Effects of Myofascial Release Technique on Mobility, Sensorimotor Function and Performance in Volleyball Players

Sports that require overhead activities (volleyball, tennis, basketball) include components such as rapid displacement, strength and movement control.Volleyball is also called as an overhead sport in terms of the way it is played. In the realization of these sports; Sub-parameters such as proprioceptive sense, strength, throwing rate, flexibility play a role. During these activities, the shoulder and elbow joints are overloaded. To meet this load, the joint must provide the necessary mobility and stability. Proprioceptive sense in increasing the quality and width of movement as well as providing dynamic joint stability in overhead sports; Increasing the range of motion of the joint, reducing muscle stiffness and thus increasing flexibility are effective in providing mobility. That's why it's important to develop them. Likewise, muscle strength should be increased in order to maintain movement performance and prevent injuries. The use of myofascial release techniques as an exercise method has increased in recent years. Application; The effects on parameters such as strength, performance and flexibility were investigated. Studies have focused more on the lower extremities and acute effects. There is no study on the subject examining proprioceptive sensation in volleyball players in the upper extremity. Therefore, our aim is to examine the chronic effects of the application on shoulder and elbow joint mobility, sensorimotor function and performance.

Sports that require overhead activities (volleyball, tennis, basketball) include components such as rapid displacement, strength and movement control.Volleyball is also called as an overhead sport in terms of the way it is played. In the realization of these sports; Sub-parameters such as proprioceptive sense, strength, throwing rate, flexibility play a role. During these activities, the shoulder and elbow joints are overloaded. To meet this load, the joint must provide the necessary mobility and stability. Proprioceptive sense in increasing the quality and width of movement as well as providing dynamic joint stability in overhead sports; Increasing the range of motion of the joint, reducing muscle stiffness and thus increasing flexibility are effective in providing mobility. That's why it's important to develop them. Likewise, muscle strength should be increased in order to maintain movement performance and prevent injuries. Performance is the evaluation of how much the psychological, physiological and biomechanical requirements required for a sportive activity are provided. Individual and team sports, by their very nature, result in winning and losing. In this respect, it is important that the performance is at the highest level. In addition to strength, speed is also an important parameter in performance. With the programs made by combining these parameters, sportive performance and athletic success can be increased. The ability to effectively perform parameters such as throwing, throwing and hitting the ball in overhead sports affects performance results. Athletes competing in branches where overhead movements requiring high muscle activity are used intensively; In addition to strength and flexibility, which are key components of performance, sensorimotor accuracy is also of great importance.

Fascia; It is a body network that is the continuation of the connective tissue and is shaped by stretching, and it surrounds all organs and body structures. If the fascial tissue can be trained at the appropriate level (appropriate level of flexibility and elasticity), it can be beneficial in terms of protection from injuries as well as increasing sports performance. When we look at the literature, we see that the importance of this issue has increased in recent years. Myofascial release is an up-to-date method that appears to be effective in improving joint and fascia mobility, increasing body awareness, and aiding muscle reduction. Myofascial release application has become popular around the world in recent years, and it shows itself as one of the exercise trends of athletes.The use of myofascial release techniques as an exercise method has increased in recent years. Application; The effects on parameters such as strength, performance and flexibility were investigated. Studies have focused more on the lower extremities and acute effects. There is no study on the subject examining proprioceptive sensation in volleyball players in the upper extremity. Therefore, our aim is to examine the chronic effects of the application on shoulder and elbow joint mobility, sensorimotor function and performance.

With the myofascial release application that we plan to do, we aim to improve these parameters and thus provide the athletes with an alternative application method in terms of preventing injuries and improving performance. When we review the literature, we are the first study to examine the effectiveness of myofascial release in the upper extremity and the long-term effects on athletes doing overhead activities.

For all these reasons, the aim of this study is; To examine the effect of 8-week myofascial release application to the shoulder and elbow region on mobility, muscle strength, joint position sense, force matching, performance and well-being, and to examine the effect of the application at the 4th week, 8th week (end of the application), and 6th month after the first evaluation. is to detect whether there is a change in these parameters. In this study, the effect of myofascial release on shoulder and elbow joints in overhead volleyball players will be investigated for the first time. We think that our study will shed light on the studies to be done in healthy and symptomatic individuals who are interested in sports where the upper extremity is at the forefront.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion criteria:

* Being playing volleyball
* Training at least two hours a week Being between the ages of 13-40
* Full active movement of the shoulder and elbow in all directions
* To have at least 3 years of overhead sports activity (volleyball) (Kurt, 2022)
* Active participation in training and competitions
* Absence of shoulder pain
* To be able to complete all the evaluations and applications to be made in the study

Exclusion criteria:

* Not wanting to participate in the study and not being able to fulfill its requirements
* History of upper extremity injury in the last 1 year
* Any history of surgery or fracture in the upper extremity
* The occurrence of pain during evaluations and applications
* Having a diagnosed disease related to the neck and shoulder
* Having any diagnosed systemic (rheumatological) musculoskeletal disease
* Have a lower extremity injury (acute and/or active) in the last six months
* Having acne and similar skin problems, open wounds that may prevent the application of rounded myofascial relaxation
* Previous application of similar rounded myofascial relaxation
* Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy
* Having been diagnosed with osteoporosis
* Having a diagnosis of vertigo
* Having a cardiovascular disease
* Being pregnant