Effect of Flossing Bands on Pain and Perceived Level of Function in Collegiate Baseball Pitchers

Abstract

Background: Tissue flossing bands are a relatively new treatment modality that have increased in popularity in recent years. There is evidence suggesting that tissue flossing could decrease pain and increase joint range of motion, but there is still a need for further studies in this matter. Thus, this study aimed to assess the effect of a single tissue flossing treatment on the perceived pain and upper extremity function among healthy collegiate baseball pitchers. Methods: Twenty apparently healthy collegiate baseball pitchers (age: 21 ± 2.49) participated in this study. Tissue flossing treatment was performed from the wrist to the elbow on the participant’s throwing arm. Before and after treatment, perceived pain and upper extremity function was evaluated. Results: Following one round of tissue flossing treatment, the participants experienced a 27% decrease in perceived pain from baseline (3.05 ± 1.95 to 2.22 ± 2.04, p < 0.05). Participants did not experience a significant increase in perceived upper extremity function. In addition, participants did not report any complications as a result of the intervention. Conclusion: These findings demonstrated that in healthy collegiate baseball pitchers, tissue flossing bands treatment were capable of decreasing perceived pain.

Evaluating the Impact of Flossing Band Integration in Conventional Physiotherapy for Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

“…Flossing application is a relatively recent technique involving compression bandaging typically for limb joints and has garnered attention in the realm of knee pathology treatment. Previous research reported that floss band application can significantly improve joint range of motion and reduce pain in individuals with knee arthritis [10], knee extensor maximum voluntary contraction torque [11], and significantly reduce perceived pain among athletes [12]. However, although flossing band therapy shows promise for knee pathology, evidence suggests that its long-term effectiveness remains to be conclusively determined [13,14].…”

“…Our study hypothesizes that incorporating flossing band therapy into conventional physiotherapy for patients with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) will result in more significant improvements in pain reduction, functional ability, and overall patient satisfaction compared to conventional physiotherapy alone. This hypothesis is predicated on the potential of flossing bands to enhance blood flow, reduce muscular tightness, and improve joint mobility, thereby augmenting the efficacy of standard physiotherapeutic techniques [11,12,14].…”