Comparison of the Effect of Graston Technique and Static Stretching in Athletes

Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Physical Therapy

Treatments: Other: Physiotherapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06009406

graston

Details and patient eligibility

About

In our study, we aimed to compare the effects of both Graston technique and static stretching on ankle range of motion and vertical jump performance in the light of the literature. Our study will guide clinicians about the uncertainty in the application of Graston technique and static stretching to the gastrocnemius, soleus muscles and Achilles tendon and examine the applicability of Graston in athletes. It is also aimed to investigate the relationship between ankle range of motion and vertical jump performance.

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 40 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• The participant has volunteered and agreed to participate with the consent form
• The participant is between the ages of 18-40
• The participant is able to perform the squat movement pattern
• Participant must be an active and licensed athlete

Exclusion criteria

• Health problem that will affect the participant's mobility or jump performance
• The participant has had a surgical procedure involving the ankle and knee in the last 6 months
• The presence of orthopedic injury of the participant's foot and ankle
• Participant has a neurological diagnosis
• The participant is pregnant
• The participant has an acute lower extremity injury

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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30 participants in 2 patient groups

Intervention Group

Experimental group

Description:

This group will be applied to the soleus, gastrocnemius muscle and Achilles tendon with Graston, an instrumental myofascial mobilization technique, until they feel warmth in the skin and tonus relaxation in the target muscles. The persons treated with graston are applied at a 45° angle parallel to the muscle fibers for approximately 20 seconds. Immediately afterwards, the graston is applied to the muscles in a direction perpendicular to the same muscle fibers at a 45° angle for 20 seconds, resulting in a total treatment time of approximately 40 seconds. This results in an increase in temperature and tonus relaxation on the skin surface. In our study, the application will be performed for Gastarocnemius, Soleus muscle and Achilles tendon.

Treatment:

Other: Physiotherapy

Control Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

The control group will be subjected to 3 repetitions of passive stretching for 30 seconds for the same structures. The static stretching technique is a widely used method that lengthens muscle length by autogenic inhibition that stimulates the Golgi tendon organ. This technique involves passively stretching a specific antagonist muscle by placing it in a position of maximum stretch and holding it there for an extended period of time. Recommendations on the optimal length of time to hold this flexed position typically indicate that a 30-second hold, repeated 3 to 4 times, will provide the most beneficial results. 3 repetitions of passive stretching for 30 seconds will be applied to the same structures.

Treatment:

Other: Physiotherapy