Experience in the use of tissue flossing for the prevention and treatment of muscle cramps

Introduction. Cramps are sudden, involuntary, painful tonic muscle spasms of individual muscles or muscle groups lasting from several seconds to several minutes. It occurs in patients of different age categories with a frequency of up to 37 %. Tissue flossing (flossing, voodoo flossing) is an effect on the musculature, tendons, fascia (myofascial structures) of the extremities with the help of a special elastic band circularly wound on the limb, and subsequent physical exercises in this condition in order to improve blood circulation in the limb segment, increase tissue mobility, elasticity and extensibility of muscle-fascial structures. Tissue flossing can help to increase the volume of movements in the joints, reduce pain and increase flexibility.

The aim to study the effects of tissue flossing on the frequency and intensity of manifestations of cramps. Materials and methods. The publication was based on the materials obtained during the observation of 7 patients with cramps. The aggressive nature of the muscle spasms forced them to seek medical help. In order to assess the effect on the frequency and intensity of cramps, patients underwent circular winding of an elastic band on a limb segment (tissue flossing) in which cramps occurred, followed by physical exercises (mainly flexion and extension at a pace of one movement per second) without additional load (with their weight) for 1 minute. Then the elastic band was removed and the patient continued to perform the same movements also for a minute with a frequency of one movement per second. Patients performed exercises 1-2 times a day for 5-14 days.

Results. In five out of seven patients, cramps did not resume after the first use of tissue flossing. In two of the seven patients, cramps stopped after 7 days of exercise use. At follow-up in one (out of seven) patients, cramps resumed 2 months after the use of tissue flossing, but with a lower intensity. In the other six (out of seven) patients in the subsequent follow-up period (from 14 days to 6 months), cramps did not resume.

Conclusion. According to the preliminary results of observations, it can be assumed that the tissue flossing method is effective for preventing cramps of various genesis as an independent and additional method of treatment.

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