The effectiveness of Ergon Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization, foam rolling, and athletic elastic taping in improving volleyball players' shoulder range of motion and throwing performance: a pilot study on elite athletes

EFFECT OF SINGLE AND MULTIPLE SESSIONS OF SELF-MYOFASCIAL RELEASE: SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

ABSTRACT Self-myofascial release with a roller has been used as a tool to accelerate recovery. The objective of this systematic review was to investigate how one session or multiple sessions of self-myofascial release with a roller affect the recovery of an athlete´s performance. The research was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, BVS, Embase, SPORTDiscus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar databases using the terms: foam rolling, foam roller, and self-myofascial release combined with recovery, exercise, fatigue, and sport and acute effects, chronic effects and performance, resulting in 12,020 articles. After checking the inclusion criteria, 40 studies were selected and analyzed. It was concluded that multiple sessions of self-myofascial release with a roller are more effective in recovering lower limb power and speed performance than just one session. A single session is more effective for recovering strength performance than multiple sessions. Moreover, both single and multiple sessions showed similar results in the recovery of agility, pain, flexibility, blood lactate removal, and perception of recovery. Finally, multiple sessions between sets of resistance exercise seem to reduce performance, decreasing the number of repetitions and resistance to fatigue, while a single session did not produce a significant effect. Self-myofascial release with a roller demonstrates potential for speeding up the recovery process of athletes. Future studies should evaluate the effect of the regular use of self-myofascial release with a roller on performance recovery. Level of evidence II; Systematic review.

Effectiveness of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization for the management of upper body, lower body, and spinal conditions. An updated systematic review with meta-analyses

PURPOSE

To critically appraise randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilisation (IASTM) and quantify the effects of IASTM compared with other treatment individuals with or without pathologies on function, pain, and range of motion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We search four electronic databases from January 1999 to January 2022 and included RCTs of healthy participants/athletes and people with upper, lower, or spinal conditions, who received IASTM versus other active treatment for clinical outcomes (function, pain, and range of motion).

RESULTS

Forty-six RCTs were considered eligible for data analysis. Effects of IASTM plus other treatment versus other treatment on function and pain intensity were not statistically significant or clinically meaningful (very low quality, SMD -0.28, 95% CI -0.66 to 0.09) and (very low quality, SMD -0.05, 95% CI -0.53 to 0.43) at up to one-year follow-up respectively. No clinically meaningful improvements were found on range of motion outcomes. Out of the 46 included RCTs, only 10 assessed and reported IASTM-related adverse events.

CONCLUSION

Evidence of very low-quality certainty does not support the efficacy of IASTM in individuals with or without various pathologies on function, pain, and range of motion in the management of upper body, lower body, or spinal conditions. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONThe included RCTs had a high risk of bias and were assessed as very-low quality evidence for all the included outcomes.IASTM does not lead to clinically meaningful improvements in function, pain, or range of motion in individuals with upper body, lower body, and spinal conditions.The publication of IASTM trials in suspected predatory journals is increasing.The available evidence on IASTM does not support its use to improve function, pain, or range of motion in individuals with upper body, lower body, and spinal conditions.Health care practitioners should consider other evidence-based management strategies (physical activity and exercise) to improve function, pain, or range of motion in individuals with musculoskeletal injuries and disorders.Given the rise of publications on IASTM in suspected predatory journals, health care practitioners should be judicious to examine the legitimacy of a journal when searching for evidence on IASTM treatment technique.