The purpose of the study was to determine whether fascial manipulation of the foot sole with a massage ball can affect static and dynamic balance. We were investigating if there is any change in the velocity of the center of pressure in the static balance test on one leg with opened and closed eyes and on the length of the reach in dynamic balance.
Seventeen healthy subjects were included in the study. Among them were 15 female and 2 male subjects (age: 29 ± 5, height 170 ± 8 cm, body mass 62,12 ± 7,85 kg and leg length 93 ± 4 cm). Each performed 3 different balance tests. Two tests were for measuring static balance on one leg with opened and closed eyes and the third test was for dynamic balance. Each test had control measurement and experimental measurement in which they did the fascial manipulation of the foot sole with the massage ball. With the static balance test, we recorded the velocity of the center of pressure and with the dynamic balance test, we noted the reach lengths.
The results demonstrated that fascial manipulation was successful in improving the dynamic balance. The reach lengths in all three directions improved. We can attribute those improvements to better sensory integration, modulation of the threshold of motoric neurons of the upper and lower extremity and lower viscosity in the plantar fascia which contributed to better dorsal flexion of the foot. Fascial modulation of the foot soul did not have any statistically significant differences in the velocity of the center of pressure in static balance tests.
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