Cross Fiber Fascial Manipulation and Stretching Techniques in Overhead Throwing Athletes

Riphah International University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Tennis Players, Bowlers, Volleyball Players; Overhead Throwing Athletes

Treatments: Other: cross fiber fascial manipulation; Other: stretching techniques(sleeper stretch and cross body adduction stretch)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05707026

REC/RCR&AHS/22/0408

Details and patient eligibility

About

Athletic training and sports participation is to enhance athletic performance. Performance is however multifactorial i.e., depending upon several parameters including warm-up practice, training regimes and other interventions. Stretching techniques that focus on increasing posterior shoulder soft tissue flexibility are commonly incorporated into prevention and treatment programs for the overhead athletes. GIRD is usually managed by stretching and soft tissue release of posterior shoulder capsule. Fascial manipulation is a manual therapy technique used in the management of musculoskeletal disorders. This study aims to evaluate the comparative effects of cross fiber fascial manipulation with stretching techniques in overhead throwing athletes

Full description

This was a randomized clinical trial that was conducted at Pakistan sports board and Coaching center, Lahore. Non probability convenient sampling technique was used to collect the data as per inclusion criteria. 40 Participants of this study were randomly allocated into 2 Groups. 20 participants in each group. The group A received three sessions of fascial manipulation for two weeks. Group B received three sessions of sleeper stretch in a side lying position in 90o abduction, elbow at 90o flexion and then performed shoulder IR and cross-body adduction stretch in sitting position. Three sets of the each stretch positions were held for 30 seconds with a 1 minute break between sets. A universal goniometer was used to measure internal rotation, external rotation, horizontal abduction, ROWE score to assess function, pain, stability and motion, Numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) was used to assess pain. The data was analyzed via SPSS version 22.

Enrollment: 40 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 40 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Active male and female athletes were included.

  • Age group was (18-40) .
  • Overhead throwing athletes(tennis, volleyball, bowlers) were included in this study)
  • Screening tests were taken to identify subjects with GIRD. GIRD was defined as more than 20o decrease in IR at 90o abduction in the dominant side compared to non-dominant side .
  • Subjects who rated shoulder pain 5 or more in NPRS/symptomatic with GIRD were recruited

Exclusion Criteria :

• Any deformity
• Any radiculopathy
• Shoulder traumatic injuries( dislocation, subluxation, fracture)
• Systemic illness
• Subacromial impingement signs

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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40 participants in 2 patient groups

cross fiber fascial manipulation

Experimental group

Description:

The group A received three sessions of fascial manipulation in two weeks. FM applied to densified Centre of Coordination (CC) points located on the myofascial sequences for 5 to 8 minutes at each CC point

Treatment:

Other: cross fiber fascial manipulation

stretching techniques

Experimental group

Description:

Group B received three sessions of sleeper and cross body adduction stretches. Group B received three sessions of sleeper stretch in a side lying position in 90o abduction, elbow at 90o flexion and then performing shoulder IR and cross-body adduction stretch was done in sitting position. Three sets of the each stretch position were held for 30 seconds with a 1 minute break between sets

Treatment:

Other: stretching techniques(sleeper stretch and cross body adduction stretch)