Abstract
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Highlights
• No rate-dependent effect on forward shoulder posture with myofascial release.
• No rate-dependent effect on pectoralis major length with myofascial release.
• No rate-dependent effect on shoulder muscle excitation with myofascial release.
Plain Language Summary
The value of something before a treatment or intervention (i.e. baseline) often influences how much and in what direction it will change following a treatment or intervention. While massage therapy is a widely used therapeutic intervention, it is not known if baseline values of variables before a massage influence how much they will change following a massage. It is important to understand this to assess the impact of massage interventions more accurately, which will allow for the design of effective treatment strategies to achieve desired outcomes. This study aimed to investigate whether baseline levels of forward shoulder posture, shoulder range of motion, and muscle activity influence how they each change after receiving a type of massage called myofascial release. We recruited 59 participants with forward shoulder posture who received a 4-minute myofascial release treatment to the tissue overlying their chest muscles (pectoral fascia). Forward shoulder posture, shoulder range of motion, and muscle activity were measured before and after the treatment. We found no significant relationship between the baseline values of forward shoulder posture, shoulder range of motion, and muscle activity and how each changed after treatment. This suggests that the baseline values of forward shoulder posture, shoulder range of motion, and muscle activity did not impact the effect of the treatment. Further research is needed to explore if baseline values influence responses to different types and amounts of massage and how this may affect patient-reported outcomes, such as pain and muscle and tissue characteristics, such as stiffness.