Effects of Tissue Flossing and Neural Mobilization Techniques in Adolescent Basketball Athletes: Randomized,
Luiza Raulino de Oliveira1,2, Gabriella Lavarda do Nascimento1,3, Aline Faquin1
1Laboratory of Development and Postural Control (LADESCOP), Santa Catarina State University, Center for Health and Sports Sciences (UDESC/CEFID), Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
Background And Purpose:
Basketball has a high prevalence of lower limb injuries, particularly at the ankle. Reduced ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM) has been identified as a potential risk factor. Acute interventions such as flossing (FL) and neural mobilization (NM) may influence ankle ROM and neuromuscular function; however, their immediate effects in adolescent athletes remain unclear. This study compared the acute effects of flossing and sciatic neural mobilization on ankle ROM, isometric strength, and dynamic postural balance in adolescent basketball athletes.
Methods:
Adolescent basketball athletes participated in two sessions of a randomized crossover design with a 1-week washout period. In each session, either FL or NM was applied to the dominant ankle, while the contralateral limb served as a within participant control. Outcomes included the Weight Bearing Lunge Test (WBLT), two-dimensional kinematic assessment of ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion, isometric ankle strength and the Modified Star Excursion Balance Test (mSEBT). Generalized estimating equations accounted for repeated measures and crossover effects. Period and carryover effects were tested and were not significant. Standardized effect sizes (Cohen's dz) and 95% confidence intervals were used to describe magnitude.
Results:
Small to moderate immediate increases in WBLT distance were observed following both interventions (NM: Δ ≈ 0.5 cm, dzz ≈ 0.49; FL: Δ ≈ 1.3 cm, dzz ≈ 0.73), with similar changes in control limbs. Changes in dorsiflexion angulation showed small to moderate standardized effects in both intervention and control conditions. Dynamic postural balance measures demonstrated trivial to small changes. No differences were observed in ankle muscle strength.
Discussion:
Both interventions produced small immediate changes in ankle dorsiflexion-related outcomes. However, comparable responses in control limbs and the lack of meaningful changes in strength or dynamic postural balance indicate that these acute effects are likely limited and should be interpreted with caution.
