Acute Effects of Upper Arm Tissue Flossing on Upper Extremity Performance and Power

NCT07670793 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: ETU-2026-TF-UEP-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 28
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized sham-controlled trial investigates the acute effects of upper arm tissue flossing on upper extremity performance and power in healthy adults. Tissue flossing is a compression-based intervention that involves wrapping an elastic band around a limb for a short period while performing movement exercises. Twenty-eight healthy participants are randomly assigned to either an active tissue flossing group or a sham flossing group. The intervention is applied to the dominant upper arm. Upper extremity performance is assessed before the intervention and at 2 and 15 minutes after the intervention using the Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test (CKCUEST) and the Seated Medicine Ball Throw (SMBT). The study aims to determine whether a single session of upper arm tissue flossing can produce immediate improvements in upper extremity stability, functional performance, and explosive power compared with a sham intervention

Conditions

Upper Extremity Performance; Healthy Volunteers; Tissue Flossing

Keywords

Tissue Flossing; Floss Band; Compression Band

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Seated Medicine Ball Throw (SMBT) distance

  Upper-extremity explosive power was assessed using the seated medicine ball throw. Participants were seated upright with back support and projected a 2-kg medicine ball horizontally as far as possible in a chest-pass motion. Throw distance was measured from a fixed start line to the point of initial ball contact.

  Measured at three time points: Baseline (Pre-intervention), 2 minutes post-removal, and 15 minutes post-removal

• Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test (CKCUEST) score

  Upper-extremity closed-chain stability was assessed using the CKCUEST. Participants assumed a full push-up (high-plank) position with hands placed on two parallel strips of tape positioned 91.4 cm apart. Participants alternately touched the opposite hand as rapidly as possible for 15 seconds. The metric recorded is the total number of completed hand touches within the 15-second interval.

  Measured at three time points: Baseline (Pre-intervention), 2 minutes post-removal, and 15 minutes post-removal.

Study Arms (2)

Active Flossing Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants (n=14) receive a structured circumferential compression protocol on their dominant upper arm using an elastic latex floss band stretched to moderate tension, followed by a brief active movement sequence.

Other: Active Myofascial Compression; Other: Sham Myofascial Wrap

Sham Flossing

SHAM COMPARATOR

Participants (n=14) receive a loose, minimal-tension wrap on their dominant upper arm using the same floss band type, performing the identical active movement sequence to isolate the effects of compression intensity

Other: Active Myofascial Compression; Other: Sham Myofascial Wrap

Interventions

Active Myofascial Compression OTHER

The floss band is applied to the participant's dominant upper arm by a licensed physiotherapist. Wrapping proceeds in a distal-to-proximal direction with approximately 50% overlap between layers, terminating just distal to the axilla. The band is stretched to a standardized elongation between 50% and 70% of its maximal length to generate moderate circumferential compression. Once wrapped, the participant performs a standardized 2-minute low-to-moderate intensity active movement sequence consisting of repeated elbow flexion/extension, shoulder flexion/extension, and forearm pronation/supination. The band is fully removed immediately following the 2-minute movement block

Active Flossing Group; Sham Flossing

Sham Myofascial Wrap OTHER

The floss band is applied to the participant's dominant upper arm by the same physiotherapist, maintaining identical therapist contact time, limb positioning, and overall session duration as the active group. However, the band is applied with less than 10% elongation, creating a loosely snug contact fit insufficient to generate meaningful circumferential compression or local vascular occlusion. Once wrapped, the participant performs the exact same 2-minute low-to-moderate intensity active movement sequence (elbow flexion/extension, shoulder flexion/extension, and forearm pronation/supination) before the band is fully removed.

Active Flossing Group; Sham Flossing

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 35 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Age 18-35 years.
• Absence of current upper-extremity pain or dysfunction.
• Ability to safely assume a full push-up position and perform a two-handed seated chest pass.

You may not qualify if:

• History of upper-extremity surgery.
• Acute musculoskeletal injury within the preceding 6 months.
• Known vascular disease, coagulation or clotting disorders, uncontrolled hypertension, or any other contraindication to short-term circumferential limb compression.
• Confirmed latex allergy, given that the floss band used in this study was latex-based.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Harran University: collaborator
• University of Cape Coast: collaborator
• Bielefeld University: collaborator
• Erzurum Technical University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Harran university

Sanliurfa, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Study Officials

• Esedullah AKARAS, Dr.

  Erzurum Technical University

  STUDY CHAIR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Outcome measurements at all time points were performed by a single trained assessor who was blinded to group allocation and had no involvement in intervention delivery. To support participant blinding, all individuals were informed that they would receive one of two compression-based protocols but were not informed which condition was expected to be more effective
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Dr.

Model Details: This study employed a randomized, sham-controlled, parallel-group, repeated-measures design to examine the acute effects of upper-arm tissue flossing on closed-chain upper-extremity stability and seated upper-body power. Outcome assessments were conducted at three distinct time points: immediately before the intervention (Pre), 2 minutes after band removal (Post2), and 15 minutes after band removal (Post15).

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 22, 2026
• First Posted: June 26, 2026
• Study Start: March 1, 2026
• Primary Completion: April 15, 2026
• Study Completion: May 3, 2026
• Last Updated: June 26, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)