Self-Myofascial Release of the Foot Plantar Surface: The Effects of a Single Exercise Session on the Posterior Muscular Chain Flexibility after One Hour

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of a single exercise session of Self-Myofascial Release (SMR) on the posterior muscular chain flexibility after one hour from the intervention. Thirty-six participants performed SMR using a rigid ball under the surface of both feet. Participants were tested with the Sit and Reach (S&R) test at four different times: before (T0), immediately after (T1), 30 (T2), and 60 (T3) minutes after the SMR intervention. The sample (n = 36) was categorized into three groups: (1) flexible, (2) average, and (3) stiff, based on the flexibility level at T0 (S&R values of >10 cm, >0 but <10 cm and <0 cm, respectively). For the whole sample, we detected significant improvements in the S&R test between the T1, T2, and T3 compared to T0. The stiff group showed a significant (p < 0.05) improvement between T1–T2 and T1–T3. Results were similar between the average group and the whole sample. The flexible group did not show any significant difference (p > 0.05) over time. In conclusion, this investigation demonstrated that an SMR session of both feet was able to increase posterior muscular chain flexibility up to one hour after intervention. Considering that a standard training session generally lasts one hour, our study can help professionals take advantage of SMR effects for the entire training period. Furthermore, our results also demonstrate that physical exercise practitioners should also assess individuals’ flexibility before training, as the SMR procedure used in this work does not seem necessary in flexible individuals.

Effects of an integrative warm-up method on the range of motion, core stability, and quality of squat performance of young adults

“…The ROM of flexion of the hip, knee, and ankle joints is important for the quality of the squat performance. The obtained results can be compared with the research in which the application of SMR plantar facials managed to increase the posterior muscular chain flexibility ( 33 ). The authors explain this phenomenon by the fact that the plantar fascia is the most distal part of the muscle chain, and that applying pressure on it stimulates mechanoreceptors that enable relaxation of the entire chain ( 31 ).…”

Relation between Photogrammetry and Spinal Mouse for Sagittal Imbalance Assessment in Adolescents with Thoracic Kyphosis

“…The landmarks for pelvic parameters during forward bending were defined as reported by Carregaro et al [ 53 ]. Since adolescents with hyperkyphosis show a low level of flexibility across the muscular posterior chain, sacral inclination and hip position were calculated to investigate pelvic displacement in the sagittal plane [ 6 , 33 , 48 ]. PG Sacrum inclination evidenced a significant correlation with SM trunk inclination during bending, and linear regression reported that trunk bending added to hip bending explained 80.4% of SM variability in relation to this parameter (first model).…”

“…Within this scenario, it could be very interesting for professionals to use photogrammetry, the easiest and cheaper way, as a global screening tool to detect in advance the signs of a spine misalignment, with particular regard to the kyphosis curvature. Considering the whole body as a kinetic chain [ 33 ], and that photogrammetry could easily measure the alignment of the whole body with good validity and reliability [ 32 ], a relation could be hypothesized between thoracic spine behavior and one or more photogrammetric measurements of body posture. Although radiographic and photogrammetric procedures have been previously investigated in order to quantify thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis [ 34 , 35 ], the comparison between Spinal Mouse ® evaluation and photogrammetry is lacking.…”

The Impact of Nordic Walking Pole Length on Gait Kinematic Parameters

“…Testing procedures were carried out in a Sport Performance Laboratory at a mean temperature of 19 °C and a mean relative humidity of 51%, and each subject was tested at the same time of the day, avoiding any circadian effect [ 38 , 39 , 40 ]. The first day of the training period, all participants were tested for anthropometric measures aiming to find out the three different poles’ length: classical, reduced and increased length 65%, 55% and 75% of the participant’s height, respectively.…”