Department of Audiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, KTO Karatay University, Konya, Turkey.
Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkey.
J Sport Rehabil. 2024 Aug 19;33(7):531-541. doi: 10.1123/jsr.2023-0375. Print 2024 Sep 1.
We designed this study to investigate the effects of 2 myofascial release techniques, Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) and Foam Roller (FR), on pain, joint range of motion, and muscle strength in athletes suffering from iliotibial band (ITB) tightness.
A total of 39 male soccer players were enrolled in this randomized controlled trial, aged between 18 and 23 years who were divided into 3 groups: Only Exercise, IASTM, and FR.
All participants performed daily strengthening and stretching exercises, while 1 group added IASTM, and the other added FR to the exercise program. We evaluated ITB tightness with the Ober test and an inclinometer, pressure pain threshold, using an algometer, and we evaluated muscle strength with the Cybex Norm Isokinetic device.
We found that all 3 groups exhibited an increase in the Ober inclination angle after the interventions (P = .001), but the increase was greater for participants in the IASTM and FR groups, compared with exercise alone. Additionally, both the IASTM and FR groups displayed an increased pressure pain threshold (P = .001), whereas there was no change in the control group. Moreover, while all 3 groups experienced an increase in hip muscle strength (P = .001), the IASTM and FR groups exhibited a greater increase compared with exercise alone (P = .001).
Based on these findings, exercise improves pain, range of motion, and muscle strength in athletes with ITB tightness, and IASTM, and FR techniques enhanced exercise effects but did not differ from one another. While our study demonstrated that both IASTM and FR techniques significantly enhance the benefits of exercise for athletes with ITB tightness, further research could delve into the long-term effects of these interventions.
本研究旨在探究两种肌筋膜松解技术，即器械辅助软组织松解（IASTM）和泡沫轴（FR），对患有髂胫束（ITB）紧张的运动员的疼痛、关节活动度和肌肉力量的影响。
共有 39 名年龄在 18 至 23 岁之间的男性足球运动员参与了这项随机对照试验，他们被分为三组：仅运动、IASTM 和 FR。
所有参与者都进行了日常的强化和伸展运动，其中一组增加了 IASTM，另一组则在运动方案中增加了 FR。我们使用 Ober 测试和测斜仪评估 ITB 紧张度，使用压力痛觉计评估压力疼痛阈值，并使用 Cybex Norm 等速测力仪评估肌肉力量。
我们发现所有三组在干预后 Ober 倾斜角度均增加（P=0.001），但 IASTM 和 FR 组的增加幅度大于仅运动组。此外，IASTM 和 FR 组的压力疼痛阈值均增加（P=0.001），而对照组则没有变化。此外，虽然三组的髋关节肌肉力量均增加（P=0.001），但 IASTM 和 FR 组的增加幅度大于仅运动组（P=0.001）。
根据这些发现，运动可改善 ITB 紧张的运动员的疼痛、活动度和肌肉力量，IASTM 和 FR 技术增强了运动的效果，但彼此之间没有差异。虽然我们的研究表明 IASTM 和 FR 技术均显著增强了 ITB 紧张运动员运动的益处，但进一步的研究可以深入探讨这些干预措施的长期效果。
