Acute effects of myofascial release and static stretching on handgrip strength in jiu-jitsu fighters

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the techniques of myofascial release and static stretching on the handgrip strength of jiu-jitsu fighters. Ten jiu-jitsu athletes (age 29.9 ± 7.4 years; height 1.74 ± 0.06 m; body mass 77.50 ± 9.89 kg; BMI 25.63 ± 2.13 kg/m2) from an academy in the Lagos Region, RJ, Brazil, participated in this study. Left handgrip strength (LHS) and right handgrip strength (RHS) were analyzed through a dynamometer. Participants underwent manual myofascial release, myofascial release with suction cups, and maximum static stretching. The techniques were applied in three days with an interval of 1 week each, with random drawing, on the day of the intervention. No significant differences were found between the measurements of the dynamometry values after the manual myofascial release and myofascial release with suction cups; however, the handgrip measures concerning the static stretching were reduced (LHS: p < 0.001; RHS: p = 0.002). It was observed that the technique of maximum static stretching showed a significant reduction in the left handgrip strength (Δ% LHS) when compared to the manual myofascial release (p = 0.004) and the myofascial release with suction cups (p = 0.049). There were no significant differences between the myofascial release techniques. Myofascial release did not affect handgrip strength. However, the use of maximum static stretching showed a reduction in handgrip strength in the non-dominant hand of the jiu-jitsu fighters.