Effect of Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization on Ankle of Range of Motion and Balance in Older Women: A Preliminary Study

OBJECTIVES This study aims to investigate the effects of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) on ankle range of motion (ROM) and balance in older women. METHODS The 20 older women with a history of falls participated in the study, and the study subjects were randomly divided into the IASTM group (n=10) and control group (n=10). RESULTS There were no significant interactions between group and time for ankle ROM and functional reach after 8 weeks of IASTM on older women (P>0.05). Meanwhile, there were significant interactions between group and time for one-leg standing and star excursion balance (P<0.05), and in particular, the IASTM group had greater improvements compared to the control group. CONCLUSION In conclusion, the regular application of IASTM has been shown to improve the balance of older women with a history of falls.