Investigation of the Effect of Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization Technique on Flexibility and Thickness in Gastrokinemius Muscle and Achilles Tendon With Compression Elastography Method in Healthy Individuals.

Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization is an instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization technique. It consists of stainless steel instrument designed to adapt to various tissues/shapes/curves of the body. The instruments were developed as an alternative to transverse friction massage. Stainless steel acts a bit like a diaposon when it comes into contact with fibrotic tissue. A resonance or reverberation in the instrument is created upon contact and transmitted through the instrument to the hands of the clinician. The application of heavy pressure (compared to light or medium pressure) using instruments has been proven to promote a greater fibroblastic response.

Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization is not used without insulation. It is imperative to use movement and strengthening in combination with soft tissue mobilization to promote tissue adaptation and remodeling. Mechanical loading has been shown to affect chondrocyte alignment and fibroblast activity with increased proteoglycan and collagen synthesis.

Elastography is an imaging method that allows the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the biomechanical properties of tissues through USG. This imaging method provides information about the stiffness of the tissues independently of the acoustic impedance provided by B-mode examination and the vascular flow information provided by Doppler examination.

Compression elastography technique is based on the formation of strain (strain, displacement) in the compressed tissue. In hard tissues, displacement (strain) is less, while in soft tissues it is more. The displacement rates of the tissues are calculated by comparing the echo data obtained before and after the compression application. In compression elastography systems, the amount of pressure applied is indicated by an indicator on the screen.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization technique by compression elastography method on flexibility and thickness in gastrocnemius muscle and Achilles tendon in healthy individuals.