THE MYOFASCIAL SYSTEM AND MINIMIZING THE RISK OS INJURY IN SPORT

NCT ID: NCT06895720

Last Updated: 2025-12-02

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 65 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2026-01-01
• Study Completion Date: 2026-04-30

Brief Summary

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.

Conditions

Sports Injuries; Flexibility; Balance; Jumping Performance; Muscle Tonus; Ranger of Motion; Reactive Strength Index; Muscle Stiffness; Muscle Elasticity

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: PREVENTION
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

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.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Myofascial Self-Release

Intervention Type: OTHER

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.

No Intervention: Control Group

Athletes will maintain regular training sessions

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Other Intervention Names

Foam rolling

Eligibility Criteria

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

• Minimum Eligible Age: 14 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: MALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Aveiro University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Bruno Ferreira Rondon Linhares

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Azevedo Coutinho Street No. 5

Fão, Porto District, Portugal

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

Portugal

Central Contacts

Bruno Ferreira Linhares, PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences

Role: CONTACT

brunolinharesfisio@hotmail.com

+351931131831

Facility Contacts

Bianca A Gouveia

Role: primary

biancagouveialinhares@gmail.com

+351919306892

Other Identifiers

12-CED/2024

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id