Effectiveness of Warm-Up Exercises with Tissue Flossing in Increasing Muscle Strength.

Tissue flossing is an increasingly popular method in physiotherapy and sports. There is a belief that tissue flossing can improve range of motion and muscle strength, shorten muscle recovery time, and reduce the risk of injury. The aim of this study was to analyse the effectiveness of tissue flossing for immediately improving muscle strength in recreational athletes when it is performed during warm-up. All participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 36) or a control group (n = 34) using a random number generator. The experimental group (n = 36) performed an intervention comprising exercises with muscle tissue flossing and exercises without flossing. The control group (n = 30) performed the same protocol without a floss band. Muscle strength was measured for knee flexion end extension at three speeds (60, 120, and 180 °/s) 3 times. Analysed parameters include peak torque, work, and power related to body weight, flexors−extensors ratio, and time to peak torque. There were no significant changes in the muscle strength parameters from before to after the warm-up in either group (p > 0.05). Significantly lower values of peak torque, work, and power were observed in the experimental group during the warm-up with the floss band applied to muscles (p < 0.05). No clinically significant changes in time to peak torque or flexors−extensors ratio were observed. A single application of flossing does not improve muscle strength or power and can even reduce individuals' maximum muscle strength capabilities.

Influence of force-time parameters of hip abductors on maintaining balance in frontal plane in young healthy females.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of isometric and isokinetic hip abductor muscle strength on the quality of maintaining static balance in healthy subjects. METHODS: The study enrolled 51 healthy women aged 18-25. Balance assessment was carried out according to the M-CTSIB protocol and Single Leg Stance Test (with eyes open and closed) using the Biodex Balance System. An isokinetic evaluation conducted at 30 °/s and an isometric evaluation of the hip abductors were performed with the Humac Norm system. RESULTS: Regression analysis for Sway Index (SW) and Stability Index (ST) in bipedal standing showed a significant importance of the presence of visual feedback (RSW EO = -0.922; p < 0.0001; RST EO = -0.613; p = 0.0493), and unstable surface (RSW US = 1.253; p < 0.0001; RSW US = 2.547; p < 0.0001). Regression analysis for single-leg stance showed correlations between the following indices: overall sway index (OR) in single-leg stance, the antero-posterior (AP) sway index and the medio-lateral (ML) sway index on the one hand and isometric abduction time to peak torque (ROR TPT = 0.769; p = 0.0005; RAP TPT = 0.565; p = 0.008; RML TPT = -1.74; p < 0.05, respectively) as well as the test conditions on the other. CONCLUSIONS: Physiological activation of the hip abductors may be important for physiological maintenance of postural balance in young people, in both leg standing as well as in single-leg stance. The present results warrant prospective, randomized studies of larger groups that are diversified with regard to age and gender of the participants.