PTOtherInternational journal of sports physical therapy2024

The Effects of TMR® Fab 6 on Hamstring Flexibility in Healthy Subjects; An Exploratory Observational Investigation.

Richard D Patterson, Alexander Zettlemoyer, Mary Plackowski and 3 others

PMID 38966827

WHAT IT FOUND

In 20 healthy athletes, one TMR Fab 6 session increased hamstring flexibility more than a sham movement, and the gain remained at 24 hours.

Key findings

01Immediately after treatment, the TMR group had larger increases in active knee extension than control in both legs.

02Immediately after treatment, the TMR group had larger increases in passive straight leg raise than control in both legs.

03From baseline to 24 hours, the TMR group had larger gains than control on passive straight leg raise in both legs.

STILL TO COME

How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs

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What it does not show

The study included only 20 healthy high school or college athletes, with a mean age of 17.8 years, so it may not apply to people with hamstring or lumbar problems or outside this age range. Follow-up was only 24 hours, and the study did not assess longer-term flexibility, functional outcomes, or mechanisms of action. The control group was a sham standing hip flexion movement, not a standard stretching technique, so the study does not show TMR is better than usual stretching. The paper does not describe allocation concealment or assessor blinding.

The easy way to misread this

Do not read this as proof that TMR prevents hamstring injury or helps patients with hamstring or lumbar pathology. The study included only healthy participants, measured flexibility for 24 hours, and compared TMR with a sham movement rather than usual stretching.

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