Myofascial release

Introduction: The present research aimed to compare and follow-up the effect of 8-week corrective exercises with and without the myofascial release on functional kyphosis deformity in young adults. Methods: It was a randomized controlled trial in the university laboratory. Forty-five male students suffering from abnormal hyperkyphosis deformity (kyphosis of more than 42°) were selected and randomly assigned to three groups: corrective exercises, combinational exercises (corrective and myofascial release), and control. The Mean±SD age, height, and weight of the study sample were 22.12±2.88 years, 175.44±6.80 cm, and 71.21±7.31 kg, respectively. The study groups did the exercises for 8 weeks, under the direct observation of the researchers. The kyphosis angle of the participants was measured using a flexible ruler, at the baseline, post-test, and follow-up (4 weeks after the end of the exercises) stages. The collected data were analyzed with repeated measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) tests. Results: After 8 weeks of exercises, the degree of kyphosis in the post-test and follow-up stages was significantly lower than that in the pre-test, in both training groups. The results of the ANCOVA test demonstrated that the thoracic kyphosis degree in the combinational exercises group was significantly lower than that of the corrective exercises group (P≤0.05), in the post-test and follow-up stages. Conclusion: According to the results, the corrective exercises program in combination with the myofascial release is more effective than the corrective exercises alone, in correcting the thoracic kyphosis deformity.

Purpose: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological condition leading to muscle stiffness, spasticity, and reduced flexibility, particularly in the posterior chain muscles. Myofascial release (MFR), has shown promise in improving flexibility in various populations, but the cumulative effects of increasing the number of sessions have not been well-studied in individuals with MS. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a six-week myofascial stretching training program on the flexibility of posterior chain muscles in individuals with MS, with a focus on evaluating the cumulative effects of increasing the number of sessions. Method: A total of 30 female participants with MS were randomly assigned to one of two groups: a group receiving myofascial stretching training twice per week (n=15), and a group receiving training four times per week (n=15). Flexibility of the posterior chain muscles was assessed using the Sit and Reach (S&R) test at baseline, after 6 weeks of the intervention. Results: The results showed a significant improvement in S&R scores in both intervention groups. The group receiving training four times per week demonstrated greater flexibility improvements than the group receiving training twice per week, suggesting a cumulative effect of increasing the number of sessions. Conclusion: A six-week myofascial stretching training program can effectively improve the flexibility of posterior chain muscles in individuals with MS. Increasing the frequency of sessions from twice per week to four times per week leads to greater cumulative improvements in flexibility. These findings have important implications for the design of rehabilitation programs targeting flexibility in individuals with MS.