The effect of myofascial relaxation exercises on lower limb performance in girl volleyball players

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of myofascial release exercises on lower extremity performance in young female volleyball players. A total of 56 female volleyball players, aged 12–14 years, who were actively involved in sports clubs affiliated with the Burdur Provincial Directorate of Youth and Sports, participated in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 28) or a control group (n = 28). During the eight-week intervention, the experimental group performed myofascial release exercises three times per week using a foam roller, targeting the quadriceps, hip adductor muscles, pectoral muscles, latissimus dorsi, iliotibial band, gastroknemius, hamstrings, and gluteal muscles. The control group continued only their regular volleyball training during the same period. Data were collected at two time points—pre- and post-intervention. Flexibility was assessed using the sit-and-reach test, muscular endurance with the 1-minute sit-to-stand test, explosive power with vertical jump and standing long jump tests, balance with the Y-balance test, agility with the Illinois agility test, and speed with the 30-meter sprint test. ANOVA and Mann Whitney U test were used for repeated measures within and between groups. The results indicated that the mean age of participants was 13.21 ± 0.77 years. Post-intervention, the experimental group demonstrated significant improvements compared to the control group in the 1-minute sit-to-stand test, vertical jump, standing long jump, Illinois agility test, 30-meter sprint, and Y-balance test (p <0.05). In the sit-and-reach test, although a statistically significant improvement was observed in the experimental group, the between-group difference was not significant. In conclusion, myofascial release exercises produced positive effects on lower extremity performance in young female athletes, particularly in explosive power, balance, agility, and muscular endurance.