• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.245-254
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• 2020

Purpose: The study investigated the effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy with myofascial release techniques (ESWT+MFR) on pain, movement, and function in patients with myofascial pain syndrome. Methods: Forty participants with upper trapezius trigger points were recruited and randomly allocated to two groups: an experimental group (n = 20) and a control group (n = 20). The experimental group performed the ESWT+MFR, and the control group performed only myofascial release techniques. Each group was treated for 15 minutes, twice a week for four weeks. Pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale and a pressure pain threshold measure. Movement was assessed by cervical range of motion, and cervical and shoulder function were assessed on the Constant-Murley Scale and the Neck Disability Index before and after treatment. Results: The results indicate statistically significant improvements in the two groups on all parameters after intervention as compared to baseline (p < 0.05). As compared to the control group, the experimental group showed statistically significant improvements on the visual analogue scale and pressure pain threshold, cervical range of motion (except rotation), and on the Neck Disability Index (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The ESWT+MFR is more effective than myofascial release techniques for pain, movement, and function in patients with myofascial pain syndrome and would be clinically useful for physical therapists treating myofascial pain syndrome.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.2237-2243
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• 2020

Background: The myofascial release technique is known to be an effective technique for increasing posterior fascia flexibility in short hamstring syndrome (SHS) subjects. But therapeutic mechanism of myofascial relaxation remains unclear. Recently, the theory of autonomic nervous system domination has been raised, however, a proper study to test the theory has not been conducted. Objectives: To investigate whether the application of the myofascial release technique can induce changes in the autonomic nervous system and affect the secretion of stress hormones and myofascial relaxation. Design: Quasi-experimental study. Methods: Twenty-four subjects with SHS were randomly divided into two groups. In the experimental group, the suboccipital muscle inhibition (SMI) technique was applied to the subjects for 4 min in supine position, and in the control group, the subjects were lying in the supine position only. A forward flexion distance (FFD) was conducted, blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol levels were measured before and after the intervention and 30 min after intervention to determine myofascial relaxation and stress hormone levels. The evaluation was conducted separately in blind by an evaluator. Results: A FFD decreased in the experimental group, no change in cortisol was observed. On the contrary, a decrease in cortisol appeared in the control group after 30 minutes. Conclusion: The myofascial release technique is an effective treatment to increase the range of motion through posterior superior myofascial chain, but there is no evidence that myofascial release technique can control the autonomic nervous system.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.15-24
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness between myofascial release technique and ultrasound in subjects with myofascial pain syndrome. Method : Twenty subjects with myofascial pain syndrome were randomly assigned to a myofascial release technique group(n=10) or an ultrsound group(n=10). The Cervical Range of Motion(C-ROM) instrument was used to measure cervical range of motion. Electromyography(EMG) was used to measure muscle power sternocleidomastoid and upper trapezius. Result : The result of this study shows there were no significant differences in ROM increase and muscle power increase between the myofascial release technique group and the ultrasound group. In the group with Myofascial Release Technique, the average score was $61.40{\pm}11.12$ in SCM flexion of C-ROM and $127.87{\pm}4.24$ in Rt. upper trapezius extension of EMG. In the group with ultra sound, the average score was $68.60{\pm}10.02$ in SCM flexion of C-ROM and $131.50{\pm}5.45$ in Rt. upper trapezius extension of EMG. Conclusion : The results suggest that there was no significant difference between two therapeutic techniques.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.124-133
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• 2024

Objective: This study aims to investigate the immediate effects of myofascial release and Duoball assisted self-relaxation (DASR) techniques on pain and muscle tension in patients experiencing chronic cervical pain. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: This study is a randomized controlled experimental study. Eighteen patients with chronic neck pain who met the selection criteria were randomly assigned to myofascial release group and myofascial release group using Duoball. Results: The frequency results for assessment muscle tension showed a decrease of about 10% in the suboccipital muscle, SCM, Pect m, UT, and LS in both the MFR and DASR groups, and the stiffness results showed a decrease in all muscles except the upper trapezius in the MFR group and the DASR group. All were found to decrease by about 10% in the suboccipital muscle, SCM, Pect m, UT, and LS, and the decrement results showed an increase of about 15% in the suboccipital muscle, SCM, Pect m, UT, and LS in both the MFR and DASR groups(p<0.05). Conclusions: In patients experiencing chronic neck pain, application of MFR and duoball assisted self relaxion was shown to be effective on pain and muscle tension. MFR is a non-pharmacological intervention method with few potential side effects and is considered a universal and easily applicable treatment method.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.53-62
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• 2024

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the differences in kinematic factors according to stretching treatment, myofascial release treatment, and static stretching treatment conditions during squat. Method: Twelve males with resistance training experience participated in this study. Participants performed squats without treatment (Pre-Test), and performed squats after treatment with the myofascial release technique (MRT) and static stretching (SS) on different days (post-test). Squat movements were captured using eight motion capture cameras (sampling rate: 250 Hz), and the peak joint angles of the ankle, knee, hip, and pelvis were calculated for each direction. One-way repeated ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc analyses using SPSS 27 (IBM Corp. Armonk NY, USA) were used to compare the peak joint angle of the lower extremity joints and pelvis among the normal condition (squat without treatment), MRT condition (squat after MRT treatment) and SS condition (squat after static stretching). The statistical significance level was set at .05. Results: It was observed that the maximum ankle joint flexion angle during squats was statistically reduced under conditions of myofascial release and static stretching (p<.05), in comparison to the scenario where no stretching was performed. Furthermore, static stretching was found to enhance the maximum hip flexion angle during squat (p<.05), whereas the myofascial release stretching technique resulted in the minimal posterior pelvic tilt angle (p<.05). Conclusion: Employing myofascial release stretching as a preparatory exercise proved to be more efficacious in maintaining body stability throughout the execution of high-intensity squat movements by effectively managing the posterior tilt of the pelvis, as opposed to foregoing stretching or engaging in static stretching.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 2019

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of the myofascial meridians release technique on pain and postural control of college students with forward head posture and to compare the intervention effects of the Grastone massage and the Rollfing massage. METHODS: Thirty subjects with forward head posture were randomly and equally allocated to experimental group I (myofascial meridians release technique using Grastone massage, n=15) or experimental group II (myofascial meridians release using Rollfing massage, n=15). All subjects underwent 30 minutes of different myofascial meridians release techniques in addition to general physical therapy (hot pack: 15 min, interferential current therapy: 15 min, ultra sound: 5 min) three times a week for a total of 6 weeks. Outcome was measured before and after 4 weeks of intervention. RESULTS: In both groups, the numerical rating scale of pain was significantly decreased after intervention, with experimental group I showing a greater decrease than experimental group II. The neck disability index decreased significantly after intervention in both groups, with experimental group I showing a significantly greater decrease than the controls. The distance of the head forward displacement did not differ significantly between the two groups (p>.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the Grastone method combined with the myofascial meridians release technique is a more effective intervention for improvement of pain and postural control in adults with moderate forward head posture.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.93-101
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• 2021

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of a myofascial release technique with preservation physical therapy on low back pain, range of motion, and physical function of patients in acute traffic accidents METHODS: Twelve patients with traffic accidents were divided randomly into two groups of six patients each who met the selection criteria. The training was conducted for 45 minutes each time, for two weeks and four times per week. The experimental group received four myofascial release techniques and with preservation physical therapy. The control group received only preservation physical therapy. RESULTS: The VAS test result was statistically significant after the intervention in both groups (p < .05). After the intervention, there was no significant difference between the experimental group and control group. The Schober test result was statistically significant after the intervention in both the experimental and control groups (p < .05), and there was a significant difference between the experimental group and control group after the intervention (p < .05). The KODI assessment result was significant after the intervention in both the experimental and control groups (p < .05), and there was a significant difference between the experimental group and control group after the intervention (p < .05). CONCLUSION: The myofascial release technique with preservation physical therapy had a positive effect on low back pain, range of motion, and body function in acute traffic accident patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 2023

Purpose: This study sought to identify whether fascial therapy using myofascial release (MFR) and Fascial Distortion Model (FDM) techniques affected not only the area where treatment was being given but also remote areas connected to the treatment area by fascial continuity through comparison of the pain pressure threshold (PPT). Methods: The subjects were 16 healthy normal adults in their 20s and 30s who were divided into the MFR and FDM groups before the experiment. The PPT was measured at 4 different points on the body of the subjects. C7, T7, L5, and gastrocnemius along the superficial back line (SBL) before and after the intervention. Results: Only the FDM group subjects showed a significant increase in the PPT at T7 after the intervention. (p<0.05). In addition, the FDM group demonstrated significantly increased PPT at L5 compared to the MFR group. However, neither the FDM nor the MFR group showed a meaningful change in the PPT at the remote area in the lower leg. Conclusion: These findings showed that FDM can affect PPT more and has a positive effect on the pain threshold compared to MFR. However, neither FDM nor MFR showed any effect on the PPT in a remote area.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.455-463
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• 2014

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of Graston and self-myofascial release (SMR) techniques on knee joint flexibility, hamstring, and quadriceps strength. METHODS: Twenty subjects with hamstring shortness participated in this study. The subjects were assigned randomly to one of two groups: The Graston technique (GT) group received intervention using a Graston instrument for one minute, and the SMR group performed self-exercises using a foam roll for one minute. The range of motion (ROM) of the knee joint was measured by active knee extension test, and a handheld dynamometer was utilized to collect the hamstring and quadriceps muscle strength. This experiment was performed by two physical therapists. The significant level was set at ${\alpha}$=0.05. RESULTS: The results were as follows: 1) The ROM of the knee joint and quadriceps muscle strength were significantly increased in both groups. 2) Hamstring muscle strength was significantly reduced in both groups. 3) There were no significant differences between the GT group and SMR group for any variable. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that SMR is an effective and easy technique for restoring proper muscle length and strength in subjects with hamstring shortness. We recommend that SMR technique be used for treat hamstring shortness in clinical setting and home-program.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.119-130
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• 2021

Purpose : We aimed to validate a new manual therapy to treat tension type headache(TTH) by applying myofascial release techniques to the scalp and to examine the changes in the quality of life and the headache characteristics after treatment and at the 6-month follow-up. Methods : Thirty patients were recruited in this study and were assigned to two groups through simple random sampling. Fifteen patients were assigned to the manual therapy group (MT) and 15 patients to the scalp myofascial release technique (SMT) group. However, five patients from the MT group and one from the SMT group were excluded. Therefore, 24 patients with TTH (10 males, 14 females) participated in the study. Patients underwent either MT or SMT. The procedures were performed by a physical therapist twice per week for 4 weeks. The quality of life [using the brief pain inventory (BPI) and the headache impact test (HIT)], and the frequency, duration, and intensity of the headache [on a visual analog scale (VAS)] were assessed before and after the treatment, and at the follow-up. Results : After 4 weeks of SMT, the frequency (p<.001), duration (p<.05), and intensity (p<.001) of the headache and the quality of life (HIT; p <.001, BPI; p<.001) significantly improved in the patients with TTH. The improvement in these parameters remained significant even after 6 months of follow-up. Similarly, After 4 weeks of MT, the frequency (p<.05), duration (p<.05), and intensity (p<.01) of the headache, and the quality of life (HIT; p<.05, BPI; p<.001) significantly improved in the patients with TTH. The improvement in these parameters remained significant even after 6 months of follow-up. There was no significant difference in these parameters between the two groups. Conclusion : It has been suggested that MT using the SMT can be used as a non-invasive treatment to treat the frequency, duration, and intensity of the TTH, and to improve the quality of life.