Local and non-local effects of foam rolling on passive soft tissue properties and spinal excitability

  • In sports and clinical settings, roller massage (RM) interventions are used to acutely increase range of motion (ROM); however, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Apart from changes in soft tissue properties (i.e., reduced passive stiffness), neurophysiological alterations such as decreased spinal excitability have been described. However, to date, no study has investigated both jointly. The purpose of this trial was to examine RM’s effects on neurophysiological markers and passive tissue properties of the plantar flexors in the treated (ROLL) and non-treated (NO- ROLL) leg. Fifteen healthy individuals (23 ± 3 years, eight females) performed three unilateral 60-s bouts of calf RM. This procedure was repeated four times on separate days to allow independent assessments of the following outcomes without reciprocal interactions: dorsiflexion ROM, passive torque during passive dorsiflexion, shear elastic modulus of the medial gastrocnemius muscle, and spinal excitability. Following RM, dorsiflexion ROM increased in both ROLL (+19.7%) and NO-ROLL (+13.9%). Similarly, also passive torque at dorsiflexion ROM increased in ROLL (+15.0%) and NO-ROLL (+15.2%). However, there were no significant changes in shear elastic modulus and spinal excitability (p > 0.05). Moreover, significant correlations were observed between the changes in DF ROM and passive torque at DF ROM in both ROLL and NO-ROLL. Changes in ROM after RM appear to be the result of sensory changes (e.g., passive torque at DF ROM), affecting both rolled and non-rolled body regions. Thus, therapists and exercise professionals may consider applying remote treatments if local loading is contraindicated.

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Author:Masatoshi Nakamura, Andreas Konrad, Ryosuke Kiyono, Shigeru Sato, Kaoru Yahata, Riku Yoshida, Koki Yasaka, Yuta Murakami, Futaba Sanuki, Jan WilkeORCiDGND
URN:urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-620226
DOI:https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.702042
ISSN:1664-042X
Parent Title (English):Frontiers in physiology
Publisher:Frontiers Research Foundation
Place of publication:Lausanne
Document Type:Article
Language:English
Date of Publication (online):2021/06/25
Date of first Publication:2021/06/25
Publishing Institution:Universitätsbibliothek Johann Christian Senckenberg
Release Date:2022/01/11
Tag:H/M ratio
cross-transfer effect; dorsiflexion range of motion; roller massage; shear elastic modulus
Volume:12
Issue:art. 702042
Page Number:9
First Page:1
Last Page:9
Note:
This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI with grant number 19K19890 (MN), and the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) project P 32078-B (AK).
HeBIS-PPN:490812821
Institutes:Psychologie und Sportwissenschaften
Dewey Decimal Classification:6 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / 61 Medizin und Gesundheit / 610 Medizin und Gesundheit
7 Künste und Unterhaltung / 79 Sport, Spiele, Unterhaltung / 790 Freizeitgestaltung, darstellende Künste, Sport
Sammlungen:Universitätspublikationen
Licence (German):License LogoCreative Commons - Namensnennung 4.0