Tensor Fasciae Latae, Gluteus Minimus and Vastus Lateralis Vibration Release

Key Practical Points from Effects on Local Vibration

• Pre-exercise local vibration reduces functional signs and chemical markers of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and may improve performance in subsequent frequent workouts.
• Local vibration is effective for reducing acute muscle pain (and can be added to a home program via the devices like the Hypervolt by Hyperice® or similar devices).
• Local vibration alone may be sufficient to increase strength in deconditioned muscles/individuals.
• Current research implies that adding vibration to self-administered release techniques (SMR) (e.g. foam rolling) enhances benefits for DOMS, pain pressure sensitivity, and increasing proprioception. Further research is needed to refine protocols and determine whether adding vibration to SMR enhances benefits for increasing range of motion and improving power performance when used as a warm-up.

Protocol for Using Percussion Massage Device

1. Start with a higher setting and superficially (with gentle pressure) trace the entire surface of the muscle.
   • Setting 3 is likely appropriate for the lower body.
2. Take a mental note of dense or sensitive points. Manual therapists may use the opposite hand to palpate for taut bands and nodules (trigger points).
   • Stay away from areas where the bone is superficial. Using percussion massage devices over bone may be uncomfortable, painful, and/or cause bruising. Placing a finger or thumb over bony protuberances will prevent accidental contact.
3. Using a piece with a smaller surface area and lower setting (setting 1), return to the dense/sensitive points using deeper compression.
   • It may be helpful to add tension or slack by shortening or lengthening the target tissue
4. The Brookbush Institute recommends 30 seconds to 2 minutes per muscle group, and 5 minutes as an upper limit even in the case of multiple trigger points.

Best Body Position:

• Hook-lying (knees and hips slightly flexed) on side.

Bony Areas: (Block with a thumb or finger when approaching these areas)

• Iliac spine
• Greater trochanter
• Lateral femoral condyle

Muscles:

• Tensor fascia lata (TFL) is a superficial muscle located on the anterior portion of the lateral pelvis. The majority of the TFL is located in a triangle-shaped area with borders from the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) to the greater trochanter, from the greater trochanter to the iliac crest along the mid-axillary line, and the top of the iliac crest from the mid-axillary line to the ASIS.
  • Common trigger point: In the middle of the triangle; middle of the belly of the TFL .
• Gluteus minimus is located deep and posterior to the TFL , just superior/proximal to the greater trochanter.
  • Common trigger points: Superior to the greater trochanter.
• Vastus lateralis is a superficial muscle that encompasses the entire lateral portion of the thigh, distal to the greater trochanter. To ensure your palpation has not drifted too far posterior, you may test your palpation using resisted knee flexion to initiate contraction of the biceps femoris , or resisted knee extension to initiate contraction of the vastus lateralis .
  • Common trigger point: A few inches from the knee, or close to the middle of the length of the muscle.