Effects of Tissue Flossing and Dynamic Stretching on Hamstring Muscles Function

Hiroaki Kaneda; Naonobu Takahira; Kouji Tsuda; Kiyoshi Tozaki; Sho Kudo; Yoshiki Takahashi; Shuichi Sasaki; Tomonori Kenmoku

Effects of Tissue Flossing and Dynamic Stretching on Hamstring Muscles Function

J Sports Sci Med. 2020 Nov 19;19(4):681-689. eCollection 2020 Dec.

Authors

Hiroaki Kaneda¹, Naonobu Takahira^{1

2}, Kouji Tsuda¹, Kiyoshi Tozaki¹, Sho Kudo¹, Yoshiki Takahashi¹, Shuichi Sasaki^{1

3}, Tomonori Kenmoku⁴

Affiliations

¹ Sensory and Motor Control, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato 1-15-1, Minami, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0374, Japan.
² Physical Therapy Course, Department of Rehabilitation, School of Allied Health Sciences, Kitasato 1-15-1, Minami, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0374, Japan.
³ Department of Rehabilitation, Kitasato University Hospital, Kitasato 1-15-1, Minami, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0374, Japan.
⁴ Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Kitasato University, Kitasato 1-15-1, Minami, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0374, Japan.

PMID: 33239941
PMCID: PMC7675630

Abstract

Tissue flossing aims to improve range of motion (ROM), reduce pain, and enhance injury prevention. However, evidence is lacking regarding its effects. Therefore, this study examined the effects of flossing on hamstring muscles function in comparison to dynamic stretching (DS). Seventeen healthy young men ([mean ± SD] age, 23.2 ± 1.1 years; height, 1.72 ± 0.08 m; body mass, 63.5 ± 9.3 kg) volunteered as subjects in this randomized crossover trial. The subjects received flossing, DS, and control interventions in random order at least 1 week apart to eliminate the influence of the previous intervention. Flossing involved passive twisting and active movement using a floss band (Sanctband COMPRE Floss Blueberry, Sanct Japan Co., Ltd.). DS was performed for 4 minutes in 30-second sets consisting of 15 repetitions of 2 seconds stretching. The following were measured before and after each intervention: straight leg raise (SLR) test, passive knee extension (KE) test, passive torque, passive stiffness, fascicle length in the biceps femoris long head as an indication of hamstring muscles flexibility, and maximal isometric knee flexion contraction, maximal eccentric knee extension/flexion contraction, rate of force development, and muscle activity. Flossing yielded significant improvements in the SLR test (mean difference in post-intervention changes between interventions: 5.4°, percentage change from pre- to post-value: 13.4%, p = 0.004), passive KE test (6.2°, 4.5%, p < 0.001), passive torque at end-ROM (3.8 Nm, 4.7%, p = 0.03), and maximal eccentric knee flexion contraction (14.9% body weight, 8.2%, p = 0.03) than control. Moreover, flossing yielded 2.1-fold greater improvements in the passive KE test (3.8°, 4.5%, p = 0.03) and yielded significant improvements in the maximal eccentric knee extension contraction (29.9% body weight, 13.8%, p = 0.02) than DS. Therefore, flossing on hamstring muscles is more beneficial than DS with respect to increasing ROM and muscle exertion.

Keywords: Compression; Fascia; Flexibility; Floss band; Injury prevention; Range of motion.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

Adult
Cross-Over Studies
Hamstring Muscles / physiology*
Humans
Knee Joint / physiology
Male
Muscle Contraction
Muscle Stretching Exercises*
Physical Therapy Modalities / instrumentation*
Range of Motion, Articular
Torque
Young Adult