APPLICATION OF A QUESTIONNAIRE TO EVALUATE THE EFFECT OF MYOFASCIAL RELEASE ON THE FOOT HEALTH OF RECREATIONAL RUNNERS: RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL

• Grant number: 25/00050-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Sílvia Maria Amado João
• Grantee: João Vítor de Oliveira Siqueira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Running is a sport that has become popular due to its benefits, such as improving aerobic capacity and quality of life, although it can lead to musculoskeletal injuries, especially in the ankle and foot, due to intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Among the conservative treatment modalities for injuries such as plantar fasciitis, myofascial release has stood out for reducing pain and improving foot functionality. However, there is a lack of studies evaluating its short-term effects in recreational runners. Objectives: The present study aims to compare the health status of the feet, before, at the end and one month after the treatment of the therapeutic effect of myofascial release by means of a qualitative and quantitative questionnaire for functionality and health of the feet of recreational runners. Methodology: 100 recreational runners of both sexes, aged between 20 and 55 years old, with at least six months of running experience and who run at least 20 km per week will be evaluated. These runners must have pain in the forefoot, midfoot or hindfoot, with a visual analogue scale (VAS) score equal to or greater than three. The runners will be randomly allocated into two groups: the myofascial release intervention group (GIL=50), which will receive the technique bilaterally for 40 minutes, twice a week for 4 weeks; and the control group (GC=50), which will receive no intervention. The scholarship holder in charge will be responsible for applying the FHSQ-br questionnaire digitally via Google Meet, collecting and organizing the data in question. The questionnaire will be applied at three different times: before the start of the intervention, during treatment (after 30 days), and 30 days after the end of treatment. The questionnaire will assess aspects such as pain, impact on foot functionality, general health conditions and interference with daily activities, as well as demographic and health data.