Self-Myofascial Release of the Upper Cervical Muscles
NCT Number: NCT06529991
Status: RECRUITING
Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
Phases: NA
Conditions: Suboccipital Muscles|Superficial Back Line|Myofascial Release
Interventions: DEVICE: Occipivot suboccipital pillow self-myofascial release
Sponsor: Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Sex: ALL
Age: ADULT, OLDER_ADULT
Enrollment: 30
Study Design: Allocation: NA|Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP|Masking: NONE|Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
Start Date: 2024-06-26
Completion Date: 2025-06-26
Locations: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine-Auburn, Auburn, Alabama, 36832, United States

Summary:
The primary objective is to examine the influence of the suboccipital muscles on the superficial back line. The investigators will measure the following as part of this objective:

* Changes in biomechanical and viscoelastic properties of points within the superficial back fascial train measured by a handheld myotonometer.
* Pain pressure threshold measured by algometry.
* Ankle range of motion.
* Foot plantar pressure changes.

All participants will have a 5-minute self-myofascial release intervention.

Primary Outcome Measures: Muscle Stiffness, Using myotonometry to assess muscle stiffness (N/m) in the plantar fascia, gastrocnemius, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, thoracolumbar fascia, and semispinalis., Pre-Baseline measurement and immediately after 5-minute self-myofascial release intervention|Plantar foot pressure, Using Novel EMED plantar pressure platform to assess the distribution of plantar foot pressure (kPa) in different regions of the foot, Pre-Baseline measurement and immediately after 5-minute self-myofascial release intervention|Ankle dorsiflexion, Using the weight-bearing lunge test to measure ankle dorsiflexion (degrees). This is a functional test of ankle dorsiflexion range of motion in a loaded position., Pre-Baseline measurement and immediately after 5-minute self-myofascial release intervention|Pain pressure threshold, Using algometry to measure pain pressure threshold (kPa) at the erector spinae, sacrum, posterior leg, plantar fascia, and thenar eminence., Pre-Baseline measurement and immediately after 5-minute self-myofascial release intervention
Secondary Outcome Measures: Subjective intensity, frequency, and duration of non-debilitating lower extremity pain and back pain, Using Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) to measure. Scales from 0-10 with 0 indicating no pain and 10 indicating severe pain. Scales from 1-5 with 1 indicating no pain ever and 5 indicating pain always., Prior to 5-minute self-myofascial release intervention|Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10), Measuring the degree to which situations in one's life are considered stressful. Scales from 0-4 with 0=never and 4=very often., Prior to 5-minute self-myofascial release intervention|Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Used to evaluate overall sleep quality. Each questionnaire's 19 self-reported items belong to one of seven subdomains: subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, use of sleep medication, and daytime dysfunction. Response scores range from 0-3 with lower scores indicating less disturbances and higher scores indicating more disturbances., Prior to 5-minute self-myofascial release intervention|General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Used to measure symptoms of anxiety. Scores range from 0-3 with lower scores indicating less anxiety symptoms and higher scores indicating more anxiety symptoms., Prior to 5-minute self-myofascial release intervention