The Effects of Soft Tissue Mobilization and Vibration Therapy on Balance, Explosive Strength, and Functional...

Menek, B, Dansuk, E, and Arslan, T. The effects of soft tissue mobilization and vibration therapy on balance, explosive strength, and functional performance in elite rowers. J Strength Cond Res 40(6): e612-e621, 2026-This study aimed to examine the acute effects of Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) and percussion massage therapy (PMT) on balance, explosive strength, and muscle performance in elite rowers. Forty-five elite-level rowers were randomly allocated to 3 groups: IASTM ( n = 15), PMT ( n = 15), and control ( n = 15). All interventions were administered once under standardized conditions. Outcome measures included the Y Balance Test (YBT) for dynamic balance, the Triple Hop Test (THT) for explosive strength, and handheld dynamometry for quadriceps and gastrocnemius muscle strength. Significant improvements in YBT scores were observed in both IASTM and PMT groups compared with the control group ( p < 0.05). Triple Hop Test results revealed a significant increase in nondominant limb jump distances in both intervention groups ( p < 0.05), with no changes in the control group or in dominant limb performance ( p > 0.05). In the PMT group, quadriceps and gastrocnemius strength significantly increased across all parameters ( p < 0.05). In the control group, only nondominant quadriceps strength improved ( p < 0.05). In contrast, the IASTM group showed significant reductions in both muscle groups ( p < 0.05). Between-group comparisons showed no significant differences between IASTM and PMT groups for balance or explosive strength outcomes ( p > 0.05); however, PMT outperformed IASTM in muscle strength measures ( p < 0.05). In conclusion, a single session of PMT led to acute improvements in balance, nondominant limb explosive strength, and muscle strength in elite rowers. Although IASTM improved balance and explosive performance, it reduced muscle strength. PMT may be more suitable for use in preactivity warm-up routines to enhance neuromuscular readiness in elite athletes.