Acute effects of tissue flossing versus neuromuscular electrical stimulation of the quadriceps femoris muscle on improving vertical jump performance

Abstract

The vertical jump (VJ) is a significant component of various sports, with an improvement potentially improving match performance. Tissue flossing (TF) and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) are methods purported to improve functional performance, but research on the effects of an acute bout on the quadriceps femoris and VJ performance is lacking. This study aimed to compare and assess the acute effects of a bout of TF or NMES of the quadriceps femoris to improve VJ performance. The evidence generated adds to current knowledge regarding the acute effects and effectiveness of TF and NMES on VJ. 20 male basketball players (aged 23.45 ± 2.13) participated in this randomized crossover study. Participants were exposed to an acute bout of either TF or NMES on two separate sessions. Countermovement jump (CMJ) height was recorded as the pre-test and post-test measure. A repeated measures ANOVA indicated that mean CMJ differed statistically significantly between conditions (F(2, 38) = 47.045, p < .001, η2 = .712). Mean CMJ increased post-TF (69.71 ± 6.50 cm) by 1.81cm, but decreased by 1.13cm post-NMES (66.77 ± 6.43 cm). Post hoc analysis with a Bonferroni adjustment revealed significant differences in CMJ between pre-test, post-TF, and post-NMES. The results of this study suggested that TF is a valid intervention to improve VJ performance acutely, but NMES should be combined with other training methods for potential gains. More studies are necessary to further investigate the time course effects of these interventions and the optimal NMES parameters.