Acute and Residual Effects of IASTM and Roller Massage Stick on Hamstring Range of Motion.

PURPOSE: Fascial adhesions can reduce range of motion (ROM). Different techniques of varying costs have been studied to release these adhesions and restore normal ROM, but none have compared instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) with a roller massage stick. The objective was to compare the acute and residual effects of IASTM and a roller massage stick on active and passive hamstring ROM after a single treatment. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study in a university laboratory. METHODS: Sixteen (8M, 8F) recreationally active individuals (age 23.38+/-2.45 yrs). IASTM using Graston instruments and a roller massage stick were randomly applied to the hamstrings of the dominant or non-dominant leg for 3.5 minutes. Active and passive ROM were measured pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, and 48-hrs post-intervention. RESULTS: There was a main effect for time showing a significant increase in active and passive ROM from pre-intervention to immediate post-intervention (p 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: IASTM and the roller massage stick were equally effective immediately and over time, but the roller massage stick is more affordable.