Abstract
It has previously been demonstrated that physiological mechanisms are involved in muscle pain and fatigue, as the nociceptive afferents of the fascial system are able to modulate the afferent response of the central nervous system. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate a sample of volleyball players, and investigate whether osteopathic treatment of the lower limb muscle groups improved the explosive force of the limbs, whilst reducing spasms and tension, releasing tissue strain and correcting posture. A randomized control study was performed to evaluate 57 athletes who underwent fascial manipulative treatment to assess if such treatment affected the muscle strength of the lower limbs. The treatment group demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in the squatting jump test (P<0.0001) and in the counter movement jump test (P<0.0001). Furthermore, the control group did not exhibit any improvement in the squatting jump test (P<0.56) or in the counter movement jump test (P<0.32). The results suggested that correction of the fascial system required a minimum time of 30 days in order to obtain an improvement of fascial mechanics and sports performance. Therefore, use of a fascial protocol during athletic training will help improve the balance of the bands and, as a direct consequence, improve the efficiency of the musculoskeletal system, thereby reducing the risk of injury. It would therefore be advisable to perform osteopathic treatment techniques every two months during an athletic season to maintain the balance of the fascial system and obtain the most efficient results.