Avaliação da velocidade da onda de cisalhamento no músculo gastrocnêmio lateral de atletas de tênis antes e após a aplicação da manobra miofascial

Abstract

Tennis is a sport whose movements require high performance of the musculature, which can lead to musculoskeletal injuries. In myofascial release, the mechanical gallows reduce the restrictions of myofascial tissue in dysfunctions and musculoskeletal injuries, however, its effects are still little known. An evaluation of the mechanical properties of the musculature can be done by elastography. This study evaluates elastographically the stiffness of superficial and deep fascia of lateral gastrocnemius after the application of myofascial release. Eighteen tennis players (13 men and 5 women), aged 18 ± 1.23 years, weight 69.53 ± 9.13 kg and height 1.78 ± 0.43 m, were submitted to myofascial maneuver protocol for 180 s throughout calf muscles. Elastographic measurements were obtained before, immediately after and five minutes after. An increase in shear wave velocity was observed in all regions, implying an increase in the stiffness of the superficial and deep fascia of lateral gastrocnemius and muscle regions in all volunteers. For the deep fascia, 84% of the individuals presented statistical difference. For superficial fascia this value was 95%. For the deep muscle region, the percentage was 89% and, for superficial muscle region, it was 100%. These results refer to immediate effects after oh the protocol apllied. The application protocol had only one myofascial maneuver, analyzing the result with elastography. Histological, mechanical, physiological, and neurological aspects of connective tissue in general and fascias in particular were considered to generate hypotheses that explain increasing tissue stiffness.