Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2009 May;4(2):70-82.

Using rolling to develop neuromuscular control and coordination of the core and extremities of athletes

Using rolling to develop neuromuscular control and coordination of the core and extremities of athletes

Barbara J Hoogenboom et al. N Am J Sports Phys Ther. 2009 May.

Abstract

Rolling is a movement pattern seldom used by physical therapists for assessment and intervention with adult clientele with normal neurologic function. Rolling, as an adult motor skill, combines the use of the upper extremities, core, and lower extremities in a coordinated manner to move from one posture to another. Rolling is accomplished from prone to supine and supine to prone, although the method by which it is performed varies among adults. Assessment of rolling for both the ability to complete the task and bilateral symmetry may be beneficial for use with athletes who perform rotationally-biased sports such as golf, throwing, tennis, and twisting sports such as dance, gymnastics, and figure skating. Additionally, when used as intervention techniques, the rolling patterns have the ability to affect dysfunction of the upper quarter, core, and lower quarter. By applying proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) principles, the therapist may assist patients and clients who are unable to complete a rolling pattern. Examples given in the article include distraction/elongation, compression, and manual contacts to facilitate proper rolling. The combined experience of the four authors is used to describe techniques for testing, assessment, and treatment of dysfunction, using case examples that incorporate rolling. The authors assert that therapeutic use of the developmental pattern of rolling with techniques derived from PNF is a hallmark in rehabilitation of patients with neurologic dysfunction, but can be creatively and effectively utilized in musculoskeletal rehabilitation.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Seated rotation test used to identify thoracolumbar rotational mobility. Begin in a seated position with knees and feet together, body upright and erect, arms crossed across the chest, while maintaining a gaze to the front. Ask patient to rotate the trunk to the right and to the left as far as possible. Examine for asymmetry by measuring with a goniometer. Normal is 30° bilaterally.
Figure 2A.
Figure 2A.
Example mobility technique for lower thoracic rotation, note pelvic position to ensure locking of lumbar segments. Therapist can use an interlocked arm to assist patient into rotation.
Figure 2B.
Figure 2B.
Example mobility technique for upper thoracic rotation. Again, note pelvic position to ensure locking of lumbar segments.
Figure 3A.
Figure 3A.
(Left) Diagonal axes of rotation shown in supine, and beginning position for supine to prone rolling.
Figure 3B.
Figure 3B.
(Right) Diagonal axes of rotation shown in prone, and beginning position for prone to supine rolling.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Intermediate position for rolling supine to prone, leading with left upper extremity.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Intermediate position for rolling prone to supine, leading with left upper extremity, with therapist placed in visual field for cueing, also using auditory cueing by snapping fingers.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Intermediate position for rolling prone to supine, leading with right upper extremity, using manual contact on scapula for facilitation.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
Intermediate position for rolling prone to supine, leading with right lower extremity, using manual contact to the pelvis for facilitation.
Figure 8.
Figure 8.
Quadruped with tubing to facilitate scapular control/stability.
Figure 9.
Figure 9.
Quadruped with tubing to facilitate core/scapular/pelvic stability.
Figure 10.
Figure 10.
Assisted rolling supine to prone, left upper extremity led. Note the use of a half foam roll behind the trunk for assistance.
Figure 11.
Figure 11.
Sidelying hip abduction with core resistance. Note that tube is anchored to bottom lower extremity and also anchored at top of door height. During the exercise the trunk is held stabilized in sidelying while upper extremities perform the lift pattern.
Figure 12.
Figure 12.
Side plank with lower extremity abduction.
Figure 13A.
Figure 13A.
Start position for “Starfish 1” pattern, used for training of supine to prone rolling, leading with the lower extremity. Note tubing loops have been placed around both feet; with the length of the band around both upper extremities. To start, the lead hip is flexed, abducted, and slightly internally rotated while the knee is flexed. The rolling movement is initiated by extending, adducting, and externally rotating the hip while extending the knee. Note that the patient is concurrently elongating the opposite lower extremity (axis lower extremity) against the tubing.
Figure 13B.
Figure 13B.
Intermediate position “Starfish 1.” Patient will finish in the prone position with all four extremities extended and slightly abducted.
Figure 14A.
Figure 14A.
Start position for “Starfish 2” pattern, used for training of prone to supine rolling, leading with the lower extremity. Tubing placed as described previously, the lead leg then is flexed, abducted, and externally rotated. The rolling movement is initiated by extending, adducting, and internally rotating the hip, while extending the knee. Note that the patient is concurrently elongating the opposite lower extremity (axis lower extremity) against the tubing.
Figure 14B.
Figure 14B.
Intermediate position “Starfish 2” pattern. Patient will finish in the supine position with all four extremities slightly abducted.

References

    1. Cech DJ, Martin S. Functional Movement Development Across the Lifespan, 2nd Edition Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders; 2002
    1. Piper MC, Darrah J. Motor Assessment of the Developing Infant. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders; 1994
    1. Adler SS, Beckers D, Buck M. PNF in Practice: An Illustrated Guide. New York, NY: Springer; 2007
    1. Voss DE, Ionta MK, Myers BJ. Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation. Patterns and Techniques. Philadelphia, PA: Harper & Row Publishers; 1985
    1. Hall CM, Thein-Brody LM. Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, in: Therapeutic Exercise: Moving Toward Function, 2nd edition.Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2004

LinkOut - more resources