The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of three muscle-lengthening techniques—post-isometric relaxation (PIR), flossing band, and static stretching—on the mechanical properties and functional range of motion (ROM) of th...
The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of three muscle-lengthening techniques—post-isometric relaxation (PIR), flossing band, and static stretching—on the mechanical properties and functional range of motion (ROM) of the gastrocnemius muscle in healthy adults. Forty-five participants were randomly assigned to three groups (n=15 each). Muscle tone, stiffness, and elasticity were assessed using a MyotonPRO device, and functional ROM was evaluated through the weight-bearing lunge test (WBLT) at three time points: before exercise, immediately after fatigue induction, and after intervention. Repeated-measures one-way ANOVA revealed significant main effects of time for tone (F=54.64, p<0.001), stiffness (F=51.43, p<0.001), elasticity (F=6.78, p=0.002), and ROM (F=74.46, p<0.001). Between-group comparisons using one-way ANOVA showed significant differences in stiffness (p=0.038), indicating greater recovery in the PIR and flossing band groups compared with static stretching. These findings suggest that both PIR and flossing band techniques effectively promote post-exercise muscle relaxation and enhance functional mobility of the lower limb.