The effectiveness of Ergon Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization, foam rolling, and athletic elastic taping in improving volleyball players' shoulder range of motion and throwing performance: a pilot study on elite athletes.
Andreas Maniatakis, Nikolaos Mavraganis, Elias Kallistratos and 6 others
PMID 33132517WHAT IT FOUND
Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization and foam rolling increased shoulder range of motion in elite volleyball players, while athletic taping decreased it.
However, none of these techniques improved throwing performance scores. The gain in motion did not translate to better function in this small pilot.
Key findings
01IASTM and foam rolling significantly improved shoulder range of motion, whereas athletic elastic taping significantly reduced it.
02No technique significantly improved functional performance as measured by the Functional Throwing Performance Index or the one-arm seated shot-put test.
03IASTM showed significantly higher flexion range of motion values compared to both foam rolling and athletic taping.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The study had a very small sample size (n=15), limiting the generalizability of the findings. The interventions were applied passively or in isolation, which may not reflect how athletes use their shoulders during dynamic throwing movements. The study measured outcomes immediately after intervention, so it is unclear if the range of motion gains persist during activity. The study was a pilot, designed to assess feasibility and initial effects rather than to provide definitive evidence of efficacy.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that the observed increase in shoulder range of motion translates to better athletic performance. The study found no significant improvement in throwing performance indices for any technique, suggesting that acute changes in passive motion do not necessarily enhance functional output in elite players.