[Purpose] This study was aimed to investigate the effects of Ergon
®
IASTM
applications on the upper or lower part of the Superficial Back Line (SBL) on the
hamstring’s flexibility. [Participants and Methods] Sixty University students (age=24.4 ±
4.39; height=176.78 ± 8.31 cm; weight=75.16 ± 11.21 kg) were randomly divided into three
sub-groups and received a single 15-minute treatment with Ergon
®
Technique in
a) the upper and b) the lower part of SBL or c) served as control. The participants
received one treatment per week for four weeks with a simultaneous pre-and post-therapy
assessment of their hamstrings flexibility using the passive Straight Leg Raising (SLR).
[Results] Both experimental groups improved SLR performance from pre to post during the
four weeks from 4.4% to 9.2% in the trunk group and from 4.9% to 8.0% in the lower body
group. These differences were significantly greater from the CTRL group. No differences
were observed between the two experimental groups. [Conclusion] In conclusion, application
of Ergon Technique of either the upper or lower part of the SBL may lead to a significant
increase in the hamstring flexibility irrespective of the site of application.
Context: Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), tissue flossing, and kinesiology taping are increasingly popular treatments among athletes for improving functional performance, despite limited evidence for their efficacy. Objective: Previous research regarding the efficacy of soft tissues and neuromuscular techniques on improving functional capacity of shoulder joints in athletes has yielded conflicting results. We examined the immediate and short-term effects of IASTM, flossing, and kinesiology taping on the functional capacities of amateur athletes’ shoulders. Design: Randomized controlled study. Setting: Clinical assessment laboratory. Participants: Eighty amateur overhead athletes (mean [SD]: age = 23.03 [1.89]; weight = 78.36 [5.32]; height = 1.77 [.11]). Interventions: We randomly assigned participants to 4 research sub-groups in which they received the following treatments on their dominant shoulders: IASTM (n = 20), flossing (n = 20), both IASTM and flossing (n = 20), and kinesiology tape (n = 20). Nondominant shoulders served as controls. Main Outcome Measure: We evaluated participants—before, immediately after, and 45 minutes after the therapeutic interventions—with the following tests: internal and external shoulder rotation range of motion, isokinetic strength and total work, the functional throwing performance index, and the one-arm seated shot put throw performance. Results: All therapeutic interventions significantly improved the strength and functional performance of the dominant shoulder in comparison with the control (P < .005) immediately after and 45 minutes after the treatment. The IASTM led to significantly greater improvement in shoulder internal rotation than kinesiology taping immediately after (P = .049) and 45 minutes after the treatment (P = .049). We observed no significant differences between the other treatment interventions (P > .05). Conclusion: Findings from the current study support the use of novel soft tissue and neuromuscular techniques for the immediate and short-term improvement of the shoulder functional capacities in amateur overhead athletes.
This study aimed to evaluate the posterior thigh's skin thermal responses to 448-kHz radiofrequency-based therapy applied either in the form of standard application (Indiba ® Activ) or combined soft tissue treatment (Indiba ® Fascia treatment). [Participants and Methods] Ten healthy males (22 ± 3 years of age, weight 75.2 ± 4.9 kg, height 178.5 ± 4.7) received four different treatments which included a) Indiba ® Activ (IA) radiofrequency treatment, b) Indiba ® Fascia (IF), c) Indiba ® Activ placebo (IAP) and d) Indiba ® Fascia Placebo (IFP) in the posterior thigh of their dominant lower limb, while the non-dominant served as the control. Skin temperature was recorded pre-and post-treatment and every minute until the surface temperature reached pre-treatment levels using a wireless infrared thermometer. [Results] Both radiofrequency-based therapy groups IA and IF led to a significant increase in skin temperature compared to placebo applications. The IF intervention led to an average retention of elevated temperature for 164.2 minutes compared to 54.8 minutes of IA, 23.17 of IFP and 17.6 minutes of IAP. [Conclusion] These findings indicate that radiofrequency treatment at 448 kHz can induce and sustain significant thermal skin adaptations reflecting an increased blood circulation and metabolism of underlying tissues.
Background
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short- and intermediate-term effects of the combined application of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) techniques and neuromuscular exercises of the cervical and thoracic area on the improvement of the functionality of patients with mechanical neck pain and accompanying forward head posture (FHP).
Methods
Twenty patients with neck pain and FHP were randomized and received eight treatment sessions of either targeted IASTM in combination with neuromuscular exercises (Group A) or a classical massage and the same set of exercises (Group B). The cervical vertebral angle (CVA), cervical range of motion (ROM) and strength, pain (visual analogue scale-VAS), and neck disability index (NDI) were measured throughout the treatment period and in the two- and four-week post-treatment periods.
Results
The combined application of IASTM and neuromuscular exercises contributed to a significantly greater improvement in CVA (Group A: + 7,2 deg vs Group B: + 1,1 deg) and NDI (Group A:-25,2 vs Group B:-5,8) than massage and the application of the same exercises. Both interventions improved cervical ROM and strength in the short term. Pain was also significantly improved in both groups in both the short (Group A VAS: − 5,97 vs Group B VAS: − 3,1) and intermediate term (Group A VAS:-5,5 vs Group B:-1,5).
Conclusions
Combining IASTM and exercises for the cervical and thoracic area can induce positive postural adaptations and improve the functional status of neck pain patients.
Trial registration
ISRCTN, ISRCTN54231174. Registered 19 March 2020 - Retrospectively registered.
[Purpose] The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the effectiveness of
instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), foam rolling, and athletic elastic
taping on improving elite volleyball players’ shoulder range of motion (ROM) and throwing
performance. [Participants and Methods] Fifteen elite male volleyball players (mean age:
24 ± 4.54 years; mean height: 177 ± 0.08 cm; mean weight: 81 ± 7.71 kg) received shoulder
Ergon IASTM, foam rolling, and elastic taping treatment in random order on both upper
extremities once a week for three weeks. Pre-and post-treatment assessments of their
shoulders’ ROM and functional throwing performance were performed. [Results] Ergon IASTM
technique resulted in significantly higher shoulder flexion ROM values than foam rolling
and elastic taping. Foam rolling, in turn, showed better results than athletic elastic
taping. Moreover, the Ergon IASTM technique resulted in significantly higher OSP values
than athletic elastic taping. No significant differences were observed between the
therapeutic interventions in terms of FTPI. [Conclusion] This pilot study on elite
athletes provides evidence that both IASTM and foam rolling techniques may improve their
passive shoulder ROM compared to elastic athletic taping while Ergon IASTM can also
enhance their shoulder throwing performance.
[Purpose] This study aimed to examine the thermal skin responses (thermal buildup and
retention rate) to instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) procedures applied
on hamstrings at different angles. [Participants and Methods] Thirty university students
(age: 20 ± 4 years, weight: 70.61 ± 9.11 kg, height: 168.5 ± 7.5 cm) received three
sessions of 10-min Ergon
®
IASTM treatment on their dominant limbs’ hamstrings
at 20°, 60°, and 90° application angles, respectively. The skin temperature was measured
with a thermometer immediately before and after treatment, and every minute thereafter
until it returned to the baseline value. [Results] IASTM resulted in a significant
increase in skin temperature irrespective of the application angle. The thermal retention
rate produced by the treatment at a 90° angle was significantly higher than that produced
by the 20° application angle (78.9 vs. 64.53 min). No significant differences were
observed between the 60° and 90° angle applications (72.5 vs. 78.9 min). [Conclusion]
IASTM application at 60° and 90° angles can increase and retain the hamstring’s skin
temperature for more than an hour, creating the conditions for potential positive
adaptations to local metabolism and muscle tone.
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