Comparison of the acute effects of self- and therapist-administered myofascial release techniques on muscle flexibility and jumping performance in professional male basketball players: A randomized controlled trial

Introduction: Basketball is a vertical sport by nature and requires sudden, rapid, and repetitive movements, where jumping performance is often a determining factor for athletic performance. Despite the extensive focus on athletic performance, the acute effects of cost-effective techniques on athletic performance are limited in basketball players. This study aimed to evaluate the acute effects of self-myofascial release and therapistadministered myofascial release on muscle flexibility and jumping performance in professional male basketball players. Methods: The study included 36 professional basketball players. Players were randomly divided into two groups; one received "hands-on" with a physiotherapist, and the other received myofascial release with foam rollers (FR). Two evaluations were carried out: baseline and after one week. Eighteen professional male basketball players were in the therapist-administrated myofascial release group (TAG), and 18 were in self-myofascial release groups (SMFRG). The primary outcomes were sit-and-reach (SART) and knee-to-wall (KTW) tests. The secondary outcomes were Squat jumps (SJ) and counter-movement jumps (CMJ) tests. Participants were assessed at baseline, and after a one-week intervention period (after 48 h). Results: The results indicated statistically significant differences in TAG interms of all parameters (KTWT, SART, CMJ and SJ) according to pre and post-treatment analysis while SMFRG showed statistically significant differences only in CMJ (p < 0.05). Statistically significant improvements were found in post-treatment KTWT and SJ scores of TAG compared to SMFRG (p < 0.05). In difference in difference analysis, TAG had superior results in all parameters than SMFRG (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The therapist-administrated Myofascial Release Technique (TAMRT) has a superior impact on improving flexibility and jumping performance than the self-myofascial release technique in professional basketball players. In addition of routine training program of basketball players, TAMRT may be recommended as part of a player's training program to increase flexibility and jumping performance before matches and during the in-season training program.