Examination of Self-Myofascial Release vs. Instrument-Assisted Soft-Tissue Mobilization Techniques on Vertical and Horizontal Power in Recreational Athletes

Abstract

Stroiney, DA, Mokris, RL, Hanna, GR, and Ranney, JD. Examination of self-myofascial release vs. instrument-assisted soft-tissue mobilization techniques on vertical and horizontal power in recreational athletes. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2018-This study examined whether pre-exercise self-myofascial release (SMR) and instrument-assisted soft-tissue mobilization (IASTM) would improve performance on measures of vertical jump height and 40-yd sprint time. Differences in perceived pain levels were also examined. Forty-nine college students volunteered for the study and were randomly assigned to receive either IASTM via Tècnica Gavilàn PTB or SMR via The Stick before performance assessments. After the massage intervention, subjects rated their level of perceived pain using a visual analog scale. An independent t test was used to analyze differences in perceived pain levels between the 2 massage interventions. A 2 × 2 analyses of covariance analyzed differences between sex and the 2 massage interventions. There was no interaction (p > 0.05) between the massage intervention and sex for both the vertical jump and 40-yd sprint tests. There was a significant main effect for vertical jump and SMR (p = 0.04). Sex also had a significant main effect for both the vertical jump (p = 0.04) and the 40-yd sprint (p = 0.02). There were no significant differences between massage interventions for the 40-yd sprint times (p = 0.73). There were no significant differences in perceived pain (t(49) = -1.60, p > 0.05). The use of SMR before exercise may improve vertical jump height in recreational athletes. Pain should not be a factor when choosing massage interventions for athletes because IASTM was not perceived to be more painful than SMR. Self-myofascial release and IASTM did not enhance sprinting performance in this study.

Selective Effects of Manual Massage and Foam Rolling on Perceived Recovery and Performance: Current Knowledge and Future Directions Toward Robotic Massages

“…However, unlike ROM, performance results obtained were not always clearly established (Burk et al, 2019;Hughes and Ramer, 2019;Skinner et al, 2020). Some studies recorded improvements in muscle power, strength or agility, after a single session of FR (D'Andrea, 2016;Sagiroglu, 2017;Stroiney et al, 2020). Other came to different conclusions.…”

Effects of Self-Myofascial Release on Athletes’ Physical Performance: A Systematic Review

“…Furthermore, two studies analysed the changes in a vertical jump test (sergeant jump) after the inclusion of myofascial release. Stroiney et al [ 68 ] found significant differences in a group of 49 athletes in a vertical jump test after the application of a myofascial self-release programme (+2.54 ± 3.2 cm, p = 0.04), reflecting a greater increase than a group performing an instrument-assisted soft-tissue mobilisation protocol, though those did not reach significant differences. On the other hand, Peacock et al [ 78 ] found significant differences in a sample of 11 NCAA tournament athletes (Division I and Division II) from different disciplines ( p = 0.012), finding no differences in the group that performed mobility work without the inclusion of an FR.…”

“…In this systematic review, 25 studies in total were identified [ 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 ], examining the use of different SMR techniques before and after exercise and also as a recovery method. Each study applied different exercise protocols, using various treatments, application times, and measures and assessing different results, which made the selection of results a challenge.…”

“…Regarding the effects of SMR on strength performance, positive and negative results were found. Seven studies focused on athletes found statistically significant results in relation to SMR sessions prior to testing the squat jump, CMJ, drop jump, and vertical jump [ 54 , 59 , 64 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 78 ]. Additionally, Peacock et al [ 78 ] showed an improvement in the long jump and the 1RM test on a bench press [ 78 ], leading them to recommend the use of SMR exercises with an FR to improve power and strength, especially when combined with a dynamic warm-up.…”

“…Nevertheless, it is important to highlight the heterogeneity in the studies analysing the effects of SMR on speed; despite to carrying out the same protocols/speed tests, the measuring instruments were different and this could indeed have been a differentiator in the results. One good example of this is the study by Stroiney [ 68 ], which showed a lack of significant results in the same 37 m race test, and where instead of using a foam roller, a massager roller was the instrument chosen. This implies another type of pressure on the fascia and muscles, since the subject holds the roller with their hands and applies the desired pressure, in comparison to the foam roller, where the subject generates the pressure through their bodyweight on the applied area.…”