Treatment of scalene muscles with the Ergon technique can lead to greater improvement in hip abduction range of motion than local hip adductor treatment: a study on deep front line connectivity

[Purpose] This study aimed to investigate the effects of Ergon(® )instrument-assisted softtissue mobilization of the upper and lower midpoints of the Deep Front Line (DFL) on hip abduction range of motion (ROM). [Participants and Methods] Forty healthy adults (29.3 ± 6.3 years; height: 175.8 ± 7.4 cm; weight: 77.2 ± 9.2 kg) were randomly divided into two groups and received a single 15-minute Ergon treatment in the upper midpoint (scalene muscles) and the lower midpoint of the DFL (hip adductors) on their dominant side. The non-dominant hip served as a control. Pre-and post-therapy active and passive hip abduction ROM at 0° and 90° flexion was examined using a goniometer. [Results] In both experimental groups, active and passive hip abduction ROM on the treated side improved significantly compared to the control side. Scalene treatment led to significantly greater improvement in active hip abduction ROM at 0° and 90° and in passive ROM at 90° compared to local hip adductor treatment. [Conclusion] The application of the Ergon technique on remote parts of the DFL may lead to a significant increase in hip abduction ROM compared to local hip adductors treatment.