Fascial Manipulation Effect on Shoulder Range of Motion and Strength in Handball Players

NCT06009367 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: FM2223
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 56
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The investigators conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial on the female and male handball players from the Izola Handball Club (Slovenia) who volunteered to participate in the study. Data were collected in the first part of the competition season 2022/2023. The participants were randomly divided into investigated and control groups so that each group had approximately the same number of participants regarding sex and age. The Fascial manipulation (FM) was performed in the investigated group, whereas, in the control group, the participants did not receive the FM. Demographics (sex, age, height, weight, throwing shoulder, playing position, years of playing) were collected. The study protocol complied with the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the National Medical Ethics Committee of the Republic of Slovenia (0120-78/2022/9). The aim of this research was to determine whether and how FM affects IR, HADD ROM and the strength of ER in handball players. The hypotheses include: (1) an increase in IR, HADD ROM, and strength of ER immediately after FM compared to the control group, (2) maintenance of increased ROM and ER strength one month after FM compared to baseline and the control group, (3) a decrease in the subjective feeling of tightness immediately and one month after and (4) the size of the FM effect increases with years of playing and vice versa.

Conditions

Connective Tissue Defect; Fascia; Anomaly

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• The immediate effect of Fascial Manipulation (FM) on the shoulder joint internal rotation (IR) and horizontal adduction (HADD) range of motion (ROM)

  Investigated the difference in the shoulder joint internal rotation (IR) and shoulder joint horizontal adduction (HADD) ROM before and immediately after FM in both groups. A classic goniometer was used to record ROM measurements for IR and HADD in degrees (°).

  immediately after FM

• The immediate effect of Fascial Manipulation (FM) on the shoulder joint external rotation (ER) strength

  Investigated the difference in the strength of ER before and immediately after FM in both groups. The Easy Force© digital dynamometer was used to determine the strength of the ER. Maximal isometric strength was measured in newtons per kilogram (N/kg).

  immediately after FM

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• The effect of Fascial Manipulation (FM) on the shoulder joint internal rotation (IR) and horizontal adduction (HADD) range of motion (ROM) one month after FM

  27-34 days (one month)

• The effect of Fascial Manipulation (FM) on the shoulder joint external rotation (ER) strength one month after FM

  27-34 days (one month)

Study Arms (2)

Investigated group with fascial manipulation

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group received one treatment of fascial manipulation by Stecco method

Procedure: Fascial Manipulation by Stecco method

Control group with no intervention

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in this group received no treatment

Interventions

Fascial Manipulation by Stecco method PROCEDURE

Fascial Manipulation (FM) is a method carefully developed by members of the Stecco family after many years of research. FM involves deep kneading of the muscle fascia at specific points called centers of coordination (CC) and centers of fusion (CF) along myofascial sequences, diagonals, and spirals. It has been proposed that the friction caused by manipulation creates localized heat and that, due to the thermosensitive characteristics of fascia, this heat facilitates the transition of hyaluronic acid within the extracellular matrix from a condensed state to a more fluid state, thus restoring the gliding properties of fascia.

Investigated group with fascial manipulation

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 15 Years - 33 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Asymptomatic and healthy handball players from Izola Handball Club (Slovenia)
• Both male and female participants who volunteer for the study and belong to cadet, junior, and senior handball teams
• All participants aged 18 years and older, provided informed consent to participate in the study, whereas participants under the age of 18 need their parents or guardians to sign the informed consent form on their behalf.

You may not qualify if:

• A recent upper extremity injury or surgery that hinders the player's ability to participate in the game of handball for the past three months
• Any history of previous shoulder surgery
• The playing position of goalkeeper.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Anja Baric: lead

Study Sites (1)

Izola Handball Club

Izola, 6310, Slovenia

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Baric A, Jesensek Papez B, Bastic M, Kelc R, Brumat P, Stecco A. The Impact of Fascial Manipulation(R) on Posterior Shoulder Tightness in Asymptomatic Handball Players: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Diagnostics (Basel). 2024 Sep 7;14(17):1982. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics14171982.

  PMID: 39272766 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Congenital Abnormalities

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: CARE PROVIDER
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator, Physiotherapist, Master of Health Science

Model Details: One investigated group with intervention and one control group without intervention

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 9, 2023
• First Posted: August 24, 2023
• Study Start: September 1, 2022
• Primary Completion: October 15, 2022
• Study Completion: October 15, 2022
• Last Updated: August 24, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

SL (1)