The effectiveness of Ergon Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization, foam rolling, and athletic elastic taping in improving volleyball players' shoulder range of motion and throwing performance: a pilot study on elite athletes.

[Purpose] The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the effectiveness of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), foam rolling, and athletic elastic taping on improving elite volleyball players' shoulder range of motion (ROM) and throwing performance. [Participants and Methods] Fifteen elite male volleyball players (mean age: 24 ± 4.54 years; mean height: 177 ± 0.08 cm; mean weight: 81 ± 7.71 kg) received shoulder Ergon IASTM, foam rolling, and elastic taping treatment in random order on both upper extremities once a week for three weeks. Pre-and post-treatment assessments of their shoulders' ROM and functional throwing performance were performed. [Results] Ergon IASTM technique resulted in significantly higher shoulder flexion ROM values than foam rolling and elastic taping. Foam rolling, in turn, showed better results than athletic elastic taping. Moreover, the Ergon IASTM technique resulted in significantly higher OSP values than athletic elastic taping. No significant differences were observed between the therapeutic interventions in terms of FTPI. [Conclusion] This pilot study on elite athletes provides evidence that both IASTM and foam rolling techniques may improve their passive shoulder ROM compared to elastic athletic taping while Ergon IASTM can also enhance their shoulder throwing performance.

Young tennis players and balance performance.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of a tennis training session on the balance performance of young tennis players. The study was conducted on 36 elite tennis players (age 14 +/- 2 years; body mass 55 +/- 6 kg; body height 165 +/- 6 cm; mean +/- SD) participating in the national young tennis championship. Balance performance was assessed before and immediately after a tennis training session (pre-training and post-training, respectively). The balance assessment was performed with 2 different balance boards and the Biodex Stability System. In addition, dynamometric measurements of peak isokinetic moment in the knee flexors and extensors were performed pre and post tennis training session, to quantify the degree of muscle fatigue induced by the tennis training session. One-way analysis of variance with repeated measures was used to test for differences in balance performance and in isokinetic performance between pre and post tennis training session. The data analysis revealed no significant differences (p > 0.05) in balance performance, whereas there were significant differences in knee joint moment production between pre and post tennis training measures. Although the tennis training session of the present study had no significant effect (p > 0.05) on any of the balance performance indicators examined, there was a decline in balance performance, which suggests that different level of fatigue for an extended period (games) will have greater effect on balance performance. It is suggested that a tennis-specific balance exercise program should be included in the tennis training session.

Inspiration during the sleep stages without and after preceding exercise, as a factor supporting circulation of blood and the "resting procedure".

UNLABELLED: In a previous preliminary work we found a longer inspiration than expiration period during sleep, opposite to what normally happens during wakefulness. These results which derived from quite a few measurements, but only from two male subjects, were not categorized to sleep stages. In the present paper we have studied the heart rate/minute, the respiration rate/minute and also the duration of inspiration and expiration (respiration ratio), in six healthy subjects, four men and two women aged 23-42, in all four stages of sleep, the REM stage and in arousals. These parameters were studied in the same subjects twice, once after a resting pre-sleep period (sleep A) and another time after "exercise" before going to sleep (sleep B), in an attempt to trace any changes in the above parameters that could be related to the "resting procedure". "Exercise" before sleep B consisted of a heavy dinner taken after 21:30 h and some physical activity. Results were analyzed by the Wilcoxon non-parametric tests. The differences between sexes were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney, two independent samples, test and have shown the following: a) The heart rate and the respiration rate did not increase significantly in sleep B as compared to sleep A in most of the sleep stages and arousals. b) Respiration ratio did not change significantly between sleep A and sleep B. c) We have confirmed our previous finding that during sleep, the mean values of inspiration are longer than those of expiration and have also shown that the increase in the duration of inspiration as indicated by the respiration ratio, existed in all four stages of sleep, the REM and the arousal periods. d) Significantly higher heart rate and respiration rate and lower respiration ratio were observed in women as compared to men, throughout the study and especially during sleep B as compared to sleep A. This finding, although statistically acceptable, needs confirmation due to the small number of women studied. e) Statistical analysis by the Wilcoxon test of the accumulated means of all sleep A and B stages in heart rate, respiratory rate and respiration ratio were compared with the same findings during arousal periods and showed no significant difference except for stage 1 sleep B (P=0.002). f) The action of inspiration inducing a negative pressure in the thorax and altering the intra-abdominal pressure may be considered an "elastic" action supporting blood flow and contributing to the "resting procedure" during sleep. IN CONCLUSION: (a) The results a) and b) indicate that in the young subjects studied, the "exercise" they had before sleep B was not sufficient to significantly modify the above parameters. (b) The "arousal" period, according to the above findings, may be considered as part of the usual sleeping period. (c) Women as compared to men had higher heart rate and respiration rate and lower respiration ratio, especially in sleep B as compared to sleep A. This result needs confirmation. (d) We found increased duration of inspiration during sleep. As reminded above, inspiration has favorable hemodynamic action in the thorax, delivers oxygen to the heart and body tissues and exercises an elastic action to the abdominal vessels. Having all these in mind, inspiration may be considered as a factor supporting the circulation of blood and the "resting procedure" during sleep.