Self-Myofascial Release of the Upper Cervical Muscles

NCT06529991 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2024-048
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The primary objective is to examine the influence of the suboccipital muscles on the superficial back line. The investigators will measure the following as part of this objective:

• Changes in biomechanical and viscoelastic properties of points within the superficial back fascial train measured by a handheld myotonometer.
• Pain pressure threshold measured by algometry.
• Ankle range of motion.
• Foot plantar pressure changes. All participants will have a 5-minute self-myofascial release intervention.

Conditions

Suboccipital Muscles; Superficial Back Line; Myofascial Release

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Muscle Stiffness

  Using myotonometry to assess muscle stiffness (N/m) in the plantar fascia, gastrocnemius, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, thoracolumbar fascia, and semispinalis.

  Pre-Baseline measurement and immediately after 5-minute self-myofascial release intervention

• Plantar foot pressure

  Using Novel EMED plantar pressure platform to assess the distribution of plantar foot pressure (kPa) in different regions of the foot

  Pre-Baseline measurement and immediately after 5-minute self-myofascial release intervention

• Ankle dorsiflexion

  Using the weight-bearing lunge test to measure ankle dorsiflexion (degrees). This is a functional test of ankle dorsiflexion range of motion in a loaded position.

  Pre-Baseline measurement and immediately after 5-minute self-myofascial release intervention

• Pain pressure threshold

  Using algometry to measure pain pressure threshold (kPa) at the erector spinae, sacrum, posterior leg, plantar fascia, and thenar eminence.

  Pre-Baseline measurement and immediately after 5-minute self-myofascial release intervention

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Subjective intensity, frequency, and duration of non-debilitating lower extremity pain and back pain

  Prior to 5-minute self-myofascial release intervention

• Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10)

  Prior to 5-minute self-myofascial release intervention

• Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)

  Prior to 5-minute self-myofascial release intervention

• General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)

  Prior to 5-minute self-myofascial release intervention

Study Arms (1)

Self-Myofascial Release Treatment

EXPERIMENTAL

Device: Occipivot suboccipital pillow self-myofascial release

Interventions

Occipivot suboccipital pillow self-myofascial release DEVICE

Subjects will be instructed in the use of the Occipivot suboccipital pillow and how "it should feel." They will be supervised as it is placed. Once verbal verification is obtained regarding the feel and placement of the wedge, the treatment time will begin and continue for 5 minutes.

Self-Myofascial Release Treatment

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 19 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Adults 19 years of age and older from VCOM-Auburn and the Auburn area.

You may not qualify if:

• pain that alters gait and/or limits/alters normal daily function
• currently undergoing treatment by a healthcare provider
• loss of function
• use of prescription drugs for muscle or muscle relaxants
• Pregnancy (hormonal changes affecting tissues could be a confounding variable)
• inflammatory arthritis and fibromyalgia
• diabetes or prediabetes
• lumbar radiculopathy or disc pathology
• previous surgery of the spine or lower extremity
• injury to the lower extremity within the past 6 months
• neurological or musculoskeletal diseases
• cancer or blood disorder
• current tobacco use
• other conditions that alter gait

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine: lead

Study Sites (1)

Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine-Auburn

Auburn, Alabama, 36832, United States

RECRUITING

Related Publications (14)

• Cho SH, Kim SH, Park DJ. The comparison of the immediate effects of application of the suboccipital muscle inhibition and self-myofascial release techniques in the suboccipital region on short hamstring. J Phys Ther Sci. 2015 Jan;27(1):195-7. doi: 10.1589/jpts.27.195. Epub 2015 Jan 9.

  PMID: 25642072 BACKGROUND

• Donald R. Murphy, Brett M. Carr, Ronald J. Tyszkowski,A possible cervical cause of low back pain: pelvic distortion,Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies,Volume 4, Issue 2,2000,Pages 83-89

  BACKGROUND

• Ajimsha MS, Shenoy PD, Gampawar N. Role of fascial connectivity in musculoskeletal dysfunctions: A narrative review. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2020 Oct;24(4):423-431. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2020.07.020. Epub 2020 Jul 30.

  PMID: 33218543 BACKGROUND

• Gacto-Sanchez M, Medina-Mirapeix F, Benitez-Martinez JC, Montilla-Herrador J, Palanca A, Agustin RM. Estimating Quadriceps and Hamstrings Strength Through Myoton Among Recreational Athletes. J Sport Rehabil. 2023 Jun 14;32(7):827-833. doi: 10.1123/jsr.2022-0437. Print 2023 Sep 1.

  PMID: 37611914 BACKGROUND

• Konor MM, Morton S, Eckerson JM, Grindstaff TL. Reliability of three measures of ankle dorsiflexion range of motion. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2012 Jun;7(3):279-87.

  PMID: 22666642 BACKGROUND

• Lee JH. Effects of forward head posture on static and dynamic balance control. J Phys Ther Sci. 2016 Jan;28(1):274-7. doi: 10.1589/jpts.28.274. Epub 2016 Jan 30.

  PMID: 26957773 BACKGROUND

• Munoz-Munoz S, Munoz-Garcia MT, Alburquerque-Sendin F, Arroyo-Morales M, Fernandez-de-las-Penas C. Myofascial trigger points, pain, disability, and sleep quality in individuals with mechanical neck pain. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2012 Oct;35(8):608-13. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2012.09.003.

  PMID: 23158466 BACKGROUND

• Orner S, Kratzer W, Schmidberger J, Gruner B. Quantitative tissue parameters of Achilles tendon and plantar fascia in healthy subjects using a handheld myotonometer. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2018 Jan;22(1):105-111. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2017.06.015. Epub 2017 Jun 21.

  PMID: 29332731 BACKGROUND

• Overmann L, Schleip R, Michalak J. Exploring fascial properties in patients with depression and chronic neck pain: An observational study. Acta Psychol (Amst). 2024 Apr;244:104214. doi: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104214. Epub 2024 Mar 10.

  PMID: 38461580 BACKGROUND

• Skinner B, Dunn L, Moss R. The Acute Effects of Theragun Percussive Therapy on Viscoelastic Tissue Dynamics and Hamstring Group Range of Motion. J Sports Sci Med. 2023 Sep 1;22(3):496-501. doi: 10.52082/jssm.2023.496. eCollection 2023 Sep.

  PMID: 37711710 BACKGROUND

• Staffe AT, Bech MW, Clemmensen SLK, Nielsen HT, Larsen DB, Petersen KK. Total sleep deprivation increases pain sensitivity, impairs conditioned pain modulation and facilitates temporal summation of pain in healthy participants. PLoS One. 2019 Dec 4;14(12):e0225849. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225849. eCollection 2019.

  PMID: 31800612 BACKGROUND

• Trybulski R, Stanula A, Zebrowska A, Podlesny M, Hall B. Acute Effects of the Dry Needling Session on Gastrocnemius Muscle Biomechanical Properties, and Perfusion with Latent Trigger Points - A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial in Mixed Martial Arts Athletes. J Sports Sci Med. 2024 Mar 1;23(1):136-146. doi: 10.52082/jssm.2024.136. eCollection 2024 Mar.

  PMID: 38455447 BACKGROUND

• van Leeuwen RJ, Szadek K, de Vet H, Zuurmond W, Perez R. Pain Pressure Threshold in the Region of the Sacroiliac Joint in Patients Diagnosed with Sacroiliac Joint Pain. Pain Physician. 2016 Mar;19(3):147-54.

  PMID: 27008288 BACKGROUND

• Gulrandhe P, Yadav V, Naqvi WM. Correlation Between Foot Posture and Hamstring Muscle Tightness. Cureus. 2023 Jul 17;15(7):e42046. doi: 10.7759/cureus.42046. eCollection 2023 Jul.

  PMID: 37602068 BACKGROUND

Central Study Contacts

Daniel Cawley, DC, MSHS, MS

CONTACT

334-442-4105; dcawley@auburn.vcom.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Model Details: This study will utilize a pretest-posttest design which will measure changes in the following in response to a 5-minute self-myofascial release intervention: muscle biomechanical properties, plantar pressure distribution, pain pressure threshold, ankle range of motion. Investigators will correlate subjective measures of stress, anxiety, sleep, and pain experience with treatment response and evaluate changes in these subjective measures after 1 treatment.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 12, 2024
• First Posted: July 31, 2024
• Study Start: June 26, 2024
• Primary Completion: October 1, 2025
• Study Completion: April 26, 2026
• Last Updated: August 7, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)