About this trial

Sports that require overhead activities (volleyball, tennis, basketball) include components such as rapid displacement, strength and movement control.Volleyball is also called as an overhead sport in terms of the way it is played. In the realization of these sports; Sub-parameters such as proprioceptive sense, strength, throwing rate, flexibility play a role. During these activities, the shoulder and elbow joints are overloaded. To meet this load, the joint must provide the necessary mobility and stability. Proprioceptive sense in increasing the quality and width of movement as well as providing dynamic joint stability in overhead sports; Increasing the range of motion of the joint, reducing muscle stiffness and thus increasing flexibility are effective in providing mobility. That's why it's important to develop them. Likewise, muscle strength should be increased in order to maintain movement performance and prevent injuries. The use of myofascial release techniques as an exercise method has increased in recent years. Application; The effects on parameters such as strength, performance and flexibility were investigated. Studies have focused more on the lower extremities and acute effects. There is no study on the subject examining proprioceptive sensation in volleyball players in the upper extremity. Therefore, our aim is to examine the chronic effects of the application on shoulder and elbow joint mobility, sensorimotor function and performance.

Eligibility criteria

This trial accepts healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Being playing volleyball

Training at least two hours a week Being between the ages of 13-40

Full active movement of the shoulder and elbow in all directions

To have at least 3 years of overhead sports activity (volleyball) (Kurt, 2022)

Disqualifiers

Not wanting to participate in the study and not being able to fulfill its requirements

History of upper extremity injury in the last 1 year

Any history of surgery or fracture in the upper extremity

The occurrence of pain during evaluations and applications

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

Myofascial Release Techniques
Other intervention
Volleyball players will perform these practices with a physiotherapist 3 days a week for 8 weeks (24 sessions), and their routine sports training will continue. Participants in the group will be shown how to use rolling materials. The application will be performed as 2 sets in a session using the body weight of the person, as 10 rolls in 1 minute. The application time will be 2 minutes in total for each session. There will be 30 seconds of rest between sets. The participation rate limit for the sessions was determined as 80%. The application rate will be controlled with a metronome. The pressure to be created using body weight will be controlled by a numerical pain scale. The technique will be applied to the biceps brachii, latissimuss dorsi, upper trapezius, pectoralis minor, pectoralis major, and thoracic extensor muscles. During the application, a foam roller and a rolling stick (Thera-Band, Hygienic Corporation, Akron, OH) will be used.
Sham myofascial release technique
Other intervention
It was planned to apply the sham myofascial release technique to the athletes in the control group. In this application; with the help of the palm of the hand, pressure will be applied to the surface of the relevant muscles, first without pressure for 1 minute, then after resting for 30 seconds. The given pressure will be 2 out of 10 (0: No pain/discomfort due to pressure, 10: Unbearable pain/discomfort due to pressure). This group will also be given the right to receive a myofascial relaxation program which the experimental group received, after the study period ended.

Treatment groups

54 Participants

are divided into 2 treatment groups

Group A: Myofascial Release GroupExperimental treatment 1 intervention

Group B: Control GroupSham comparator 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Proprioception (elbow and shoulder)

Change of biceps brachii and shoulder internal rotation joint position sense (with digital inclinometer in degree) (Target angel:Elbow:45 degree, shoulder:45 degree). The target angles to be tested will be taught by the investigators with eyes open 3 times and eyes closed 3 times. The participant will then be asked to bring it to the target angle with their eyes closed. The deviation value from the target angle will be recorded.

Time frame

Baseline, after 4 and 8 weeks myofascial release techniques period and then follow up measurement 6. month

2

Muscle Strength (elbow and shoulder)

Change of biceps brachii and shoulder internal rotation isometric strength (in kg, with hand held dynamometer).The average of three consecutive repetitions will be recorded.

Time frame