Author(s): TEO, J., MUKHERJEE, S., Institution: NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY, Country: SINGAPORE, Abstract-ID: 1832

INTRODUCTION:
Tissue Flossing (TF) as a self-myofascial release technique has gained attention as a pre-activity intervention to improve range-of-motion (ROM) and athletic performance [1]. However, the exact physiological mechanisms underlying these effects are poorly understood [2,3]. Initially involving both occlusion and movement under compression [4], recent studies have instead used floss bands to only induce occlusion on stationary participants [5]. This study investigated if movement is an essential component of TF and assessed whether TF leads to any neuromuscular or hemodynamic changes.
METHODS:
Twenty-four high-intensity intermittent team sport athletes (age: 21-30years; height: 173.08 ± 5.68cm; weight: 70.14 ± 13.06kg) participated in a randomized crossover study. Participants underwent both movement TF (MTF) and stationary TF (STF) for quadriceps (RF, VL, VM) and calf (GL, GM) muscles. Three assessments were performed: the weight bearing lunge test (WBLT) for ankle dorsiflexion (DFROM), tensiomyography (TMG) for muscle contractile characteristics (Tc, Td, Tr, Ts, Dm), and near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for tissue oxygenation (TSI%, O2Hb). Measurements were taken pre-intervention and post-intervention at 30-minute intervals (Pre, Post5, Post30, Post60). Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to detect changes across protocols and time points. Significance was set at p<0.05.
RESULTS:
Two-way ANOVAs for both WBLTs only revealed significant main effects of time [F(3,69)=4.42,  p=0.007; F(3,69)=7.39,  p<0.001]. Calf TMG analysis showed significant main effects of time for GMTc [F(3,69)=3.07, p=0.034], GMTd [F(3,69)=6.63, p=0.001], GLDm [F(3,69)=8.16, p<0.001]. Quadriceps TMG analysis showed significant main effects of time for RFTc [F(3,69)=4.16, p=0.009], VLTc [F(3,69)=5.84, p=0.001], VLTd [F(3,69) = 8.21, p < 0.001], VMTd [F(3,69)=3.03, p=0.035]. Additionally, a significant interaction was observed for VLTd [F(3,69)=3.50, p=0.020]. Calf NIRS analysis showed a significant main effect of time for TSI% [F(4,184)=5.786, p<0.001] and O2Hb [F(4,184)=20.727,p< 0.001] along with a significant interaction effect [F(4,184)=3.122, p=0.016]. Quadriceps NIRS analysis showed significant main effects of time for TSI% [F(4,180)=12.081, p<0.001] and O2Hb [F(4,184) = 36.953, p<0.001].
CONCLUSION:
This study provides quantitative evidence on changes in WBLT, TMG, and NIRS measurements following an acute bout of either MTF or STF. While both produced significant time-dependent neuromuscular and hemodynamic changes, there were no substantial intervention-specific differences. Results suggest that occlusion is likely the primary driver of these changes, but it cannot conclusively rule out the importance of movement under compression.

[1] Cheatham et al. Sports 2024; 12: 312
[2] Konrad et al. Front Physiol 2021; 12: 1–13
[3] Gao et al. Apunts Sports Medicine 2024; 59: 100453
[4] Starrett & Cordoza. Victory Belt Publishing; 2015
[5] Winchester et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19: 11548