THE IMMEDIATE EFFECTS OF A TOTAL MOTION RELEASE® WARM-UP ON ACTIVE ROTATIONAL HIP RANGE OF MOTION IN OVERHEAD ATHLETES

Background: Reductions in hip range of motion (ROM) correlate with lower extremity injury and alterations in shoulder mechanics in overhead athletes. Such shifts in kinetic-chain dynamics may lead to additional stresses at common injury sites of the upper and lower extremities. Researchers have suggested that Total Motion Release (R) (TMR (R)) increases shoulder ROM more effectively than traditional warm-up methods. It is plausible that similar methods may produce increases in ROM at the hip. Purpose: To explore the effects of a TMR (R) based intervention on active hip rotational ROM in overhead athletes compared to a traditional athletic warm-up. Study Design: Randomized Control Trial. Methods: Twenty-two secondary school, NCAA Division I, III, and Club student-athlete participants (sex: 13 females, 9 males; sport: 9 javelin, 7 volleyball, 7 baseball; age = 19.3 +/- 1.1 years; height = 178 +/- 11.4 cm; weight = 76.4 +/- 11.2 kg.) were randomly assigned to TMR (R) (TMRG; n=11) and traditional warm-up (TWG; n=11) groups. The TMRG performed three sets of forward flexed trunk twist and seated straight leg raise held for 20 seconds each to the side of ease with a 30-second rest interval. Active hip internal and external rotation was measured using the Clinometer smartphone application immediately before and after intervention. Results: The TMRG experienced significant immediate increases in active dominant hip ER, active nondominant hip ER, active dominant total hip rotational ROM, and active nondominant total hip rotational ROM (mean(change) = + 6.27 degrees, + 12.2 degrees, + 4.8, and + 11.9 degrees), compared to the TWG (mean(change) + 0 degrees, + 1.9 degrees, - 1 degrees, and 1 degrees) respectively. Conclusion: Using TMR (R) motions and principles as a warm-up produced meaningful changes in active hip rotational ROM bilaterally in overhead athletes.