Immediate Effects of Myofascial Release Treatment on Lumbar Microcirculation: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Abstract

(1) Background: Inflammatory processes in the thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) lead to thickening, compaction, and fibrosis and are thought to contribute to the development of nonspecific low back pain (nLBP). The blood flow (BF) of fascial tissue may play a critical role in this process, as it may promote hypoxia-induced inflammation. The primary objective of the study was to examine the immediate effects of a set of myofascial release (MFR) techniques on the BF of lumbar myofascial tissue. The secondary objectives were to evaluate the influence of TLF morphology (TLFM), physical activity (PA), and body mass index (BMI) on these parameters and their correlations with each other. (2) Methods: This study was a single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Thirty pain-free subjects (40.5 ± 14.1 years) were randomly assigned to two groups treated with MFR or a placebo intervention. Correlations between PA, BMI, and TLFM were calculated at baseline. The effects of MFR and TLFM on BF (measured with white light and laser Doppler spectroscopy) were determined. (3) Results: The MFR group had a significant increase in BF after treatment (31.6%) and at follow-up (48.7%) compared with the placebo group. BF was significantly different between disorganized and organized TLFM (p < 0.0001). There were strong correlations between PA (r = −0.648), PA (d = 0.681), BMI (r = −0.798), and TLFM. (4) Conclusions: Impaired blood flow could lead to hypoxia-induced inflammation, possibly resulting in pain and impaired proprioceptive function, thereby likely contributing to the development of nLBP. Fascial restrictions of blood vessels and free nerve endings, which are likely associated with TLFM, could be positively affected by the intervention in this study.

Reliability and validity of an app-assisted tissue compliance meter in measuring tissue stiffness on a phantom model

“…The PTM proved to be suitable for measurements of compressive stiffness, the latter being characterized by a force acting perpendicularly on the material. However, the design of the model did not allow investigations of shear strains, which would involve a force applied laterally to the medium ( Langevin et al, 2011 ; Krause et al, 2016 ; Brandl et al, 2023a , 2023b ). In both diagnostic measurements and therapeutic applications, shear mobility between tissue layers can play a significant role in determining muscle and fascia health.…”

Influence of high-energy laser therapy to the patellar tendon on its ligamentous microcirculation: An experimental intervention study

“…The device determined these parameters at the venous end of the capillary and thus provided information about the local microcirculation. The measurement procedure is described in detail in Brandl et al [ 14 ]. Briefly, the average values over 10 seconds were derived at a sampling rate of 40 Hz for blood flow by laser Doppler spectroscopy and 2 Hz for SO 2 and rHb by white light spectroscopy.…”

“…The O2C fiber probe was fixed pressure-free with a transparent double-sided adhesive film (Lea Medizintechnik, Giessen, Germany). The ICC value for the measurement was calculated in a previous study and was reported to be excellent (ICC = 0.99) [ 14 ].…”

“…Germany). The ICC value for the measurement was calculated in a previous study and was reported to be excellent (ICC = 0.99) [14].…”

“…A photospectroscopic device for monitoring microcirculation in tendons and other tissues is the O2C (Oxygen to See: LEA Medizintechnik, Giessen, Germany), which combines white light and laser Doppler for real-time in vivo measurement of blood flow, oxygen saturation (SO 2 ), and relative hemoglobin (rHb) [ 13 ]. The O2C has been used in a variety of disciplines [ 13 ], including myofascial and tendinous tissue [ 8 , 10 , 14 ]. Since it is likely that a change in the microcirculation of the superficial tendons also involves a change in skin temperature [ 8 , 10 ], infrared thermography has become a popular method for measuring such probable relationships [ 15 ].…”