The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effects on mechanical properties of muscles for lower extremity using myotonometry as well as sports performance after jogging simulated fatigue induced and 5-minute VPM.
This study was a one-group pretest and posttest pre-experimental study conducted from August 2022 to January 2024 at the laboratory of the university campus. A total of 26 healthy adults were recruited in this study. They all received standardized procedures for running simulated fatigue protocol, followed by 5-minute VPM release technique on middle and lower thigh. SPSS 22.0 software (SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA) was used for statistical analysis in this study, and the statistical difference level was set as 0.05.
Outcomes measurement includes five mechanical properties of RF (muscle tension, stiffness, elasticity, relaxation time, and creep) and two types of sports performance (isometric strength of KE and jumping distance). Except elasticity (p=0.424), the other four mechanical properties of RF shown significant within group difference at three different stages with large effect (Tension, Stiffness, Relaxation time, Creep: p0.001). Both types of sports performance shown difference within group between three stages with large effect. (Isometric strength of KE: p=0.007; Jumping distance: p0.001)
This study showed that a greater muscle performance during triple hop with immediate change of muscle tension, stiffness, relaxation time, and creep after VPM. It revealed that the VPM approach is an effective and easy-practicing releasing maneuver when the muscle is fatigue after jogging or running.
VPM can be more extensively applicated to clinical or sport field for releasing fatigue muscle after training, strengthening, or competition.
sports performance
muscle mechanical properties