Robert Schleip | Technical University of Munich (original) (raw)

Papers by Robert Schleip

PloS one, Feb 9, 2024

To investigate whether myofascial reorganization ® in the trapezius muscle (MRT) improves periphe... more To investigate whether myofascial reorganization ® in the trapezius muscle (MRT) improves peripheral muscle oxygenation and pain tolerance and decreases neck disability index (NDI) scores in individuals with and without nonspecific neck pain (NP) using a double-blind randomized controlled trial. Seventy-five subjects were equally and randomly assigned to three groups: the intervention groups (experimental [EG] and sham sSG]) and the control group (CG). Several inclusion criteria were applied to the intervention groups: male or female, aged 18-32 years, self-reported NP in the last 3 months without a defined cause; at least "soft" pain in session 1 of the NDI, and at least a score of 1 on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The CG was required to have NDI and VAS scores of 0 at recruitment. Intervention: The EG underwent MRT for 10 min, once a week for 6 weeks. Patients with NP in the SG underwent classical massage for the same duration and frequency. Patients in the CG had no pain and underwent no intervention. Data collection was performed using the NDI Questionnaire, a pressure algometer for pain evaluation, and near-infrared spectroscopy for muscle oxygenation measurements. It was registered as NCT03882515 at Clinical-Trials.gov. The NDI score in both the EG (p<0.001) and SG (p<0.001) decreased after 6 weeks of intervention compared to the CG. The CG demonstrated a lower basal tissue saturation (TSI) index than the EG (p<0.001) and SG (p = 0.02). The EG demonstrated higher oxyhemoglobin values than the SG (p<0.001) and CG (p = 0.03). The CG had higher pain tolerance than the EG (p = 0.01) and SG (p<0.001) post-intervention. MRT increased trapezius muscle oxygenation after 6 weeks of intervention.

Cureus, 2024

Introduction: Instrument-assisted manual therapy (IAMT) is suitable for optimizing movement prere... more Introduction: Instrument-assisted manual therapy (IAMT) is suitable for optimizing movement prerequisites, such as range of motion, flexibility, microcirculation, and pain inhibition along myofascial chains, potentially leading to a reduction in hamstring injuries. To date, however, IAMT's modes of action remain largely unclear. This study aimed to examine the functional and structural effects of repetitive IAMT after 2.5 and five weeks. Methods: Sixteen healthy female soccer players (age: 21.4 (±5.1) years) were randomly grouped into an intervention group and a placebo control group. The intervention group received nine IAMT sessions twice weekly at the right lumbar region. The placebo group received a single pressureless "therapy" at baseline. In addition to structural ultrasound analyses (absolute motion and shear motion), functional mobility tests (passive straight leg raise (PSLR) test and lumbar and thoracic double inclinometry) were performed 4.0 (±2.0) days after the fourth IAMT and 3.4 (±1.1) days after the ninth IAMT in both groups. Results: Hamstring flexibility in the PSLR test improved significantly after the ninth IAMT compared with the placebo group (p < 0.05, effect size: 0.913). No systematic differences were seen at the structural level. Conclusion: Repetitive IAMT can improve hamstring flexibility. Further studies in larger groups and diverse collectives are necessary to additionally test the postulated preventive effect also on hamstring injuries. Whether ultrasound is the right method for detecting structural changes in this context needs to be verified in the future.

Journal of Motor Behavior, 2014

For any given animal, the sources of mechanical dis- turbances inducing tissue deformation define... more For any given animal, the sources of mechanical dis- turbances inducing tissue deformation define environment from the perspective of the animal’s haptic perceptual system. The system’s achievements include perceiving the body, attachments to the body, and the surfaces and substances adjacent to the body. Among the perceptual systems, it stands alone in having no defined medium. There is no articulated functional equivalent to air and water, the media that make possible the energy transmissions and diffusions underpinning the other perceptual systems. To identify the haptic system’s medium the authors focus on connective tissue and the conjunction of muscular, connective tissue net, and skeletal (MCS) as the body’s proper characterization. The challenge is a biophysical formulation of MCS as a continuum that, similar to air and water, is homogeneous and isotropic. The authors hypothesized a multifrac- tal tensegrity (MFT) with the shape and stability of the constituents of each scale, from individual cell to whole body, derivative of con- tinuous tension and discontinuous compression. Each component tensegrity of MFT is an adjustive-receptive unit, and the array of tensions in MFT is information about MCS. The authors extend the MFT hypothesis to body-brain linkages, and to limb perception phe- nomena attendant to amputation, vibration, anesthesia, neuropathy, and microgravity.

Technical University of Munich, 2024

Possibility for Master's thesis or doctoral thesis etc. As part of an interdisciplinary research... more Possibility for Master's thesis or doctoral thesis etc.

As part of an interdisciplinary research project, we are looking for a motivated person on the topic of "Contraindications and potential risks of foam rolling - medical survey of various specialities"

Who are we?
We are an interdisciplinary working group made up of employees from various German universities and freelancers (see enclosed PDF).

What do we do?
We work on various topics in the field of 'fascia training/therapy'. Due to the composition of the group, we are able to analyse and accompany these topics from different scientific perspectives using qualitative and quantitative methods.

What do we offer?
As part of our working group, we offer interested individuals the opportunity to write a high-quality Master's thesis or to integrate this research project into a cumulative doctoral programme or a Postdoc phase. With the help of questionnaires and/or guided interviews, potential contraindications or danger signs of foam rolling will be investigated. Different medical circles from cardiologists to phlebologists and orthopaedic/trauma surgeons will be interviewed. The specific study design is to be developed jointly. The above-mentioned group sees itself as a scientific advisory board and provides support in all phases of the study.

Who are we looking for?
We are looking for a person with the following qualities/knowledge: - High personal motivation, commitment and ability to work in a team
- Completed Master's degree (but not yet a Master's thesis in the field of sports science, physiotherapy etc.)
- Focus on sports biology (e.g. anatomy, physiology)
- Knowledge of research methods and statistics
- Very good written and spoken German and English skills
- Interest in scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals
- Independent, responsible, structured and reliable way of working

Please send your letter of motivation and your CV in one pdf file by
as of 01.09.2024 to Prof. Dr Robert Schleip & Dr Gunda Slomka: fallberichte@fasciaresearch.net

CRC Press eBooks, Aug 20, 2020

Frontiers in Medicine, Jun 5, 2023

Background: Alterations in posture, lumbopelvic kinematics, and movement patterns are commonly se... more Background: Alterations in posture, lumbopelvic kinematics, and movement patterns are commonly seen in patients with low back pain. Therefore, strengthening the posterior muscle chain has been shown to result in significant improvement in pain and disability status. Recent studies suggest that thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) has a major impact on the maintenance of spinal stability and paraspinal muscle activity, and thus is likely to have an equal impact on deadlift performance. Objective: Aim of the study was to evaluate the role of thoracolumbar fascia deformation (TFLD) during spinal movement in track and field athletes (TF) as well as individuals with and without acute low back pain (aLBP). Methods: A case-control study was performed with n = 16 aLBP patients (cases) and two control groups: untrained healthy individuals (UH, n = 16) and TF (n = 16). Participants performed a trunk extension task (TET) and a deadlift, being assessed for erector spinae muscle thickness (EST) and TLFD using high-resolution ultrasound imaging. Mean deadlift velocity (VEL) and deviation of barbell path (DEV) were measured by means of a three-axis gyroscope. Group differences for TLFD during the TET were examined using ANOVA. Partial Spearman rank correlations were calculated between TLFD and VEL adjusting for baseline covariates, EST, and DEV. TLFD during deadlifting was compared between groups using ANCOVA adjusting for EST, DEV, and VEL. Results: TLFD during the TET differed significantly between groups. TF had the largest TLFD (−37.6%), followed by UH (−26.4%), while aLBP patients had almost no TLFD (−2.7%). There was a strong negative correlation between TLFD and deadlift VEL in all groups (r = −0.65 to −0.89) which was highest for TF (r = −0.89). TLFD during deadlift, corrected for VEL, also differed significantly between groups. TF exhibited the smallest TLFD (−11.9%), followed by aLBP patients (−21.4%), and UH (−31.9%). Conclusion: TFLD maybe a suitable parameter to distinguish LBP patients and healthy individuals during lifting tasks. The cause-effect triangle between spinal movement, TFLD and movement velocity needs to be further clarified.

Scientific Reports, Jan 16, 2023

Changes in the mechanical properties (i.e., stiffness) of soft tissues have been linked to muscul... more Changes in the mechanical properties (i.e., stiffness) of soft tissues have been linked to musculoskeletal disorders, pain conditions, and cancer biology, leading to a rising demand for diagnostic methods. Despite the general availability of different stiffness measurement tools, it is unclear as to which are best suited for different tissue types and the related measurement depths. The study aimed to compare different stiffness measurement tools' (SMT) reliability on a multi-layered phantom tissue model (MPTM). A polyurethane MPTM simulated the four layers of the thoracolumbar region: cutis (CUT), subcutaneous connective tissue (SCT), fascia profunda (FPR), and erector spinae (ERS), with varying stiffness parameters. Evaluated stiffness measurement tools included Shore Durometer, Semi-Electronic Tissue Compliance Meter (STCM), IndentoPRO, MyotonPRO, and ultrasound imaging. Measurements were made by two independent, blinded examiners. Shore Durometer, STCM, IndentoPRO, and MyotonPRO reliably detected stiffness changes in three of the four MPTM layers, but not in the thin (1 mm thick) layer simulating FPR. With ultrasound imaging, only stiffness changes in layers thicker than 3 mm could be measured reliably. Significant correlations ranging from 0.70 to 0.98 (all p < 0.01) were found. The interrater reliability ranged from good to excellent (ICC(2,2) = 0.75-0.98). The results are encouraging for researchers and clinical practitioners as the investigated stiffness measurement tools are easy-to-use and comparatively affordable. Low back pain is the leading cause of years lived with disability, burdening health care systems worldwide 1. Historically, soft tissues in general and the connective tissues of the thoracolumbar region in particular have received little attention when attempting to clarify the pathophysiological mechanisms of this condition. In recent years, however, research has shed light on the layered soft tissue structures of the low back and their biomechanical characteristics as they contribute to low back health 2-6. Soft tissue stiffness is a mechanical property, which is defined as a material's resistance to deformation 7. Changes in the mechanical properties of soft tissues have been linked to musculoskeletal disorders, injuries, pain conditions, and cancer biology, leading to a rising demand in diagnostic methods for research and clinical practice 2,8-13. However, little data exists to provide evidence-based recommendations for current stiffness measurement tools (SMT), requiring further research investigating their measurement properties 14,15. Prior research

The large dorsal fascia (thoracolumbar fascia) is connected to the adjacent muscles (erector spin... more The large dorsal fascia (thoracolumbar fascia) is connected to the adjacent muscles (erector spinae muscle). To date, it is not entirely clear how these structures affect each other in low back pain. Most studies try to find a linear correlation between the tissues, which does not always correspond to living conditions, as there may be a time lag between cause and effect. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate possible correlations even if such time lags exist. The results showed that fascia affects muscle activity in patients with acute low back pain, but not in healthy control subjects. It also showed that it is the fascia that influences the muscle and not vice versa. We hypothesize that this relationship occurs because of adhesions and loss of shear capacity of the tissue layers. Understanding these relationships could help develop further therapies to target this pathology.

Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 2023

Research Square (Research Square), Sep 12, 2022

Life, Jun 10, 2022

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY

Cureus, Sep 12, 2022

Background Recent work has examined an association between leg length discrepancy (LLD) and low b... more Background Recent work has examined an association between leg length discrepancy (LLD) and low back pain (LBP). Myofascial release (MFR) techniques are thought to be frequently applied in the treatment of chronic and acute LBP. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a practical measure of LLD and the feasibility of an MFR technique in a randomised controlled trial (RCT). Methods In 12 subjects (seven women and five men) with acute LBP and LLD greater than 3 mm, an MFR technique was performed on the thoracolumbar fascia. At the baseline, after the intervention, and at follow-up, LLD was measured using a cross-line laser and finger-to-floor distance, and the pain was measured with a visual analogue scale (VAS). Patients completed a questionnaire after follow-up to assess the acceptability of the study procedure. The therapist evaluated the methods in terms of their feasibility. Results LLD measurement and MFR treatment required little time and few resources. Participants agreed to the study procedure with moderate to high acceptance. The LLD decreased by 5 mm after treatment and by 4 mm at follow-up. The VAS showed a reduction in pain of 17.50 mm at follow-up but not immediately after treatment. Conclusion The measurement of LLD is applicable in daily osteopathic practice, but it cannot be assumed to be a valid method for an RCT. Validated methods such as video raster stereography are, therefore, recommended. Comprehensive RCTs to study the effects of MFR intervention on leg length are feasible.

Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 2019

Journal of Clinical Medicine, Nov 17, 2021