Effect of Remote Myofascial Release on Lower Limb

NCT ID: NCT05189652

Last Updated: 2022-09-30

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 36 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2022-01-24
• Study Completion Date: 2022-05-24

Brief Summary

In general, the strength training on unstable surfaces has a positive impact on strength performance, power and stability compared to not training. As described above, previous studies have shown that self-myofascial release has a positive effect by improving flexibility, but its effect on balance is still debated.

Myofascia contains numerous sensory nerves related to proprioceptive and mechanical receptors such as Golgi receptors or Pacini receptors. Therefore, the pressure applied during the self-myofascial release intervention can stimulate these mechanoreceptors and enhance the proprioceptive information integrated by the central nervous system to adjust the activation level of motor units. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of myofascial release applied to the thoracolumbar fascia on flexibility, muscular endurance and balance in healthy young adults.

Detailed Description

Fascia, muscles, bones, organs, nerves, it refers to all fibrous ligament tissue under stress that both encompasses and surrounds blood vessels and other structures, and stretches from head to foot in a continuous, three-dimensional network. Fascia is the most sensitive and vital structure in our bodies, linked to systems in the whole body, as vital as blood. This structure is a system of a single tissue fiber that is located directly below the skin. Fascia stretches through the whole body in lines for a locked-in feel. Thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) is an important structure that connects the lower extremity to the gluteus maximum and the upper extremity to the latissimus dorsi. The thoracolumbar fascia allows trunk stabilization in kinetic chain activities including movements such as throwing. The thoracolumbar fascia surrounds different trunk muscles, such as the multifidus, erector spines, and quadratus lumborum and provides support when these muscles contract. It also attaches to the internal oblique, transversus abdominis, latissimus dorsi aponeurosis and serratus anterior inferior muscle. Contraction of these muscles increases tension along the fascia and stabilizes the trunk by providing 3-dimensional support to the lumbar spine.

The fasciae of the transversus abdominis, internal oblique and quadratus lumborum muscles are surrounded by the thoracolumbar fascia. The transversus abdominis muscle stabilizes the lumbo-pelvic region by stretching the thoracolumbar fascia and increasing intra-abdominal pressure. Thoracolumbar fascia, lower extremity and upper extremity acts as part of a pulley around the body, which provides a connection. Fascia disorders are often associated with adaptive misuse of muscles. For this reason, myofascial treatment is usually supported by appropriate exercises that the person will do. In this way, while creating a conscious awareness of the normal function of the patient in that muscle, it can reprogram the brainstem to incorporate the newly restored full-scale muscle capacity into the patient's daily activities.

In recent years, the popularity of training has increased with the foam roller, which is one of the myofascial treatment methods. Foam roller massage is a relatively new technique and a common form of self-myofascial training performed by participants themselves and not by a clinician. The foam roller is a solid foam cylinder available in different stiffness and size. Athletes or patients are encouraged to rotate their body weights to operate each muscle group and loosen tight areas of the muscle. A possible effect is better moisturizing of tissues. While applying the foam roller massage, the soft tissue is squeezed like a sponge and then wetted with liquid, which improves the movement between the different layers of the fascia. This method, which affects the muscle and myofascial structures by increasing the compatibility and extensibility of the fascia, reduces passive muscle stiffness. It can also reduce delayed onset muscle soreness after intense exercise. Self-myofascial release has been shown to provide a wide range of positive gains in physical performance. The best-known positive effect of self-myofascial release is a gain in flexibility as assessed by increased range of motion in sports and rehabilitation contexts. Scientifically, many positive effects of foam roller massage are assumed, but in most cases unproven. Most studies of self-myofascial release techniques address the acute effects, while there is limited clinical research on the training effects of foam roller massage. The sample will be adults between the ages of 18-40. Investigators will announce the research via social media and invite volunteers to work. Participants who are willing to participate will be explained the study and participants who agree to participate and who meet the work criteria will be included in the study. Participants will be divided into 3 groups as Myofascial Release and Exercise Group, Exercise Group, and Control Group using the computerized randomization method. Since the study is pilot operation, no power analysis has been performed to determine the sample size. Investigators aim to have at least 12 people in each study group. The first evaluation of the participants will be made before starting the 4-week program. Final assessments will be made within 2-3 days after the 4-week training ends. Evaluations will include flexibility measurements, muscular endurance measurements, balance evaluations. The study will have a single-blind design. The investigator making the evaluation will not know which group the participant is in.

Conditions

Flexibility; Balance; Muscular Endurance

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Myofascial Release and Exercise Group

Foam roller massage will be applied to the thoracolumbar posterior chain for participants in the myofascial release and exercise group. At the same time, balance training, squat exercises, reach forward with sitting and hamstring stretching exercises will be applied to this group for a period of four weeks. Before starting the exercise training programs, a 5 minute warm-up will be done. The first evaluation of the participants will be made before starting the 4-week program. Final assessments will be made within 2-3 days after the 4-week training ends. Evaluations will include flexibility measurements, muscular endurance measurements, balance evaluations.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Myofascial Release and Exercise Group

Intervention Type: OTHER

The exercise program will be applied 3 days a week for 4 weeks. Participants will warm up by walking for 5 minutes before exercise. Stretching exercises - Reach forward with sitting and hamstring (3 reps*30 sec).

First 2 weeks:

Squat exercise (3 sets of 10 reps). Standing on one leg with knee flexed and hip-knee flexed at 90 degrees (30 seconds).

Star Excursion balance training (2 rounds to be applied). Foam Roller massage will apply to thoracolumbar posterior chain (1 set of 30 seconds will be applied with a rolling period of 2-4 seconds).

Last 2 weeks:

Squat exercise (3 sets of 15 reps). Standing on one leg with knee flexed and hip-knee flexed at 90 degrees (40 seconds).

Star Excursion balance training (3 rounds to be applied). Foam Roller massage will apply to thoracolumbar posterior chain (2 sets of 30 seconds will be applied to each area with a rolling period of 2-4 seconds).

Exercise Group

For the participants in the exercise group, the exercise program (balance training, squat exercises, reach forward with sitting and hamstring stretching exercises) will be applied 3 days a week for 4 weeks without any intervention to the thoracolumbar fascia. Before starting the exercise training programs, a 5 minute warm-up will be done. The first evaluation of the participants will be made before starting the 4-week program. Final assessments will be made within 2-3 days after the 4-week training ends. Evaluations will include flexibility measurements, muscular endurance measurements, balance evaluations.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Exercise Group

Intervention Type: OTHER

The exercise program will be applied 3 days a week for 4 weeks. Participants will warm up by walking for 5 minutes before exercise. Stretching exercises- Reach forward with sitting and hamstring (3 reps*30 sec).

First 2 weeks:

Squat exercise (3 sets of 10 reps). Standing on one leg with knee flexed and hip-knee flexed at 90 degrees (30 seconds).

Star Excursion balance training (2 rounds to be applied).

Last 2 weeks:

Squat exercise (3 sets of 15 reps). Standing on one leg with knee flexed and hip-knee flexed at 90 degrees (40 seconds).

Star Excursion balance training (3 rounds to be applied).

Control Group

Any myofascial release or exercise program will not be applied to the participants in the control group. The first evaluation of the participants will be made before other groups starting the 4-week program. Final assessments will be made within 2-3 days after the other groups 4-week training ends. Evaluations will include flexibility measurements, muscular endurance measurements, balance evaluations.

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Myofascial Release and Exercise Group

The exercise program will be applied 3 days a week for 4 weeks. Participants will warm up by walking for 5 minutes before exercise. Stretching exercises - Reach forward with sitting and hamstring (3 reps*30 sec).

First 2 weeks:

Squat exercise (3 sets of 10 reps). Standing on one leg with knee flexed and hip-knee flexed at 90 degrees (30 seconds).

Star Excursion balance training (2 rounds to be applied). Foam Roller massage will apply to thoracolumbar posterior chain (1 set of 30 seconds will be applied with a rolling period of 2-4 seconds).

Last 2 weeks:

Squat exercise (3 sets of 15 reps). Standing on one leg with knee flexed and hip-knee flexed at 90 degrees (40 seconds).

Star Excursion balance training (3 rounds to be applied). Foam Roller massage will apply to thoracolumbar posterior chain (2 sets of 30 seconds will be applied to each area with a rolling period of 2-4 seconds).

Intervention Type: OTHER

Exercise Group

The exercise program will be applied 3 days a week for 4 weeks. Participants will warm up by walking for 5 minutes before exercise. Stretching exercises- Reach forward with sitting and hamstring (3 reps*30 sec).

First 2 weeks:

Squat exercise (3 sets of 10 reps). Standing on one leg with knee flexed and hip-knee flexed at 90 degrees (30 seconds).

Star Excursion balance training (2 rounds to be applied).

Last 2 weeks:

Squat exercise (3 sets of 15 reps). Standing on one leg with knee flexed and hip-knee flexed at 90 degrees (40 seconds).

Star Excursion balance training (3 rounds to be applied).

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• be between the ages of 18-40
• Volunteer

Exclusion Criteria

• To have exercised regularly for the last 6 months
• Injury to the lower extremity in the last 6 months
• Having the condition in which the application of myofascial release is contraindicated
• Orthopedic, neurological, endocrine, vascular, etc. to prevent exercise structure having diseases

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 40 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Akdeniz University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Pamukkale University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

UMMUHAN BAS ASLAN

Prof. Dr.

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Hasan Atacan Tonak, Asst. Prof. Dr.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Akdeniz University

Hatice Ozdemir, PT

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Pamukkale University

Locations

Pamukkale University

Denizli, , Turkey (Türkiye)

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Documents

Document Type: Individual Participant Data Set

Zhang, Q., Trama, R., Fouré, A., \& Hautier, C. A. (2020). The Immediate Effects of Self-Myofacial Release on Flexibility, Jump Performance and Dynamic Balance Ability. Journal of human kinetics, 75, 139-148.

View Document

Other Identifiers

Master Thesis

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id