Examining the Effects of Three Soft Tissue Treatments on Functional Movement and Functional Performance Enhancement

NCT03080220 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 160231-03
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 48
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 3

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of Astym® treatment, The Stick® treatment and massage treatment on performance among healthy college athletes and to investigate any relationship between functional movement and functional performance. Participants will be recruited from Division II, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) basketball and volleyball teams. The participants will be randomized into one of three groups: Astym treatment (AT), The Stick treatment (ST) or massage treatment (MT). The participant will have baseline measures of vertical jump (VJ), Y-Balance Lower Quarter Screen (YBLQ), and a rating of current perceived lower extremity function using a visual analog scale (PLEF-VAS). The participants will be treated using either the AT, ST, or MT following baseline measures. Immediately following the intervention, a second measurement of VJ, YBLQ, and PLEF-VAS will take place. The data will be analyzed using mixed ANOVA tests which will be conducted for each dependent variable. In addition, functional movement is thought to be related to functional performance. A Pearson Product Correlation analysis will be used to understand any relationship between YBLQ and VJ. It is hypothesized that those in the AT group will have different percent change in their YBLQ, VJ, and PLEF-VAS compared to those in ST and MT groups. It is hypothesized that a correlation between YBLQ and VJ will exist. As a result, clinicians could use AT among basketball and volleyball athletes without hindering acute performance. Any risks the participants could encounter are minimal. Participants may withdraw themselves and their data at any time. The intervention and testing are similar to what an athlete would be exposed to during their collegiate career. Any participant injured during this study will be referred to their university sports medicine staff, health center, or the Indiana Wesleyan University health center.

Conditions

Functional Performance

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Vertical Jump

  A Belt Mat (University of Toronto; Toronto, Canada) vertical jump measuring device will be utilized for this study.28

  1 day

• Dynamic Balance

  A Y Balance test kit will be used to measure the distance reached while the participant stabilizes on one leg.

  1 day

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Rating of Perceived Lower Extremity Function

  1 day

Study Arms (3)

Astym

EXPERIMENTAL

The Astym treatment (AT) is specifically used by medical professionals to treat musculoskeletal dysfunctions by stimulating the body's ability to break down adhesions and reabsorb dysfunctional tissue (scar tissue).6-16,19 The treatment induces collagen building, fibroblastic activity, and phagocytosis.17,18 Part of the treatment includes utilizing a series of instruments glided across the skin tissue, in a non-invasive manner, along the route of the underlying muscle fibers' direction. The treatment specifically spares healthy tissue and stimulates growth factors and cellular mediators that stimulate the repair of dysfunctional tissue in the body's internal mechanisms.17,18 Astym is an FDA approved device. Specifically, Astym is registered as having a device class as 1 and regulation number as 890.5660.

Device: Astym

Stick

EXPERIMENTAL

The Stick treatment (ST) utilizes an instrument to convert non-compliant muscle to compliant muscle by compressing the muscle. The individual spindles of The Stick create a stripping massage by applying progressively deeper strokes over the soft tissue.38 The Stick permits individuals to perform trigger point release on own person, allowing the muscle to become compliant to the wanted movement.

Device: Stick

Massage

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Similar to the protocol previously outlined for the other two independent variables, the massage treatment (MT) will progress from anterior, to medial, to lateral and posterior shank, thigh, and hip. The treatment on each muscle tissue will follow the similar protocol as the Astym treatment (AT) group. However, the flat, non-treatment edge of the Evaluator®, Localizer®, and Isolator® will be put in contact with the muscle tissues in a direction parallel to the muscle fibers being treated, but without over pressure.7 The traditional treatment edge of the instrument has a tapered, machine edge and creates shear forces when glided across the tissue at an angle between 60 and 80 degrees.

Device: Massage

Interventions

Astym DEVICE

therapeutic massage instrument

Astym

Stick DEVICE

massage instrument

Also known as: The Stick

Stick

Massage DEVICE

massage instruments

Massage

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 25 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• male and female athletes
• individuals aged between 18 and 25 years
• compete in basketball or volleyball sponsored by the NAIA Division II governing body during the 2015 - 2016 or 2016 - 2017 athletic seasons
• sport eligible.

You may not qualify if:

• Astym treatment (AT) in last 3 weeks
• The Stick treatment (ST) in the last 3 weeks
• Massage treatment (MT) in thelast 3 weeks
• Participants using other means of instrument assisted cutaneous tissue preparation techniques such as 'scraping' household items or stainless steel objects along the lower kinetic chain tissue.
• Currently injured or ill
• Injured in the last month before the participation date
• Not full healed from a previous injury or illness
• Participants who currently have athletic participation restrictions of any kind - Those who have known clotting dysfunctions
• Those on anticoagulation therapies
• Those with neurogenic dysfunctions
• Those who may be pregnant
• Those allergic to cocoa butter.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions: lead
• Performance Dynamics: collaborator
• Indiana Athletic Trainers' Association: collaborator

Study Sites (3)

University of Saint Francis

Fort Wayne, Indiana, 46808, United States

Location

Huntington University

Huntington, Indiana, 46750, United States

Location

Indiana Wesleyan University

Marion, Indiana, 46953, United States

Location

Related Publications (39)

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  BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Canes; Massage

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Orthopedic Equipment; Surgical Equipment; Equipment and Supplies; Therapy, Soft Tissue; Musculoskeletal Manipulations; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Rehabilitation

Study Officials

• Andrew T Doyle, MA

  Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions/Indiana Wesleyan University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor at Indiana Wesleyan University

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 11, 2017
• First Posted: March 15, 2017
• Study Start: September 1, 2016
• Primary Completion: September 30, 2016
• Study Completion: September 30, 2016
• Last Updated: March 20, 2017

Record last verified: 2017-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (3)