Fascial Manipulation in Physiotherapy of Young Active Football Players: A Comprehensive Case Series
Jana Korcova* and Nada Durisova
ABSTRACT
Background: Fascia is a continuous three-dimensional connective tissue network that plays a crucial role in force transmission, proprioception,movement coordination, and pain modulation. Fascial dysfunctions and densifications are increasingly recognized as contributing factors to
musculoskeletal pain and movement disorders, particularly in athletic populations [1,2].
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of fascial manipulation in reducing pain and improving functional outcomes in young football players with lower limb musculoskeletal disorders.
Methods: A prospective case series included ten male football players aged 12–17 years presenting with chronic or post-traumatic lower limb pain. All participants underwent a standardized fascial manipulation protocol based on the Anatomy Trains concept and the Fascial
Manipulation® method [3,4]. Pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) before and after therapy. Active range of motion and functional movement quality were evaluated clinically. Descriptive statistics were applied.
Results: Mean VAS scores decreased from 7.0 ± 0.9 at baseline to 2.4 ± 0.8 after the intervention. All participants demonstrated improvements in joint range of motion, muscle function, and subjective movement control. No adverse events were reported.
Conclusion: Fascial manipulation appears to be a promising non-invasive physiotherapeutic approach for pain reduction and functional improvement in adolescent football players. Further randomized controlled studies with larger samples are required to confirm these findings.
