Acute Effects of Gastrocnemius Myofascial Release on Cervical Flexion and Extension Range of Motion in Healthy Adults

NCT ID: NCT07025746

Last Updated: 2025-06-24

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 90 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-06-15
• Study Completion Date: 2025-07-30

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to verify the immediate effects of gastrocnemius myofascial release on the active cervical flexion and extension range of motion.

Detailed Description

After completing the questionnaire, 91 healthy participants will be randomly divided into two groups: the Intervention Group (IG) (n=46) and the Control Group (CG) (n=45). In the first assessment (M0), the range of motion of cervical flexion and extension will be measured using a smartphone (Galaxy S21 FE 5G, Android) and the Clinometer application. The myofascial release technique (foam roller) will be applied to the gastrocnemius of the dominant lower limb for 4 minutes (3 sets of 1 minute with 30 seconds of rest). Participants in the control group will remain at complete rest for a period of 4 minutes, lying in the supine position, without performing any type of active or passive intervention. Immediately after the intervention/control, all groups will be reassessed (M1).

Conditions

Healthy

Study Design

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

Study Groups

Intervention group

A myofascial release technique will be performed using a foam roller (Blackroll Standard, 30 x 15 cm) on the dominant lower limb.

For the Intervention Group (IG), the technique will be applied to the gastrocnemius muscles. In this group, participants will adopt a semi-seated position on a mat, supported by their arms while keeping the body well aligned. The movement will be performed in the direction of the muscle fibers (cephalocaudal), ensuring the accuracy of the technique.

The foam roller will be in contact with the targeted muscle, and the participant will apply pressure until experiencing slight discomfort. In this way, a self-massage will be performed following the direction of the muscle fibers.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Dynamic foam rolling

Intervention Type: DEVICE

The foam roller will be in contact with the muscle being tested and the patient will exert a load until they feel a slight pain. In this way, the patient performs a self-massage in the direction of the muscle fibers.

Control group

The participants will remain at rest in a chair for 4 minutes.

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Dynamic foam rolling

The foam roller will be in contact with the muscle being tested and the patient will exert a load until they feel a slight pain. In this way, the patient performs a self-massage in the direction of the muscle fibers.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Healthy participants of both sexes aged 18-40 years.

Exclusion Criteria

• Deformities in the lower quadrant region of the body;
• Complaints in this region in the last 6 months;
• Surgical procedures or musculoskeletal, cardiac, renal, metabolic, neurological and or oncological pathologies;
• Limb length discrepancy greater than 1.5 cm;
• Pregnant women;
• Ingestion of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or consumption of any type of narcotic drugs and participants who have drunk alcohol in the last 12 hours.

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

Sponsors

University Fernando Pessoa

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Ricardo Cardoso

Phd

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Central Contacts

Ricardo Cardoso, Phd

Role: CONTACT

rcardoso@ufp.edu.pt

+351914585064

Other Identifiers

ESS/LFST-706/25-2

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id