A Thesis submitted to The University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Medicine. / Myofascial release (MFR) allows clinicians to directly stretch and palpate soft tissue restrictions, improving tissue elasticity, and maximizing range of motion. Research has focused on MFR following repetitive motion strain (RMS), however there is no known application of prophylactic MFR. Utilizing in vitro strain models we will investigate the role of prophylactic MFR in regulating fibroblast wound healing. We hypothesize that MFR treatments will have greater efficacy when used prior to the repetitive motion strain, increasing the rate of wound healing. Human fibroblasts were seeded onto 6-well collagen-I bioflex plates, strained with the Flexcell vacuum compression system. Sub-confluent cell constructs were wounded using sterile 1ml pipette tips to create an area devoid of cells. Spatial wound edge changes were monitored to determine closure rate at 0, 12, 24, 36 and 48 hours. Pooled data for 36 hours demonstrated that RMS closed 32% faster than the combined RMS+MFR and 30.5% faster than the non-strain control, p<0.05. This meant the data did not support the hypothesis, but prophylactic stretching has been shown to prevent and reduce injury in 5 other models. Prophylactic MFR requires additional studies to expand our model to include multiple dosed treatments with a stronger emphasis on prevention vs. healing.

Background: Massage can promote healing and recovery following exercise. (Carefelli et al. 1992). Barnes (1990) proposed that myofascial release helps to break up fibrotic fascial adhesions that may restrict joint range of motion (ROM). Self-myofascial release (SMR) is a type of massage that uses a roller and an individuals body weight to produce massage like loading over a specific anatomical area. Viscoelastic properties of muscle tissue extensibility increase during an acute bout (15 minutes) of massage-like loading (Haas et al 2012). Self-massage on the calves reduced pain and edema of the calves on nurses after an 8.5-hour work shift (Oh and Yoon 2008). Increasing blood flow through skeletal muscle will lead to increased oxygen delivery, which can increase healing and return to homeostasis post-exercise. Different shapes and densities of SMR rollers may produce different outcomes (Johansson 1962, Curran et al. 2012). Hypothesis: TP Footballer will have a greater effect on popliteal artery blood flow volume and ankle ROM vs. the SPRI® foam roller. Methods: N = 21 subjects (10 male 11 female; 18-27). No current lower extremity injury (within one year). No exercise 48 hours prior to data collection. Exercise was defined as any rigorous physical activity lasting 30 minutes or longer. Subjects rested prone 20 minutes. Resting BF and AD measurements were taken with an 8-13 MHz probe via Sonosite Micromaxx Doppler Ultrasound. Ankle ROM taken with a goniometer (mean of 3x). Statistics: Two-way repeated measure ANOVA and Bonferroni test was used to compare pre-test and post-test measures across both treatment conditions with two types of rollers. The α level was set at 0.05. Results: No significant increases found using the SPRI® foam roller on variables of BF Volume, TAP and ROM in plantar flexion. Significant increases found with arterial diameter. Significant increases using the TP Therapy Products Footballer® on variables of: ROM in plantar flexion, blood flow volume, arterial diameter Conclusion: SPRI® foam roller and TP Footballer® significantly increased popliteal arterial diameter. The TP Therapy Products Footballer® increased blood flow volume immediately following TP Therapy Soleus Protocol. TP Therapy Products Footballer® increased ankle plantar flexion immediately following TP Therapy Soleus Protocol. / text

In recent years, self-myofascial release has gained popularity as a post-exercise therapeutic technique in regards to alleviating pain or muscle soreness. New developments have led many researchers and practitioners to examine self-myofascial release, in the form of foam rolling, pre-exercise. The effects of foam rolling, in combination with a dynamic warm-up, is not quite understood. Minimal research has been published on this topic. To date, there has been one article that examines how a dynamic warm-up and foam rolling can improve performance. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine if an acute bout of foam rolling in the form of self-myofascial release in addition to a dynamic warm-up could improve performance. Fourteen active male and female participants (N = 14; age: 20.931.44; height: 68.043.21, weight: 80.0922.82, BMI: 26.47 5.89) with no prior experience foam rolling volunteered to engage in this counterbalanced, within-subjects design. Participants engaged in experimental condition groups: a general warm-up (GW) group, a dynamic warm-up (DYN) group, and a foam rolling (FM) group. Following each condition, participants performed a series of performance tests. One-way repeated measures ANOVA was conducted to compare the effect of the independent variable (group: general warm-up, dynamic warm-up, and foam rolling group) on the dependent variable (scores: flexibility, vertical jump, standing long jump, and sprint scores) to determine if significant differences exist. When the omnibus F-test statistic was significant, pairwise comparisons using Sidak comparisons were performed. The data indicated that the foam rolling group showed significant differences in flexibility and power (specifically in the standing long jump) when compared to a general or dynamic warm-up. Furthermore, no significant differences were found in the vertical jump or the speed test among the three groups. The results suggest that total-body foam rolling session may be valuable for improvements in certain aspects of performance. Implications from this study suggest foam rolling can be used before a workout routine.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative disease in elderly people, OA of the knee (KOA) makes up for a big part of all OA cases. Common KOA inconveniences are joint stiffness, pain and loss of muscle strength, which can have a negative impact on the quality of life. The OA process affects the kinematics of the knee joint and increases joint laxity, an impairment which can create more damage to the knee joint. Conservative treatment including exercise is the first option of choice in rehabilitation. Manual joint mobilization is another common treatment method which has effect on function and pain in patients with KOA. One muscle located in the hollow of the knee is the popliteal muscle and its function is to internally rotate the tibia, flex the knee joint and reduce ventral translation of the tibia; popliteal activity aims to maintain proper knee kinematics. Purpose: To investigate what effect myofascial release and exercise for the popliteus muscle have regarding pain, function and health related quality of life in people suffering from KOA. Method: A single subject experimental design study consisting of three participants with KOA was performed. The study started with a baseline phase measurement where the participants answered questionnaires about their pain, function and quality of life, followed by the intervention phase consisting of myofascial release (MFR) and exercise for the popliteal muscle. Result: There was not any concordant results for any of the outcome measurements even though each participant had positive changes in one or more of the different measurements mainly regarding pain, function in daily living or quality of life (QoL). Conclusion: MFR and exercise for the popliteus muscle might be effective as a treatment for people with KOA related inconveniences regarding mainly pain, function in daily living and QoL. Key words: Knee osteoarthritis, myofascial release, exercise, popliteus muscle.

No description available.

Background: Foam rolling (FR) is a promising new trend in the world of resistance training, sports and  athletics. It is often used as a warm up activity as a substitute or addition to  stretching modalities such as static stretching (SS). The proposed benefits behind FR is that it can lead to  both acute and chronic increases in performance and flexibility. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two different warm­up intervention protocols  of the hamstrings musculature on: 1) Performance in the bilateral standing long jump 2) Flexibility in a  supine active­knee­extension test. Method: The study consisted of sixteen male participants who were all healthy adult recreational athletes.  The two different interventions were, a) Static Stretching protocol (SS) and b) a Foam Rolling protocol  (FR). These were compared to a baseline warm up (BLWU). The SS consisted of 1 x 30 seconds of active  SS using the lying supine active­knee­extension position after a short warm­up. The FR consisted of 1  bout of 30 seconds of FR of the hamstrings musculature of each leg after a short warm­up. BLWU  consisted of a short warm­up (5 submaximal bilateral standing long jumps). Performance was measured  using a bilateral standing long jump test. Flexibility was measured with a goniometer using a lying supine active ­knee­ extension test. The student’s t­test was used to study differences between and within groups (BLWU, SS, FR). Results: No differences between BLWU and Post­SS (p=0.89) as well as BLWU compared to Post­FR (p=0.86) was detected for performance. However, an increase in flexibility was shown favoring Post­SS over BLWU (p=0.021) as well as Post­FR over BLWU (p=0.045). No significant difference was seen  between changes in the Post­SS and Post­FR groups in either performance or flexibility (p=0.887 and  p=0.944 respectively). Conclusion: It seems that both SS and FR are similarly viable and effective methods for acute increases  in flexibility in the active­knee­extension test without subsequent decreases in performance of the bilateral standing long jump.

To assess acute performance-related effects of foam rolling, this study investigated the immediate effects of a standard foam rolling protocol on explosive strength of the plantarflexors and alpha motor neuron excitability in the soleus. Explosive strength was measured via vertical jump height (JUMP) and the Reactive Strength Index (RSI) obtained from a single leg drop jump. Alpha motor neuron excitability was measured by H reflex amplitude as H wave to M wave ratio (HM) obtained from the soleus muscle. JUMP and RSI measures were analyzed from nineteen subjects (12 male, 7 female) HM data were analyzed from 15 subjects (9 male, 6 female). Subjects attended one day of practice and instruction for the single leg drop jump and one day for data collection. One leg was randomly assigned to be the test leg (FL) and the other as the control (NL). The reported dominant leg and gender were also recorded for each subject. Subjects performed two single leg drop jumps per leg from a box height of 30 cm and then 10 soleus H reflexes were obtained. The intervention, which followed standard professional guidelines, consisted of 2.5 minutes of foam rolling for the FL and rest for the NL, followed by a 5 minute warm up on a cycle ergometer. The best jump and the average HM ratio were chosen for analysis. For each variable a post/pre ratio was calculated for statistical analysis. A 2x2x2 factor ANOVA with repeated measures on both factors was used for each variable. Analysis revealed no statistically significant differences for any of the variables, either as main effects or any of the interaction effects. Subjects trended towards a slightly larger post-intervention decrease in JUMP and RSI for the FL than the NL but this was not significant. It was concluded that a 2.5 minute intervention of foam rolling had no acute effect on explosive strength of the plantarflexors or alpha motor neuron excitability of the soleus. / text

В работе рассматриваются проблемы малоподвижного образа жизни работников интеллектуального труда и возникшие негативные последствия. Анализируются подходы к решению проблем, связанных с нарушений функциональной подвижности тела вследствие работы «за столом» у работников интеллектуального труда. В основной части диссертации представлена научно-обоснованная программа комплексной функциональной тренировки с применением кинезиологических и фасциальных техник для работников интеллектуального труда. Представленные результаты исследования подтверждают эффективность разработанной автором функциональной тренировки. / The paper deals with the problems of sedentary lifestyle of intellectual workers and the negative consequences that have arisen. The approaches to solving problems related to violations of functional mobility of the body due to work "at the table" in intellectual workers are analyzed. The main part of the dissertation presents a scientifically based program of complex functional training with the use of kinesiological and fascial techniques for intellectual workers. The presented research results confirm the effectiveness of the functional training developed by the author.

Title: The effect of foam roller on muscle tone after physical load Objectives: The aim of this thesis was to summarize theoretical knowledge about muscle, changes in muscle tension and possibilities of its affect. The aim of the practical part was to find out the effect of the foam roller on muscle tone after exercise. Methods: Practical part of this thesis was processed in biomechanical laboratory at FTVS UK in Prague and included 16 probands. We measured muscle tone of biceps brachii, m. triceps surae and m. quadriceps femoris before exercise, then the probands performed an activity aimed at increasing the muscular tension of the musculature mentioned above, after which we measured the muscle tension again. The foam rolling of each muscle group lasted for 60 seconds and then we measured the muscle tone for the last time. A myotonometer device was used and the data were transmitted by KISTLER MULTICHANNEL CHARGE AMPLIFIER and processed by the DeweSoftX3 (64 bit) programme in SIRIUS DEWEsoft S-BOX2 computer. At the end, we compared measured values with subjective sensations of the probands who filled quick questionnaire. Results: The measurement showed that after exercise, the muscular tensions of the muscle groups we selected increased, and at the same time that the application of the foam roller...

В работе рассматриваются актуальные вопросы, связанные с проблемой избыточной массы тела у женщин среднего возраста. В основной части статьи представлена комплексная фитнес-программа в сочетании средств фитнеса и МФР, направленная на снижение избыточной массы тела у женщин среднего возраста. Анализ результатов исследования подтверждает гипотезу о том, что разработанная автором комплексная фитнес-программа с использованием МФР способствует более эффективному снижению избыточной массы тела у женщин среднего возраста. / The paper deals with topical issues related to the problem of overweight in middle-aged women. The main part of the article presents a comprehensive fitness program in combination of fitness and MFR, aimed at reducing overweight in middle-aged women. The analysis of the results of the study confirms the hypothesis that a comprehensive fitness program developed by the author using MFR contributes to a more effective reduction of excess body weight in middle-aged women.