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. 2018 Jun 8;4(1):26.
doi: 10.1186/s40798-018-0141-4.

The Effect of Foam Rolling for Three Consecutive Days on Muscular Efficiency and Range of Motion

Lewis J Macgregor  1 , Malcolm M Fairweather  2 , Ryan M Bennett  3 , Angus M Hunter  3
Affiliations

The Effect of Foam Rolling for Three Consecutive Days on Muscular Efficiency and Range of Motion

Lewis J Macgregor et al. Sports Med Open. .

Abstract

Background: Foam rolling (FR) has been shown to alleviate some symptoms of exercise-induced muscle damage and has been suggested to increase range of motion (ROM) without negatively impacting strength. However, it is unclear what neuromuscular effects, if any, mediate these changes.

Methods: In a randomized, crossover design, 16 healthy active males completed 2 min of rest or FR of the knee extensors on three consecutive days. Mechanical properties of vastus lateralis (VL) and rectus femoris (RF) were assessed via Tensiomyography. Knee extension maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and knee flexion ROM were also assessed, and surface electromyography amplitude (RMS) was recorded during a submaximal isometric contraction (50% of MVC). Measures were performed before and after (0, 15, and 30 min) FR or rest.

Results: MVC was reduced on subsequent days in the rest condition compared to FR (p = 0.002, pη2 = 0.04); ROM was not different across time or condition (p = 0.193, pη2 = 0.01). Stiffness characteristics of the VL were different on the third day of FR (p = 0.002, pη2 = 0.03). RMS was statistically reduced 0, 15, and 30 min after FR compared to rest (p = 0.006, pη2 = 0.03; p = 0.003, pη2 = 0.04; p = 0.002, pη2 = 0.04).

Conclusions: Following FR, MVC was elevated compared to rest and RMS was transiently reduced during a submaximal task. Excitation efficiency of the involved muscles may have been enhanced by FR, which protected against the decline in MVC which was observed with rest.

Keywords: Electromyography; Maximal voluntary contraction; Self-massage; Tensiomyography.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

The study was performed in accordance with the standards set by the latest revision of the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the University of Stirling Sports Studies Ethics Committee. Volunteers provided written consent, having been informed of any potential risks involved in their participation.

Competing Interests

Lewis J Macgregor, Malcolm M Fairweather, Ryan M Bennett and Angus M Hunter declare that they have no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Timeline of the experimental design. TMG = tensiomyography; ROM = range of motion; MVC = maximal voluntary contraction; 50-MVC = 50% of maximal voluntary contraction; FR = foam rolling
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
a Positioning of electrodes and displacement sensor for tensiomyography measurement (rectus femoris). b Typical displacement/time curve of the tensiomyographic signal pre- and 30-min post-foam rolling. FR = foam rolling; Dm = muscle displacement; Vc = contraction velocity
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
A participant performing self-massage using the foam roller
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Maximal isometric voluntary contraction (MVC) of the knee extensors in the control (Rest) and intervention (FR) conditions. Values are mean ± SD, n = 16. *Statistically significant within condition differences, p < 0.001. #Statistically significant difference between conditions, p < 0.001. FR = foam rolling
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Change in normalized RMS (a 0–6, b 12–18, and c 24–30 s) from pre- to 30-min post-treatment in the control (Rest) and intervention (FR) conditions. Values are mean ± SD, n = 16. #Statistically significant difference between conditions, p < 0.01; ##Statistically significant difference between conditions, p < 0.001. FR = foam rolling; EMG RMS = electromyography root mean squared
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Maximal radial displacement (Dm) of vastus lateralis (VL) muscle belly. Values are mean ± SD, n = 16. #Statistically significant difference between conditions, p < 0.001. FR = foam rolling; Dm = muscle displacement
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