Effectiveness of Myofascial Release Technique Versus Instrumented Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization among Physiotherapy Students with Hamstring Tightness

Abstract

To compare the effectiveness of myofascial release (MFR) versus instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) in physiotherapy students with hamstring tightness.
Background and Purpose: Limited flexibility has been found to increase the risk of various musculoskeletal overuse injuries and can considerably impact an individual’s functional ability. Insufficient flexibility is also considered a contributing factor to hamstring strains. Myofascial release is a hands-on therapy that applies pressure and stretching techniques to muscles and fascia, aiming to enhance the mobility of the muscles and the surrounding connective tissue. Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) is a non-invasive treatment designed to improve the health of myofascial tissues. By increasing the applied force, it reduces both the length of the treatment and the therapist’s physical exertion, while still producing outcomes comparable to manual methods like deep friction massage and myofascial release. The objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of IASTM and myofascial release in improving hamstring muscle flexibility.
Materials and Methods: This research is a single-blind randomized trial involving students with hamstring tightness, who will be randomly assigned to two groups: the myofascial release group and the IASTM group. A total of 30 participants from R.D. Gardi Medical College, Ujjain, will be selected according to strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. The knee extension test, measured with a goniometer, will be used as the outcome measure for both groups.
Result: The analysis showed that group B (Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Manipulation) had a significant increase in knee extension range of motion (ROM) by the 12th day (t = 2.671, p = 0.012) relative to group A (Myofascial Release).
Conclusion: The conclusion of the present study provided evidence that the instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization and Myofascial release techniques both increase the flexibility of the hamstring muscle in the knee extension test. But this study supports that IASTM shows a more significant effect in increasing hamstring flexibility in the knee extension test after the intervention phase than MFR in hamstring tightness.