Effects of Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization Regarding Range of Motion and Lower Extremity Power

Effects of Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization on Healthy Tissue Regarding Range of Motion and Lower Extremity Power

The goal of this clinical trial is to study the effects of instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) in healthy adult volunteers. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does IASTM treatment have an effect on range of motion (ROM) as measured in the hip, knee and ankle?
• Does IASTM treatment have an effect on lower extremity power? Researchers will compare pre-test and post-test IASTM treatment intervention data to the pre-test and post-test data of the no treatment control intervention to see if IASTM works to change range of motion and/or lower extremity power.

Participants will:

• Complete a questionnaire on medical history and injury background
• Have hip, knee and ankle range of motion (ROM) measurements taken on both lower extremities using a goniometer
• Complete three trials of vertical jump testing using a Fleage Floor standing vertical jump measurement tester with one warm up first
• Complete three trials of horizontal jump testing using a Woanger 12'x2.5' long jump mat and verified by a secondary measure using a tape measure with one warm up first
• Be randomly assigned to either IASTM first treatment group or the wait/control first group
• Receive IASTM treatment techniques including application of emollient to the skin to reduce friction on the surface followed by scanning the hamstrings, quadriceps, gastroc/soleus complex, and Achilles tendon using the HG8-Scanner tool for 15 strokes in each direction. Then the concave tool corresponding to the size of the structure being treated will be used (HG6-Large Multi-Curve, HG5-Medium Multi-Curve, HG4-Small Multi-Curve) for 15 strokes in each direction.
• Simply wait for 20 minutes (the duration of time treatment with IASTM would require) when completing the control treatment.
• Complete hip, knee and ankle range of motion and vertical and horizontal jump measure testing at the end of the first session.
• Return within fourteen days after the first session in order to undergo the opposite experience (IASTM first means wait/control second and vice versa).
• Undergo the same baseline pre-test measurements for range of motion and vertical and horizontal jump measure testing as the first session.
• Experience the opposite treatment for the same time period as the first session.
• Undergo the post-test range of motion and vertical and horizontal jump measure testing at the end of the second session for data comparison.

No further information to note than what is described in the summary or elsewhere

Inclusion Criteria:

• Individuals from a small regional university student body, faculty and staff may choose to volunteer to participate in this study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Acute spinal cord injury with neurological deficits
• Neurological disorders
• Acute lower extremity injury such as sprain or strain
• Acute lower extremity pain causing gait deviation
• Any type of lower extremity fracture within the past 12 months
• Lumbar disc pathology with radicular symptoms
• Use of blood thinning or clotting medications
• Known connective tissue disorder