The Immediate Effects Of Thoracolumbar Fascia Inhibition And Suboccipital Muscle Inhibition

NCT ID: NCT07096076

Last Updated: 2025-08-05

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 75 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-03-28
• Study Completion Date: 2025-06-26

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial aimed to compare the immediate effects of two self-myofascial release techniques-suboccipital muscle inhibition and thoracolumbal fascia inhibition-on hamstring flexibility, spinal range of motion, and balance in healthy adults. A total of 75 participants with hamstring tightness were randomly assigned to one of three groups: suboccipital inhibition, thoracolumbal inhibition, or control. All participants performed hamstring stretching, and the intervention groups received one of the inhibition techniques immediately after. Outcomes were measured at baseline and within 30 minutes post-intervention. The study found that both techniques led to significant improvements in hamstring flexibility and spinal mobility, with region-specific benefits. The thoracolumbal technique was more effective for trunk and hamstring flexibility, while the suboccipital technique provided greater cervical mobility gains. Balance improvements were limited. These findings support the use of targeted myofascial interventions in clinical practice.

Conditions

Healthy Individuals With Hamstring Tightness

Study Design

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

Study Groups

Control Group

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

hamstring stretching

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants performed passive hamstring stretching using a sheet for self-assistance. Participants will be asked to lie supine on an appropriate surface and keep their knees in extension. Then, they will be instructed to hold both ends of a sheet and place the middle part of the sheet on the plantar surface of one foot. Using the sheet and performing ankle dorsiflexion, they will pull the leg-kept in knee extension-toward themselves. This position should be held for 30 seconds (8). It is important that the opposite knee does not move into flexion during the exercise. The application will be performed bilaterally.

Thoracolumbar fascia inhibition group

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Thoracolumbar fascia inhibition

Intervention Type: OTHER

Soft tissue mobilization: Participants will be asked to lie on their backs without a pillow in a hook-lying position, placing a foam roller under the inferior part of the scapula and clasping their hands behind the cervical region. Then, they will be instructed to lift their hips off the ground and roll the foam roller in a cranial and caudal direction from the inferior scapular region to the sacral area for 30 seconds, performing flexion and extension movements with their knees. This application will be performed in a total of 4 sets.

hamstring stretching

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants performed passive hamstring stretching using a sheet for self-assistance. Participants will be asked to lie supine on an appropriate surface and keep their knees in extension. Then, they will be instructed to hold both ends of a sheet and place the middle part of the sheet on the plantar surface of one foot. Using the sheet and performing ankle dorsiflexion, they will pull the leg-kept in knee extension-toward themselves. This position should be held for 30 seconds (8). It is important that the opposite knee does not move into flexion during the exercise. The application will be performed bilaterally.

Suboccipital inhibition group

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Suboccipital inhibition group

Intervention Type: OTHER

Soft tissue mobilization: Participants will be asked to lie in a supine position on an appropriate surface and keep their knees in extension. Then, they will be instructed to hold both ends of a sheet and place the middle part of the sheet on the plantar surface of one foot. Using the sheet and by dorsiflexing the ankle, they will pull the extended leg toward themselves. This position should be maintained for 30 seconds (8). It is important that the opposite knee does not flex during the exercise. The application will be performed bilaterally.

hamstring stretching

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants performed passive hamstring stretching using a sheet for self-assistance. Participants will be asked to lie supine on an appropriate surface and keep their knees in extension. Then, they will be instructed to hold both ends of a sheet and place the middle part of the sheet on the plantar surface of one foot. Using the sheet and performing ankle dorsiflexion, they will pull the leg-kept in knee extension-toward themselves. This position should be held for 30 seconds (8). It is important that the opposite knee does not move into flexion during the exercise. The application will be performed bilaterally.

Interventions

Thoracolumbar fascia inhibition

Soft tissue mobilization: Participants will be asked to lie on their backs without a pillow in a hook-lying position, placing a foam roller under the inferior part of the scapula and clasping their hands behind the cervical region. Then, they will be instructed to lift their hips off the ground and roll the foam roller in a cranial and caudal direction from the inferior scapular region to the sacral area for 30 seconds, performing flexion and extension movements with their knees. This application will be performed in a total of 4 sets.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Suboccipital inhibition group

Soft tissue mobilization: Participants will be asked to lie in a supine position on an appropriate surface and keep their knees in extension. Then, they will be instructed to hold both ends of a sheet and place the middle part of the sheet on the plantar surface of one foot. Using the sheet and by dorsiflexing the ankle, they will pull the extended leg toward themselves. This position should be maintained for 30 seconds (8). It is important that the opposite knee does not flex during the exercise. The application will be performed bilaterally.

Intervention Type: OTHER

hamstring stretching

Participants performed passive hamstring stretching using a sheet for self-assistance. Participants will be asked to lie supine on an appropriate surface and keep their knees in extension. Then, they will be instructed to hold both ends of a sheet and place the middle part of the sheet on the plantar surface of one foot. Using the sheet and performing ankle dorsiflexion, they will pull the leg-kept in knee extension-toward themselves. This position should be held for 30 seconds (8). It is important that the opposite knee does not move into flexion during the exercise. The application will be performed bilaterally.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Healthy volunteers between the ages of 18 and 25
• Hamstring muscle tightness as defined by Active Knee Extension Test (AKET) ≥ 20°
• Ability to follow study instructions and provide informed consent
• No participation in other clinical studies within the last 3 months

Exclusion Criteria

• AKET < 20° (i.e., no hamstring tightness)
• History of musculoskeletal, neurological, or systemic diseases affecting balance or flexibility
• Recent injury or surgery involving the spine, pelvis, or lower extremities
• Use of medications affecting muscle tone or balance
• Inability to perform the required movements or assessments
• Pregnancy or suspected pregnancy

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 25 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Bulent Ecevit University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Sanem ŞENER

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit Üniversity

Kozlu, Zonguldak Province, Turkey (Türkiye)

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Other Identifiers

NCTHamstring-shortness

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id