ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT06597461Updated Sep 19, 2024

Myofascial Release and Foot Mobility in Basketball Players: A Randomized Controlled Trial

An interventional study of Myofascial release and Placebo myofascial release in Foot Deformities, sponsored by Giresun University. Completed at 1 site in Turkey. Open to male participants aged 18 Years to 30 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-09-19.

Sponsored by Giresun University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 4 months after the study started (first participant enrolled Apr 2024, registered Sep 2024).
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
24
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 30 Years
Sex
Male
01

Study summary

The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute effects of myofascial release on foot mobility and sportive performance in basketball players with hypomobile feet. This study was designed as randomized controlled experimental research.

Read the detailed description

Hypomobility in the foot structure causes functional limitations. These functional limitations affect the sportive performance negatively, especially in basketball where dynamic movements such as jumping and sudden change of direction are very intense. In this context, reducing hypomobility is important in terms of eliminating performance disorders caused by hypomobility. The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute effects of myofascial release on foot mobility and sportive performance in basketball players with hypomobile feet. This study was designed as randomized controlled experimental research. Twenty-four male basketball players (23.46±2.81 years) participated in the study. Athletes were first subjected to foot mobility, balance and vertical jump tests. Then the participants were divided into two groups as myofascial release (MR) and placebo myofascial release (PMR). Myofascial release was applied to the MR group and placebo myofascial release was applied to the PMR group. After the application, foot mobility and performance measurements were performed again and the results were analyzed. It was observed that there was a significant difference in right foot mobility (RFM), left foot mobility (LFM), vertical jump (VJ) and dynamic balance (DB) parameters after the application in MR group (p\<0.001), while there was no change in any parameter after the application in PMR group (p>0.05). The results of this study show that a single session of myofascial release applied to the plantar sole temporarily increased foot mobility and improved vertical jump and dynamic balance performance in basketball players with chronic hypomobility.

02

Conditions studied

  • Foot Deformities

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Keywords

  • hypomobile feet
  • basketball players
  • myofascial release
  • foot mobility
  • performance
03

In context

Foot Deformities

50 studies on the registry are indexed under Foot Deformities; 13 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 24 is below the median of 60 across 26 interventional studies indexed under Foot Deformities.

Browse Foot Deformities studies →

Lead sponsor

Giresun University is the lead sponsor of 57 studies on the registry; 6 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 30 Years
Sexes eligible
Male
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Basketball players who had hypomobility in at least one foot, had not had a serious foot or ankle injury in the last year, and had been actively licensed for the last five years were included in the study.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Those who did not meet the inclusion criteria were excluded from the study.
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Participant)
Enrollment
24 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Myofascial release (MR) group

    The group that received Graston myofascial application

    Other: Myofascial release

  • Placebo comparator
    Placebo myofascial release (PMR) group

    The group that received placebo Graston myofascial application

    Other: Placebo myofascial release

Interventions

  • OtherMyofascial release

    Graston massage technique was used in the application. In the application, the participant was placed in a prone position and the feet were left slightly outside the massage table. The application was performed on the entire plantar surface between the calcaneal tuberosity and metatarsophalangeal joints in the form of multidirectional strokes at 30-60 degrees with the GT 4 graston tool. The total application took an average of 5 minutes for each foot. An average of 60-70 strokes were performed per minute and 10 seconds of rest was given every minute. The application was performed as a single session by an expert physiotherapist.

    Also known as: Placebo myofascial release

  • OtherPlacebo myofascial release

    Graston massage technique was used in the application. In the application, the participant was placed in a prone position and the feet were left slightly outside the massage table. The application was performed on the entire plantar surface between the calcaneal tuberosity and metatarsophalangeal joints in the form of multidirectional strokes at 30-60 degrees with the GT 4 graston tool. The total application took an average of 5 minutes for each foot. An average of 60-70 strokes were performed per minute and 10 seconds of rest was given every minute. The application was performed as a single session by an expert physiotherapist. Since it was a placebo application, no pressure was applied to the tissues by the physiotherapist during the strokes.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. hypomobility measurement

    Therefore, firstly, the degree of foot mobility of all participants was measured, and height and body weight measurements the balance characteristics and vertical jump levels of the participants who met the inclusion criteria were determined. TParticipants were not informed which group they were in. The MR group received myofascial release and the PMR group received placebo (superficial) myofascial release. All myofascial release applications were performed by an expert physiotherapist. After the application, the degree of foot mobility, balance characteristics and vertical jump levels of the participants were measured again. In order to determine the duration of the acute effects of mobility after myofascial release, the MR group was subjected to a 2-hour standard basketball training after the second measurements. Foot mobility was measured three more times at one-hour intervals in the first hour of the training, at the end of the training and then at rest.

    Time frame: 6 hours

Secondary outcomes

  1. Height and body weight measurements

    The height measurements of the participants were measured with wall-mounted holtain stadiometer and body weight and body mass index (BMI) measurements were measured with Tanita MC-580 body analyzer.

    Time frame: 4 hours

  2. Evaluation of foot mobility

    The modified navicular drop (MND) test was used to assess foot mobility. The MND test is an easy, valid and clinical method used in the evaluation of foot mobility. In the navicular drop test, the navicular process was palpated externally while the subject was sitting on a chair with the foot in neutral position and the height above the ground was measured. The subject was then made to stand up and place one foot on a specially designed 10.16 cm (4 inch) high box without weight. The height above the ground of the navicular process of the loaded foot was measured again. Feet with a difference of less than 4 mm between unweighted and weighted measurements were recorded as hypomobile. The reference values of navicular mobility in the MND test are 0-4 mm hypomobile foot, 5-9 mm neutral foot and 10 mm or more hypermobile foot.

    Time frame: 4 hours

  3. Vertical jump measurements

    Vertical jump values were performed with arm swing countermovement jump technique using smart speed brand electronic jump mat. The athlete took a position on the jumping mat with feet one shoulder length apart. Then, when he felt ready, he stretched downward and jumped vertically to the highest point he could jump and fell back on the mat. Three attempts were made in the correct position, 3 seconds rest time was allowed between each jump, and the best degree was recorded in cm. The jumps were repeated with the knees flexed while the athlete remained in the air.

    Time frame: 4 hours

  4. Determination of balance levels

    The balance score was calculated by summing the standard deviation of the front-to-back swing and the standard deviation of the right-to-left swing. The multiaxial proprioceptive assessment module of the isokinetic measurement system was used to determine the dynamic balance levels. First, the device was calibrated and the system was introduced to the volunteers. The volunteers' feet were placed on the platform with reference to the x and y lines on the platform. In the measuring position, the hands were drooping and the feet were bare. Measurements were made in bipedal and 10 difficulty levels for 60 seconds. The test was stopped and restarted when situations such as falling or touching any part of the device occurred during the measurement. Dynamic balance levels were assessed using the average tracking error (ATE).

    Time frame: 4 hours

  5. Myofascial release application

    Graston massage technique was used in the application. In the application, the participant was placed in a prone position and the feet were left slightly outside the massage table. The application was performed on the entire plantar surface between the calcaneal tuberosity and metatarsophalangeal joints in the form of multidirectional strokes at 30-60 degrees with the GT 4 graston tool. The total application took an average of 5 minutes for each foot. An average of 60-70 strokes were performed per minute and 10 seconds of rest was given every minute. The application was performed as a single session by an expert physiotherapist.

    Time frame: 4 hour

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Giresun University
    Giresun, 28200, Turkey
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reachedSimilar studies: half by the dot; the band is the middle halfHalf of similar studies reached it by the dot; the band is the middle half, from a quarter to three quarters

Ran from Apr 2024 to primary completion in Jul 2024, 3 months.

Of 13 interventional studies with no phase under Foot Deformities, half reached primary completion within 12 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 5 and three quarters within 19. This study's 3 months is below that.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Sep 12, 2024
First posted
Sep 19, 2024
StartActual
Apr 15, 2024
Primary completionActual
Jul 15, 2024
CompletionActual
Jul 17, 2024
Last update
Sep 19, 2024
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Sep 19, 2024, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT06597461
Lead sponsor
Giresun University
Responsible party
Nihat Sarıalioğlu (Assistant Professor, Giresun University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Sep 19, 2024
Start date
Apr 15, 2024
Primary completion
Jul 15, 2024
Completion
Jul 17, 2024
Last update
Sep 19, 2024

Study contacts

Nihat SARIALİOĞLU, PhD
principal investigator · Giresun University

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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