Author(s): HO, I., TANG, C.B.L., YUNG, S.L.T., LUK, J.T.C., KWOK, F.K.C., Institution: TECHNOLOGICAL AND HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTE OF HONG KONG, Country: HONG KONG, Abstract-ID: 2116

INTRODUCTION:
Emerging evidence suggested the potential remote effect along the fascia chain, such as the superficial back line (SBL). Meanwhile, self-myofascial release (SMR) is widely used, and its potential effects in enhancing flexibility and sports performance are well established. This study aimed to examine the remote effect of SMR on SBL flexibility using a peanut-shaped massage ball to compare the effect of single and dual-region SMR interventions.
METHODS:
Thirty-two healthy participants (25 males and 7 females) aged 18-40 were randomly assigned to the neck (NEC), calf (CAL), combined (COM), and control (CON) groups. The intervention included the self-massage with a peanut-shaped massage ball on the assigned regions (NEC=neck; CAL=calf; combined=neck and calf; CON=rest) for a total of 90 seconds. Measurements, including the range of motion (ROM) of cervical and lumbar flexion, active knee extension, and ankle dorsiflexion, were adopted for the pre-test. Three post-tests were conducted at 0, 15, and 30 minutes after the intervention.
RESULTS:
Test-retest reliability showed excellent intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC=0.905 to 0.994) on all tests. The NEC and CAL groups exhibited an increased lumbar flexion (p=0.014) and cervical flexion (p=0.048). The CAL group also showed a significant reduction in active knee extension angle, indicating better hamstring flexibility (p=0.015). The COM group demonstrated a significant improvement in cervical flexion (p<0.01) and reduction in active knee extension (p<0.01). However, ANCOVA did not show any between-group differences.
CONCLUSION:
The self-myofascial release using a peanut-shaped massage ball can produce beneficial remote effects when the massage is applied on the distal region of the SBL (CAL). However, our results did not support the additional benefits when the massage is applied to dual regions of the SBL. Future studies can focus on the application of self-massage on single or multiple regions of various fascia lines.