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- Title
An Analysis of Different Soft Tissue Mobilization Techniques and Treatment Parameters on Skeletal Muscle Health and Performance.
- Authors
Hawkins, William; Galloway, Kaytlin
- Abstract
Soft tissue mobilization techniques have been used for thousands of years in the treatment of muscle soreness and injury. In addition to ancient modalities like massage therapy there has been a recent surge in the popularity of self-myofascial release tools including foam rollers and massage sticks. Irrespective of these techniques' popularity and apparent efficacy most clinicians and users of self-myofascial release tools do not fully understand the mechanism by which positive outcomes are manifested, nor the best practices concerning their usage. The purpose of this investigation is to explore existing literature surrounding the history of soft tissue mobilization, science explaining the mechanism by which positive outcomes are attained and to provide insights surrounding the best practices of self-myofascial release. Our lab chose to focus our practical applications section on self-myofascial release because tools including foam rollers and massage sticks are affordable and many physical education teachers, athletics coaches and individual persons already have access to them. Our findings suggest that pressure administered by the tool or person's body mass appears to be correlated with positive outcomes. For this reason, the use of foam rollers appears to be more effective than massage sticks because more pressure is administered to the muscle. Further, the literature suggests that treatments lasting two minutes or longer were optimal for treatment of muscle soreness. Additionally, there is a small body of literature that has suggested that foam rolling may be a viable alternative to traditional dynamic warmups prior to exercise.
- Subjects
WARMUP; SKELETAL muscle; PHYSICAL education teachers; MASSAGE therapy; MYALGIA; COACHING (Athletics)
- Publication
Kentucky SHAPE JOURNAL, 2020, Vol 57, Issue 2, p7
- ISSN
1071-2577
- Publication type
Article