Comparative Effects of Active Release Technique and Positional Release Therapy in Female Students with Tightened Calf Muscles
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: Prior research has established that regular use of high-heeled shoes significantly alters the gait pattern, impacts ankle joint motion, increases joint forces and moments in the lower extremities, modifies foot pressure distribution, and affects posture and balance. These biomechanical changes can lead to tightened calf muscles and associated discomfort in frequent high heel wearers.
Objective: The main objective of this study is to compare the effect of Active Release Technique and Positional Release Therapy in female students with tightened calf muscles.
Methods: A randomized clinical trial including 26 subjects by using convenient sampling technique, with subject age ranging from 20-30 years wearing high heels with minimum duration (5 hours a day, 5 times a week and for more than 1 year) with heel height minimum of 2''. The outcome measures were ankle dorsiflexion plantar flexion range of motion measured by goniometer, and pain measured by Numerical Pain Rating Scale. Data was collected for 4 months (Feb-May 2023) from The University of Faisalabad and Government College University Faisalabad. Over four weeks & 3 times per week both groups received ultrasound and traditional Physiotherapy of conventional calf muscle stretching as baseline treatment. Group 1 received Positional Release Therapy, while Group 2 received Active Release Technique.
Results: Friedman test showed within-group improvements in NPRS, Dorsiflexion, Plantar flexion, and Cadence (p<0.05) for both groups. Mann Whitney U test revealed significant improvements in NPRS, Dorsiflexion, Plantar flexion, and Cadence at post-treatment (p<0.05) for Positional Release Therapy group more than Active Release Therapy..
Conclusion: Positional Release Therapy (PRT) has more significant effects for calf muscle tightness, exhibiting increased cadence, ankle dorsiflexion, and plantar flexion range of motion, along with significant pain reduction than Active Release Therapy (ART)
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
Abdel-aziem AA, Draz AH. Chronic ankle instability alters eccentric eversion/inversion and dorsiflexion/plantarflexion ratio. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2014;27(1):47-53.
Bell KJ, Fulcher ML, Rowlands DS, Kerse N. Impact of autologous blood injections in treatment of mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy: double blind randomised controlled trial. Bmj. 2013;346:f2310.
Brian A, Kamali A, Michael Leahy P. Release Your Pain: Resolving Repetitive Strain Injuries with Active Release Techniques. Pub Group West. 2005:15-29.
Farrag A, Elsayed W. Habitual Use of High-Heeled Shoes Affects Isokinetic Soleus Strength More Than Gastrocnemius in Healthy Young Females. Foot Ankle Int. 2016;37(9):1008-16.
Dommerholt J, Bron C, Franssen J. Myofascial trigger points: an evidence-informed review. Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy. 2006;14(4):203-21.
Bron C, Franssen J, Wensing M, Oostendorp RA. Interrater reliability of palpation of myofascial trigger points in three shoulder muscles. J Man Manip Ther. 2007;15(4):203-15.
Bryan Dixon J. Gastrocnemius vs. soleus strain: how to differentiate and deal with calf muscle injuries. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2009;2(2):74-7.
Melzack R, Stillwell DM, Fox EJ. Trigger points and acupuncture points for pain: correlations and implications. Pain. 1977;3(1):3-23.
Jain NM, Zore L, Kumar A. Comparison of Active Release Technique and Positional Release Therapy for Gastrosoleus Trigger Point Release in Recreational Runners. Int J Health Sci Res. 2020;10(7):35-41.
Shah JT, Ghumatkar M, Kumar A. Comparison between the Immediate Effects of Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization and Active Release Technique in Individuals Wearing High Heels.
Benner D, Dixon E, Plumley T. The Effectiveness of Active Release Therapy on Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome. Logan University [internet] Junio. 2011.
Kearney RS, Parsons N, Metcalfe D, Costa ML. Injection therapies for Achilles tendinopathy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015(5):Cd010960.
Kothawale S, Rao K. Effectiveness of positional release technique versus active release technique on hamstrings tightness. International Journal of Physiotherapy and Research. 2018;6(1):2619-22.
Osborne JWA, Menz HB, Whittaker GA, Landorf KB. Muscle Function and Muscle Size Differences in People With and Without Plantar Heel Pain: A Systematic Review. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2019;49(12):925-33.
Rabusin CL, Menz HB, McClelland JA, Evans AM, Landorf KB, Malliaras P, et al. Efficacy of heel lifts versus calf muscle eccentric exercise for mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy (the HEALTHY trial): study protocol for a randomised trial. J Foot Ankle Res. 2019;12:20.
Ravish V, Helen S. To compare the effectiveness of myofascial release technique versus positional release technique with laser in patients with unilateral trapezitis. Journal of evolution of medical and dental sciences. 2014;3(9):2161-7.
Bittner R, Bain K, Bansal VK, Berrevoet F, Bingener-Casey J, Chen D, et al. Update of Guidelines for laparoscopic treatment of ventral and incisional abdominal wall hernias (International Endohernia Society (IEHS))-Part A. Surg Endosc. 2019;33(10):3069-139.
Renan-Ordine R, Alburquerque-Sendín F, de Souza DP, Cleland JA, Fernández-de-Las-Peñas C. Effectiveness of myofascial trigger point manual therapy combined with a self-stretching protocol for the management of plantar heel pain: a randomized controlled trial. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2011;41(2):43-50.
Schwellnus MP, Theunissen L, Noakes TD, Reinach SG. Anti-inflammatory and combined anti-inflammatory/analgesic medication in the early management of iliotibial band friction syndrome. A clinical trial. S Afr Med J. 1991;79(10):602-6.
Sullivan J, Pappas E, Burns J. Role of mechanical factors in the clinical presentation of plantar heel pain: Implications for management. Foot (Edinb). 2020;42:101636.
Trivedi P, Sathiyavani D, Nambi G, Khuman R, Shah K, Bhatt P. Comparison of active release technique and myofascial release technique on pain, grip strength & functional performance in patients with chronic lateral epicondylitis. Int J Physiother Res. 2014;2(3):488-94.