Limited research exists on the comparison of pulsed shortwave diathermy (PSWD) and instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM). In addition, minimal research exists on the AcuForce® 7.0 and none of it examines the effects of the AcuForce® 7.0 on range of motion (ROM). This study focused on the comparison of PSWD and IASTM on hamstring flexibility and perceived patient comfort. Twenty male students, faculty, and staff (age 24.5 ± 5.7 years) participated. Active knee extension ROM with the hip flexed at 90º was measured before and after the intervention. Perceived patient comfort was measured after the intervention. The results showed significant increases in ROM in all subjects (p = 0.013). However, there were no significant differences between groups (p = 0.079). Also, there were no significant differences in perceived patient comfort. The results of this study support hamstring flexibility can be increased with the use of either PSWD or the AcuForce® 7.0.

Recent evidence suggests that heat, a major byproduct of exercise, may be the mediator for many vascular adaptations that come from exercise. Thus, heat therapy that increases muscle temperature in a comparable way to exercise may be an advantageous alternative for enhancing cardiovascular health in individuals where treatment with exercise is either not possible or undesired. PURPOSE: Compare the effects of exercise and heat training on resistance artery function at rest and during exercise. METHODS: Thirty-five (18 female) healthy, untrained subjects completed a 6-week training program utilizing either high intensity knee extension (KE) exercise (40 min), localized heat therapy (pulsed shortwave diathermy; 120 min), or a sham heat therapy protocol (120 min). We randomly selected 8 subjects from each group to have a temperature probe inserted into their vastus lateralis muscle during one of their training sessions to evaluate the effect of the interventions on muscle temperature. We assessed resistance artery function at rest with the passive leg movement technique (PLM) prior to and after completion of the training protocols. We assessed peak exercise blood flow (KE peak flow) and peak power output (KE peak power) during the KE graded exercise test and prior to and after completion of the training protocols. RESULTS: Peak muscle treatment temperature was significantly different between all groups with those assigned to the diathermy heat training exhibiting a higher peak temperature (~40.80°C) than those in the exercise (~37.75°C, P < 0.001) and sham training groups (~36.10°C, P < 0.001). KE peak flow during PLM increased to the same extent (P = 0.625) in both the exercise (~10.5% increase, P = 0.009) and heating groups (~8.5% increase, P = 0.044); but tended to decrease in the sham group (P = 0.087). KE peak flow increased in the exercise group (~19%, P = 0.005), but did not change in the heat group (P = 0.523) and decreased in the sham group (~7%, P = 0.020). Peak vascular conductance during KE significantly increased by ~25% in the exercise (P = 0.030) and heat (P = 0.012) groups. KE peak power increased in the exercise group by ~27% (P = 0.001) but did not significantly change in the heat (P = 0.175) and sham groups (P = 0.111). The change in vascular function, assessed via PLM, showed a correlation with both ∆KE peak flow (R = 0.55, P = 0.01) and ∆KE peak power (R = 0.56, P = .010). Likewise, ∆KE peak flow showed a strong association with ∆KE peak power (R = 0.64, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Localized diathermy heat treatment increased resistance artery function at rest and during exercise to a similar extent as single-leg KE exercise training but did not yield significant improvements in performance. Thus, heat training mimics some but not all of the benefits associated with exercise and may be used to replace exercise treatment to some extent.