Acute effects of calf tissue flossing on ankle range of motion and performance: A randomized sham-controlled trial

OpenAlex İngilizce

Tissue flossing has become a popular “quick” intervention in sports physiotherapy to enhance joint mobility acutely, yet evidence for calf-focused applications and whether mobility changes translate to unilateral performance is still limited. The aim of the study was to examine the immediate effects of calf tissue flossing on ankle dorsiflexion (DF) and plantarflexion (PF) range of motion (ROM), and on single-leg jump height. In a randomized, sham-controlled design, 24 healthy, physically active young adults were allocated to an active floss band group (n=12) or a sham floss band group (n=12). Participants received a single, standardized calf flossing application (active: 50% overlap and 1.5 times stretch for 2 minutes; sham: same wrap pattern with minimal tension). Outcomes (ankle PF ROM, ankle DF ROM, and single-leg jump height) were assessed pre-intervention, 2 minutes after band removal, and 15 minutes after band removal. Ankle dorsiflexion ROM increased over time (time main effect, p < .05), but the group × time interaction was not significant; therefore, the active floss band did not demonstrate statistical superiority over the sham/movement-control condition. Plantarflexion ROM and single-leg jump height did not change significantly in either group. Descriptively, dorsiflexion change scores were slightly larger in the active group at 2 min and 15 min, but these values should be interpreted cautiously. A single calf flossing bout may be considered a brief warm-up adjunct for short-term dorsiflexion mobility, but it was not superior to sham wrapping and did not improve single-leg jump performance within 15 minutes.