Effects of Static Stretching and Self-myofascial Release on Local and Remote Range of Motion

Plain-language summary

Static stretching and self-myofascial release are commonly used techniques to improve joint mobility, primarily through mechanisms such as reduced tissue stiffness, increased stretch tolerance, and warming effects. Emerging evidence suggests that these interventions may also elicit remote effects, improving range of motion in body segments distant from the site of application. These non-local adaptations are thought to occur via mechanisms such as myofascial force transmission, systemic increases in stretch tolerance, or global neuromuscular responses. This phenomenon may have important clinical implications, particularly in scenarios where direct treatment of a target area is limited due to pain, injury, or immobilization. Therefore, this study explores the potential for local and remote effects of static stretching and self-myofascial release applied to the right posterolateral neck region. Specifically, this study investigates whether targeted cervical interventions can acutely improve not only cervical range of motion but also hip flexion range of motion on the ipsilateral (right) side. The proposed mechanisms include reductions in tissue stiffness, increased stretch tolerance and pressure pain threshold, and the transmission of mechanical forces along myofascial chains, particularly the "superficial back line," which anatomically connects the cervical region to the posterior lower limb. The primary aim of this study was to compare the acute effects of neck static stretching and neck self-myofascial release using a massage roller on both local (cervical) and remote (right hip) ROM.

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