Clinical trial NCT06915571: The Effect of Graston Technique on Ankle Mobility, Sit-Reach Test and Y-Balance Test
Official title: Assessment of Ankle Mobility, Flexibility, and Y-Balance Test Before and After Plantar Fascia Stretching and Plantar Fascia Stretching Combined With Graston Technique in Recreationally Active Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Study
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Phase: NA
Conditions: Plantar Fascia
Flexibility
Y-balance Performance
Recreational Activities
Exercise
Keywords: plantar fascia
flexibility
y-balance performance
recreactional activities
exercise
Lead sponsor: Sultan Abdulhamid Han Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi
First posted: 2025-04-08
Enrollment: 60
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 35
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: One group will undergo plantar fascia stretching. In the other group, graston technique will be applied in addition to plantar fascia stretching. Participants in the study will be between the ages of 18-35.
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: This study investigates the effects of plantar fascia stretching and plantar fascia stretching with graston application on ankle mobility, flexibility and Y-Balance test results in recreationally active young adults. By comparing the effects of the two treatment methods on ankle function, it aims to demonstrate the potential benefits of both treatments.

It was intended to involve 60 participants, or 95% of the interval 0.80's study power.

Detailed description: The plantar fascia, also known as the plantar aponeurosis, is a thick, fibrous band of connective tissue that extends from the medial tubercle of the calcaneus to the proximal phalanges of the toes. It consists of three different segments: medial, central and lateral bands.

The Graston technique (GT) is an instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization technique that reduces pain, improves overall function and increases range of motion. GT reduces the overall rehabilitation time, uses less pressure and energy, and increases the depth of tissue that can be treated. Furthermore, GT does not compress tissues; the superficial fascia layer is easily mobilized, allowing access to deeper restrictions.

The Y-Balance Test (YBT) is a clinical measurement tool used to assess dynamic balance. Asymmetries between extremities in the anterior direction have been associated with a 2-fold increased risk of lower extremity injury. This study examines how ankle mobility, flexibility, and Y-Balance examination results are affected in young adults who engage in recreational activities by plantar fascia stretching and plantar fascia stretching with graston application. It seeks to illustrate the possible advantages of both therapies by contrasting how the two approaches affect ankle function. People between the ages of 18 and 35 who regularly exercise for leisure at least two to three times a week and who have signed a voluntary permission form committing to actively participate in all study phases will be included. If a participant has a history of lower limb, plantar fascia, or ankle injuries, has had a major injury, surgery, or trauma to the lower extremities in the previous six months, plays professional sports, or declines to participate or withdraws during the evaluations, they will be disqualified. The control group will receive plantar fascia stretching. In addition to stretching the plantar fascia, the experimental group will also receive graston method treatment. A goniometer will be used to objectively measure ankle mobility both before and after the treatment. The Sit and Reach Box (Lafayette Instrument Sit and Reach Box, Flexibility Tester) at the faculty will be used to measure the applicant's flexibility both before and after the application. The participants' balance will be evaluated using the Y Balance TestTM. There shouldn't be any risks or difficulties prior to, during, or following the tests and procedures. It was intended to involve 60 participants, or 95% of the interval 0.80's study power.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* To be between the ages of 18-35
* Doing regular physical activity at least 2-3 times a week (Individuals who do sports recreationally)
* Individuals who signed the voluntary consent form before participating in the study and agreed to participate in all stages consciously

Exclusion Criteria:

* Having an ankle injury, plantar fascia or lower limb condition
* Serious injury, surgery or trauma to the lower extremity within the last 6 months
* Individuals practicing sports at a professional level
* Not volunteering to participate in the study or wanting to leave the study during the assessments

Primary outcomes:
measure: Ankle Mobility
timeFrame: before and after the intervention, within 1 hour
measure: Flexibility Assessment
timeFrame: before and after the intervention, within 1 hour.
measure: Balance
timeFrame: before and after the intervention, within 1 hour.
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Ankara
country: Turkey
facility: University of Health Sciences
state: Kecioren
Study officials:
References:
citation: Venosa M, Romanini E, Vitale L, Logroscino G. Spontaneous rupture of the plantar fascia: a case report. Front Rehabil Sci. 2024 Aug 27;5:1470002. doi: 10.3389/fresc.2024.1470002. eCollection 2024.
citation: DiGiovanni BF, Nawoczenski DA, Lintal ME, Moore EA, Murray JC, Wilding GE, Baumhauer JF. Tissue-specific plantar fascia-stretching exercise enhances outcomes in patients with chronic heel pain. A prospective, randomized study. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2003 Jul;85(7):1270-7. doi: 10.2106/00004623-200307000-00013.
citation: Hartley EM, Hoch MC, Boling MC. Y-balance test performance and BMI are associated with ankle sprain injury in collegiate male athletes. J Sci Med Sport. 2018 Jul;21(7):676-680. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2017.10.014. Epub 2017 Nov 6.
citation: Bergevin MA, Daugherty CC, Bove KE, McAdams AJ. The internal carotid artery siphon in children and adolescents. Hum Pathol. 1991 Jun;22(6):603-6. doi: 10.1016/0046-8177(91)90239-l.
citation: Abdel-Aal NM, Elsayyad MM, Megahed AA. Short-term effect of adding Graston technique to exercise program in treatment of patients with cervicogenic headache: a single-blinded, randomized controlled trial. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2021 Oct;57(5):758-766. doi: 10.23736/S1973-9087.21.06595-3. Epub 2021 May 5.