Clinical trial NCT06895720: THE MYOFASCIAL SYSTEM AND MINIMIZING THE RISK OS INJURY IN SPORT
Official title: EFFECT OF SELF-MYOFASCİAL RELEASE ON MUSCLE MECHANİCAL PROPERTİES, PERFORMANCE, NEUROMUSCULAR FUNCTİON AND MİNİMİZATİON OF İNJURY RİSK İN YOUNG SOCCER PLAYERS
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Phase: NA
Conditions: Sports Injuries
Flexibility
Balance
Jumping Performance
Muscle Tonus
Ranger of Motion
Reactive Strength Index
Muscle Stiffness
Muscle Elasticity
Keywords: Self-myofascial release
Injury prevention
Muscle mechanical properties
Lead sponsor: Aveiro University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2025-03-26
Enrollment: 65
Sex: MALE
Minimum age (years): 14
Maximum age (years): 18
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: PREVENTION

Brief summary: The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of myofascial self-release on muscle mechanical properties, performance, neuromuscular function, and injury risk reduction in young soccer players. The hypothesis is a reduction in the number of injuries in the experimental group, as well as improvements in muscle mechanical properties, performance, and neuromuscular function in young soccer players.The study will be a randomized clinical trial with a convenience sample of approximately 65 male athletes aged between 14 and 18 years, divided into control and experimental groups. Athletes with no history of injury in the three months prior to the study will be included, while those with a history of previous surgery or lower limb fractures in the past five years, or who are undergoing physiotherapy at the time of the study, will be excluded.Muscle mechanical properties (myotonometry), flexibility (sit-and-reach test), ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (Weight Bearing Lunge Test), motor control (Y Balance Test), and the reactive strength index (Myjump App) will be assessed before, immediately after, and at 8 and 16 weeks post-intervention. Myofascial self-release will be performed bilaterally on the quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves for 2 minutes per region, twice a week, using a structured massage roller. All procedures will be demonstrated beforehand during the study.

For the Myoton procedure, the athlete will simply lie in a supine and prone position on the examination table. The athlete will only be asked to remain still in the "face-up" or "face-down" position, feeling only the light contact of the device's probe, which is painless and will be demonstrated beforehand.

In the Y Balance Test, athletes will be asked to balance on one foot atop a grid placed on the floor, with their hands on their hips, and reach as far as possible with the non-supporting leg in three marked directions on the floor, without lifting the heel of the supporting leg.

For the Ankle Range of Motion - Weight Bearing Lunge Test, the athlete will place the tested foot on a measuring tape positioned on the floor and will be instructed to touch their knee to the wall in front of them without lifting the heel of the tested foot. Three attempts will be allowed, and the longest distance from the big toe to the wall will be recorded.

In the Sit-and-Reach Test, the athlete will sit on the floor with bare feet and both legs extended. They will be instructed to keep their hands side by side and try to reach the greatest possible distance on the ruler in front of them by bending forward without bending their legs, holding the position for one second to measure the distance. Three attempts will be allowed, and the greatest distance reached will be recorded.

For ground reaction strength, the athlete will be asked to jump off a 40 cm high box, and as soon as their feet touch the ground, they will be encouraged to jump upward as quickly and as high as possible.

In myofascial self-release, athletes in the experimental group will be asked to use the myofascial release roller for 2 minutes before training on each of the three muscle groups - anterior and posterior thigh and posterior leg. Athletes will be instructed to roll using as much pressure as possible on the roller. For the anterior thigh, they will roll across the entire front part of the thigh; for the posterior thigh, they will roll from just below the gluteal region to just above the knee; and for the posterior leg, they will roll from just below the knee to just above the heel.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Athletes at the youth and junior levels
* Registered with the respective football association
* Athletes with no history of injury in the past 3 months

Exclusion Criteria:

* Athletes who failed pre-season medical examinations
* Athletes with a history of previous surgery or lower limb fractures in the last 5 years
* Athletes undergoing physiotherapy rehabilitation at the time of the study
* Athletes participating in another injury prevention program or specific training

Primary outcomes:
measure: Incidence of sports injuries
timeFrame: Until the completion of the studies, an average of 5 months.
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Evaluate Muscle Mechanical Properties
timeFrame: For a period of 8 and 16 weeks
measure: Evaluate Muscle Mechanical Properties
timeFrame: For a period of 8 and 16 weeks
measure: Evaluate Muscle Mechanical Properties
timeFrame: For a period of 8 and 16 weeks
measure: Evaluate Neuromuscular Control
timeFrame: For a period of 8 and 16 weeks
measure: Evaluate Ankle Dorsiflexion Range of Motion
timeFrame: For a period of 8 and 16 weeks
measure: Evaluate Flexibility
timeFrame: For a period of 8 and 16 weeks
measure: Evaluate the Reactive Strength Index
timeFrame: For a period of 8 and 16 weeks
measure: Evaluate the Jump Height
timeFrame: For a period of 8 and 16 weeks
measure: Evaluate the air time after the jump
timeFrame: For a period of 8 and 16 weeks
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Póvoa de Varzim
country: Portugal
facility: Avenue Cidade de Montgeron
state: Porto
Study officials:
References: