İzole Gastroknemius Gerginliği Olan Elit Kadın Hentbolcularda Graston Tekniğinin Kas Mekanik Özelliklerine ve Sportif Performansa Akut Etkilerinin İncelenmesi

Abstract

Bu araştırmanın amacı, izole gastroknemius gerginliği (İGT) bulunan elit kadın hentbolcularda tek seanslık Graston (IASTM) uygulamasının gastroknemius kasının mekanik özellikleri ve spora özgü performans çıktıları üzerindeki akut etkilerini incelemektir. Silfverskiöld testi ile İGT tanısı konulan 16 elit kadın hentbolcu çalışmaya dahil edilmiştir. Medial gastroknemius kasına ait tonus, sertlik ve elastikiyet parametreleri MyotonPRO cihazı ile değerlendirilmiştir. Ayak bileği dorsifleksiyon hareket açıklığı gonyometre ile ölçülmüştür. Plantar fleksör kuvvet el dinamometresi ile belirlenmiştir. Dikey sıçrama ve çeviklik performansı standart saha testleri ile değerlendirilmiştir. Tüm ölçümler 7 dakikalık tek seans Graston uygulaması öncesinde ve hemen sonrasında alınmıştır. Ön-son karşılaştırmalar eşleştirilmiş örneklem analizleri ile yapılmıştır (p<0,05). Uygulama sonrası kas sertliği ve tonusunda anlamlı azalma, elastikiyette ise artış gözlenmiştir (p<0,05). Ayak bileği dorsifleksiyonunda büyük düzeyde artış saptanmıştır (p<0,001). Plantar fleksör kuvvet, dikey sıçrama ve çeviklik performansında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı ancak küçük-orta düzeyde etki büyüklüğüne sahip iyileşmeler görülmüştür (p<0,05). Tek seanslık Graston uygulaması, İGT bulunan sporcularda pasif kas mekanik özelliklerini ve ayak bileği mobilitesini akut olarak iyileştirmektedir. Performans çıktılarındaki gelişmeler daha sınırlı olup, akut IASTM etkilerinin öncelikle mobilite ve pasif mekanik bileşenlerde belirginleştiğini düşündürmektedir.

Keywords

• Alet destekli yumuşak doku mobilizasyonu (IASTM)
• Çeviklik
• Dikey sıçrama
• İzole gastrocnemius gerginliği
• MyotonPro

Investigation of The Acute Effects of Graston Technique on Muscle Mechanical Properties and Sportive Performance in Elite Female Handball Players with Isolated Gastrocnemius Tightness

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the acute effects of a single-session Graston Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) application on the mechanical properties of the gastrocnemius muscle and sport-specific performance outcomes in elite female handball players with isolated gastrocnemius tightness (IGT). Sixteen elite female handball players diagnosed with IGT according to the Silfverskiöld test participated in the study. Muscle tone, stiffness, and elasticity of the medial gastrocnemius were assessed using MyotonPRO. Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion was measured with a goniometer. Plantar flexor strength was evaluated using a handheld dynamometer. Vertical jump and agility performance were assessed via standardized field tests. All measurements were obtained immediately before and after a single 7-minute Graston intervention. Paired-sample analyses were performed to compare pre- and post-intervention values (p<0.05). Significant post-intervention reductions were observed in muscle stiffness and tone, accompanied by an increase in elasticity (p<0.05). Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion demonstrated a large improvement (p<0.001). Plantar flexor strength, vertical jump height, and agility performance showed statistically significant improvements with small-to-moderate effect sizes (p<0.05). A single-session Graston application acutely modifies passive muscle mechanical properties and improves ankle mobility in athletes with IGT. Although performance improvements were observed, their magnitude was smaller than the mobility changes, suggesting that acute IASTM effects primarily influence passive mechanical and mobility components.

Keywords

• Agility
• Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM)
• Isolated gastrocnemius tightness
• Vertical jump

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