical activity

Plano de estudo

Esta seção fornece detalhes do plano de estudo, incluindo como o estudo é projetado e o que o estudo está medindo.

Como o estudo é projetado?

Detalhes do projeto

  • Finalidade Principal: Ciência básica
  • Alocação: Randomizado
  • Modelo Intervencional: Atribuição cruzada
  • Mascaramento: Solteiro

Armas e Intervenções

Grupo de Participantes / Braço
Intervenção / Tratamento
Experimental: Higher-force IASTM

Will receive higher-force instrument-assisted massage during one study session as randomized based on individualized dynamic pain threshold

Higher-Force Instrument-assisted soft tissue manipulation (IASTM) is applied to the calf-foot region using a force-sensing research instrument that provides real-time visual feedback to the clinician. A standardized treatment protocol is used, including consistent treatment duration, treatment area, stroke characteristics, and participant positioning. Force is maintained within a predefined higher-force target range based on participant tolerance within their comfort. Lower-Force IASTM is applied to the calf-foot region using the same force-sensing device and standardized treatment protocol. Force is maintained within a predefined lower-force target range to isolate the effects of force dose on study outcomes. The intervention is designed to evaluate force-dose effects while controlling other treatment variables.

Outros nomes:
  • QSTM
Experimental: Lower-force IASTM

Will receive a lower-force instrument-assisted massage during one study session as randomized based on individualized dynamic pain threshold

Higher-Force Instrument-assisted soft tissue manipulation (IASTM) is applied to the calf-foot region using a force-sensing research instrument that provides real-time visual feedback to the clinician. A standardized treatment protocol is used, including consistent treatment duration, treatment area, stroke characteristics, and participant positioning. Force is maintained within a predefined higher-force target range based on participant tolerance within their comfort. Lower-Force IASTM is applied to the calf-foot region using the same force-sensing device and standardized treatment protocol. Force is maintained within a predefined lower-force target range to isolate the effects of force dose on study outcomes. The intervention is designed to evaluate force-dose effects while controlling other treatment variables.

Outros nomes:
  • QSTM

O que o estudo está medindo?

Medidas de resultados primários

Medida de resultado
Descrição da medida
Prazo
Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion weight-bearing lunge test (WBLT)
Prazo: Immediately before and after intervention to each leg at each session.

Change in ankle dorsiflexion range of motion measured using the Weight-Bearing Lunge Test (WBLT) immediately following higher-force and lower-force instrument-assisted soft tissue manipulation (IASTM).

Immediately before and after intervention to each leg at each session.

Medidas de resultados secundários

Medida de resultado
Descrição da medida
Prazo
Calf muscle stiffness
Prazo: Immediately before and after intervention to each leg at each session.

Calf muscle stiffness will be assessed using a handheld tissue stiffness measurement device. Higher values indicate greater resistance of the calf musculature to deformation, whereas lower values indicate reduced tissue stiffness.

Immediately before and after intervention to each leg at each session.
pain pressure threshold
Prazo: Immediately before and after intervention at each session.

Pressure pain threshold will be assessed using a pressure algometer applied to the calf musculature. The measure represents the minimum pressure at which pressure sensation first becomes painful. Higher values indicate lower pain sensitivity.

Immediately before and after intervention at each session.
Walking speed
Prazo: Immediately before and after intervention at each session.

Walking speed will be assessed during a standardized walking task and reported as walking velocity. Higher values indicate faster walking performance.

Immediately before and after intervention at each session.
Vertical Jump Performance
Prazo: Immediately before and after intervention at each session.

Jump height will be recorded using standard equipment, with higher values indicating greater lower-extremity power and performance.

Immediately before and after intervention at each session.
Self-reported Pain Level
Prazo: Immediately before and after interventions to each leg at each session.

Pain intensity will be assessed using an 11-point Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), ranging from 0 ("no pain") to 10 ("worst pain imaginable"). Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.

Immediately before and after interventions to each leg at each session.
Self-reported function level
Prazo: Before and after interventions at each session.

Function level will be assessed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), with higher scores indicating greater self-reported function.

Before and after interventions at each session.

Outras medidas de resultado

Medida de resultado
Descrição da medida
Prazo
Self-Reported Anxiety Level
Prazo: Immediately prior to intervention at each session.

Anxiety level will be assessed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), in which participants rate their current level of anxiety on a continuous scale. Higher scores indicate greater self-reported anxiety.

Immediately prior to intervention at each session.
Treatment Outcome Expectancy
Prazo: Immediately prior to first intervention at first session

Treatment expectancy will be assessed using a participant-reported questionnaire that measures the extent to which participants expect the higher or lower force intervention to improve mobility, physical performance, and related outcomes. Higher scores indicate greater expectations of treatment benefit.

Immediately prior to first intervention at first session
Treatment Pleasantness Rating
Prazo: Immediately following each intervention session.

Treatment pleasantness will be assessed using a participant-reported rating of the overall comfort and pleasantness of the intervention experience. Higher scores indicate a more favorable treatment experience.

Immediately following each intervention session.

Colaboradores e Investigadores

É aqui que você encontrará pessoas e organizações envolvidas com este estudo.

Patrocinador

Publicações e links úteis

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Datas de registro do estudo

Essas datas acompanham o progresso do registro do estudo e os envios de resumo dos resultados para ClinicalTrials.gov. Os registros do estudo e os resultados relatados são revisados ​​pela National Library of Medicine (NLM) para garantir que atendam aos padrões específicos de controle de qualidade antes de serem publicados no site público.

Datas Principais do Estudo

Início do estudo (Estimado)

6 de novembro de 2026

Conclusão Primária (Estimado)

25 de outubro de 2027

Conclusão do estudo (Estimado)

1 de dezembro de 2027

Datas de inscrição no estudo

Enviado pela primeira vez

2 de novembro de 2026

Enviado pela primeira vez que atendeu aos critérios de CQ

2 de novembro de 2026

Primeira postagem (Real)

6 de novembro de 2026

Atualizações de registro de estudo

Última Atualização Postada (Real)

6 de novembro de 2026

Última atualização enviada que atendeu aos critérios de controle de qualidade

2 de novembro de 2026

Última verificação

1 de novembro de 2026

Mais Informações

Termos relacionados a este estudo

Outros números de identificação do estudo

  • 32736

Plano para dados de participantes individuais (IPD)

Planeja compartilhar dados de participantes individuais (IPD)?

INDECISO

Descrição do plano IPD

De-identified individual participant data may be shared with other researchers in accordance with participant consent and institutional policies; however, specific plans for data sharing have not yet been determined.

Informações sobre medicamentos e dispositivos, documentos de estudo

Estuda um medicamento regulamentado pela FDA dos EUA

Não

Estuda um produto de dispositivo regulamentado pela FDA dos EUA

Sim

produto fabricado e exportado dos EUA

Sim

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