Effects of Myofascial Release Technique on Mobility, Sensorimotor Function and Performance in Volleyball Players

NCT06017180 | Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: 7700-GOA
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 54
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

Sports that require overhead activities (volleyball, tennis, basketball) include components such as rapid displacement, strength and movement control.Volleyball is also called as an overhead sport in terms of the way it is played. In the realization of these sports; Sub-parameters such as proprioceptive sense, strength, throwing rate, flexibility play a role. During these activities, the shoulder and elbow joints are overloaded. To meet this load, the joint must provide the necessary mobility and stability. Proprioceptive sense in increasing the quality and width of movement as well as providing dynamic joint stability in overhead sports; Increasing the range of motion of the joint, reducing muscle stiffness and thus increasing flexibility are effective in providing mobility. That's why it's important to develop them. Likewise, muscle strength should be increased in order to maintain movement performance and prevent injuries. The use of myofascial release techniques as an exercise method has increased in recent years. Application; The effects on parameters such as strength, performance and flexibility were investigated. Studies have focused more on the lower extremities and acute effects. There is no study on the subject examining proprioceptive sensation in volleyball players in the upper extremity. Therefore, our aim is to examine the chronic effects of the application on shoulder and elbow joint mobility, sensorimotor function and performance.

Conditions

Athletes; Volleyball

Keywords

foam rolling; volleyball; proprioception; upper extremity; strength; performance

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Proprioception (elbow and shoulder)

  Change of biceps brachii and shoulder internal rotation joint position sense (with digital inclinometer in degree) (Target angel:Elbow:45 degree, shoulder:45 degree). The target angles to be tested will be taught by the investigators with eyes open 3 times and eyes closed 3 times. The participant will then be asked to bring it to the target angle with their eyes closed. The deviation value from the target angle will be recorded.

  Baseline, after 4 and 8 weeks myofascial release techniques period and then follow up measurement 6. month

• Muscle Strength (elbow and shoulder)

  Change of biceps brachii and shoulder internal rotation isometric strength (in kg, with hand held dynamometer).The average of three consecutive repetitions will be recorded.

  Baseline, after 4 and 8 weeks myofascial release techniques period and then follow up measurement 6. month.

• Mobility (shoulder)

  Change of shoulder mobility (shoulder (internal and external rotation) range of motion, Back Scratch test:The distance between the middle fingers will be recorded in cm.). Measurements will be made 3 times, the average of the measured values will be recorded.

  Baseline, after 4 and 8 weeks myofascial release techniques period and then follow up measurement 6. month.

• Performance (Speed)

  Change of shoulder and elbow performance (Dunk speed test with sportive radar). The tests will be conducted by measuring the maximum slam speed using a volleyball. The ball is thrown from a height of 2 to 3 meters by the coach. Participants dunk the ball into the net without touching the net and without occupying the opponent's court. Participants will be asked to practice 3 spikes at their maximum strength. The average of the three values will be taken. (km/h)

  Baseline, after 4 and 8 weeks myofascial release techniques period and then follow up measurement 6. month.

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Well-Being

  Baseline, after 4 and 8 weeks myofascial release techniques period and then follow up measurement 6. month.

• Performance

  Baseline, after 4 and 8 weeks myofascial release techniques period and then follow up measurement 6. month.

• Mobility

  Baseline, after 4 and 8 weeks myofascial release techniques period and then follow up measurement 6. month.

• Muscle Strength

  Baseline, after 4 and 8 weeks myofascial release techniques period and then follow up measurement 6. month.

• Proprioception (joint position sense and force match)

  Baseline, after 4 and 8 weeks myofascial release techniques period and then follow up measurement 6. month.

Study Arms (2)

Myofascial Release Group

EXPERIMENTAL

54 healthy people playing volleyball will be included in our study and randomly divided into groups. In group I (myofascial release group), myofascial release will be applied to the shoulder and elbow region.

Other: Myofascial Release Techniques

Control Group

SHAM COMPARATOR

54 healthy people playing volleyball will be included in our study and randomly divided into groups. The sham method will be applied to the shoulder and elbow region of group II (control group).

Other: Sham myofascial release technique

Interventions

Myofascial Release Techniques OTHER

Volleyball players will perform these practices with a physiotherapist 3 days a week for 8 weeks (24 sessions), and their routine sports training will continue. Participants in the group will be shown how to use rolling materials. The application will be performed as 2 sets in a session using the body weight of the person, as 10 rolls in 1 minute. The application time will be 2 minutes in total for each session. There will be 30 seconds of rest between sets. The participation rate limit for the sessions was determined as 80%. The application rate will be controlled with a metronome. The pressure to be created using body weight will be controlled by a numerical pain scale. The technique will be applied to the biceps brachii, latissimuss dorsi, upper trapezius, pectoralis minor, pectoralis major, and thoracic extensor muscles. During the application, a foam roller and a rolling stick (Thera-Band, Hygienic Corporation, Akron, OH) will be used.

Myofascial Release Group

Sham myofascial release technique OTHER

It was planned to apply the sham myofascial release technique to the athletes in the control group. In this application; with the help of the palm of the hand, pressure will be applied to the surface of the relevant muscles, first without pressure for 1 minute, then after resting for 30 seconds. The given pressure will be 2 out of 10 (0: No pain/discomfort due to pressure, 10: Unbearable pain/discomfort due to pressure). This group will also be given the right to receive a myofascial relaxation program which the experimental group received, after the study period ended.

Control Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 13 Years - 40 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Being playing volleyball
• Training at least two hours a week Being between the ages of 13-40
• Full active movement of the shoulder and elbow in all directions
• To have at least 3 years of overhead sports activity (volleyball) (Kurt, 2022)
• Active participation in training and competitions
• Absence of shoulder pain
• To be able to complete all the evaluations and applications to be made in the study

You may not qualify if:

• Not wanting to participate in the study and not being able to fulfill its requirements
• History of upper extremity injury in the last 1 year
• Any history of surgery or fracture in the upper extremity
• The occurrence of pain during evaluations and applications
• Having a diagnosed disease related to the neck and shoulder
• Having any diagnosed systemic (rheumatological) musculoskeletal disease
• Have a lower extremity injury (acute and/or active) in the last six months
• Having acne and similar skin problems, open wounds that may prevent the application of rounded myofascial relaxation
• Previous application of similar rounded myofascial relaxation
• Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy
• Having been diagnosed with osteoporosis
• Having a diagnosis of vertigo
• Having a cardiovascular disease
• Being pregnant

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Dokuz Eylul University: lead

Study Sites (2)

Manisa Büyük Şehir Belediyesi Spor Kulübü

Manisa, 450330, Turkey (Türkiye)

RECRUITING

Manisa Gençlik ve Spor İl Müdürlüğü Voleybol Takımı

Manisa, 45040, Turkey (Türkiye)

NOT YET RECRUITING

Study Officials

• Sevgi Sevi Yeşilyaprak, PhD

  Dokuz Eylul University

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Central Study Contacts

Fatma Özden, PhD Student

CONTACT

+905544473147; fatik-93@hotmail.com

Sevgi Sevi Yeşilyaprak, PhD

CONTACT

+902324124926; sevgisubasi@deu.edu.tr

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Physical Therapist

Model Details: intervention group and sham group

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 21, 2022
• First Posted: August 30, 2023
• Study Start: September 30, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): November 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 30, 2026
• Last Updated: February 6, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-02

Locations

TU (2)