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. 2022 Dec 1;36(12):3339-3344.
doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004123. Epub 2021 Sep 1.

Comparison Between Foam Rolling With and Without Vibration on Passive and Active Plantar Flexor Muscle Properties

Affiliations

Comparison Between Foam Rolling With and Without Vibration on Passive and Active Plantar Flexor Muscle Properties

Masatoshi Nakamura et al. J Strength Cond Res. .

Abstract

Although foam rolling interventions with and without vibration have been used to increase flexibility in the field of sports, their effects on passive and active properties remain unclear. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the effects of foam rolling interventions on range of motion (ROM), shear elastic modulus, plantar flexor muscle strength, and jump performance. This randomized, controlled, crossover study included 16 healthy male participants who visited the laboratory three times (control condition, foam rolling condition, and vibration foam rolling condition), each with an interval of >72 h. In both foam rolling and vibration foam rolling conditions, participants were instructed to perform 60-s bouts of intervention for three sets, with 30-s rest between each set. In the vibration foam rolling condition, the intensity of vibration was set at a frequency of 48 Hz. Dorsiflexion (DF) ROM, shear elastic modulus, plantar flexor muscle strength, and drop jump height were determined before and after the rolling intervention. Our results showed a similar increase in DF ROM (p < 0.01, d = 0.51; p < 0.01, d = 0.65, respectively) and passive torque at DF ROM (p = 0.02, d = 0.51 and p < 0.01, d = 0.65, respectively) after foam rolling and vibration foam rolling. Medial gastrocnemius shear elastic modulus decreased only after vibration foam rolling (p < 0.01, d = 0.44). No significant main effects of time were observed in maximal voluntary isometric contraction torque (F = 2.0, p = 0.15, ηp2 = 0.119) and drop jump height (F = 1.5, p = 0.24, ηp2 = 0.091) after both interventions. Maximal voluntary concentric contraction torque showed a significant main effect of time (F = 7.59, p = 0.02, ηp2 = 0.336). However, only after foam rolling, the maximal voluntary concentric contraction torque significantly decreased (p = 0.01, d = 0.39). Our results suggest that vibration foam rolling effectively alters passive muscle properties without decreasing muscle strength and performance.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Flow chart of the study
Three measurements (foam rolling [FR] interventions without vibration. Vibration FR intervention, and control conditions) were conducted in random order with more than 72hours intervals.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Experimental set-up for passive stretching test
Fig. 3
Fig. 3. Foam rolling with and without vibration technique

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