Effects of Foam Rolling on the Plantar Flexors' Properties

May 14, 2024 updated by: Jeam Marcel Geremia, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

Acute Effects of Different Foam Rolling Protocols on the Plantar Flexors' Musculotendinous Properties in Healthy Individuals

Self-massage is a set of therapeutic techniques performed by the individual using instruments such as a foam roller (i.e., foam rolling [FR]). This technique has been used in rehabilitation to recover myofascial dysfunctions and in physical/sports training, to improve performance in functional and sports activities. Possible changes in the muscle's and tendon's mechanical properties may help to explain the FR effects, however, the dose-response relationship is not clear acutely. Furthermore, body composition also seems to influence the pressure applied to the different tissues during FR, since it can attenuate the forces applied on the tissues. Therefore, the aim of this study is to verify the acute effects of different FR volumes on the plantar flexors' musculotendinous properties in healthy individuals. Twenty healthy subjects (male and female) aged between 18-35 years will perform three different FR conditions: FR90 (3x30s), FR180 (3x60s), and a control condition (CTRL; without the application of any intervention) with a seven-day wash-out period. The Achilles tendon morphological, mechanical, and material properties, medial gastrocnemius passive muscular stiffness, plantar flexors' muscle architecture, and the adipose tissue's thickness, skin temperature and the jump height (assessed during the unilateral countermovement jump) will be obtained. Assessments will be carried out before and immediately after the FR application in the different conditions. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, and standard error) will be used to present the results. The normality and sphericity of the data will be evaluated using the Shapiro-Wilk and Mauchly tests, respectively. A two-way ANOVA (condition [FR90, FR180, and CTRL] and moments [pre- and post-intervention]) will be used to compare the results. A post-hoc Bonferroni test will be used to find possible differences. A Pearson product-moment correlation test (parametric data) or a Spearman correlation test (non-parametric data) will be used to verify the association between the adipose tissue's thickness and the evaluated parameters. The effect size (Cohen's d) of each condition will be obtained. Responsiveness to conditions (FR90, FR180, and CTRL) will be determined using the typical error.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Self-massage is a set of therapeutic technique performed by the individual using instruments such as a foam roller (i.e., foam rolling [FR]). This technique has been used in rehabilitation to recover myofascial dysfunctions and in physical/sports training, to improve performance in functional and sports activities. Possible changes in the muscle's and tendon's mechanical properties may help to explain the FR effects. Although some studies have found a decreased muscle stiffness after FR intervention, other studies have reported no changes in muscle stiffness. Furthermore, a single study investigated the FR effects on the tendon and found no stiffness changes post-intervention. The between-studies methodological procedures heterogeneity, especially the different FR protocols (e.g., pressure-volume) may partially justify conflicting results. However, the dose-response relationship is not clear acutely. Furthermore, body composition also seems to influence the pressure applied to the different tissues during FR. Therefore, the aim of this study is to verify the acute effects of different FR volumes on the plantar flexors' musculotendinous properties in healthy individuals. Twenty healthy subjects (male and female) aged between 18-35 years will perform three different FR conditions: FR90 (3x30s), FR180 (3x60s), and a control condition (CTRL; without the application of any intervention) with a seven-day wash-out period. The weight-bearing during the FR application will be obtained through ground reaction forces, measured through force platform. The Achilles tendon morphological properties (length and cross-sectional area) will be evaluated using ultrasonography. In order to evaluate the mechanical (stiffness, force, and elongation) and material (Young's modulus, stress, and strain) properties, three maximum voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC) will be performed in a plantar flexion ramp in the isokinetic dynamometer with ultrasonography. The tendon force will be corrected by the tibialis anterior coactivation and adjusted by the tendon displacement caused by joint rotation during MVIC. The tendon elongation will be monitored during CMVIC using the ultrasound. The medial gastrocnemius muscle stiffness will be calculated by the variation in a passive dorsiflexion torque (isokinetic dynamometer) and the variation in the muscle length (ultrasound). The adipose tissue's thickness also will be obtained from ultrasound. The skin temperature will be evaluated by a thermographic camera to investigate possible post-intervention changes. The unilateral countermovement jump performance will be evaluated by 2D kinematic data measurements, using a video camera. Assessments will be carried out before and immediately after the FR application in the different conditions. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, and standard error) will be used to present the results. The normality and sphericity of the data will be evaluated using the Shapiro-Wilk and Mauchly tests, respectively. A two-way ANOVA (condition [FR90, FR180, and CTRL] and moments [pre- and post-intervention]) will be used to compare the results. A post-hoc Bonferroni test will be used to localize possible differences. A Pearson product-moment correlation test (parametric data) or a Spearman correlation test (non-parametric data) will be used to verify the association between the adipose tissue's thickness on the evaluated parameters, classified as none (0.0), weak (0.1-0.3), moderate (0.4-0.6), strong (0.7-0.9), or perfect (1.0). The effect size (Cohen's d) of each condition will be obtained, classified as small effect size (< 0.20); moderate effect size (0.20-0.50); or large effect size (>0.80). Responsiveness to conditions (FR90, FR180, and CTRL) will be determined using the typical error.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
20

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Brazil
    • RS
      • Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
        • Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 35 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Both male and female;
  • Age between 18 and 35 years;
  • Not involved in strength training for lower limbs;
  • Not using foam rolling regularly;
  • Only women using hormonal contraceptive pills will be included in order to standardize the hormonal cycle.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History in the last year of musculoskeletal injuries in the lower limbs that represent a contraindication for the execution of maximum exercises or that may interfere with performance during evaluations and treatment sessions (Achilles tendinopathy, ligament ruptures with or without surgical procedures, recent cases of muscle injury or sprain of ankle);
  • Presenting with inflammation, acute pain or delayed muscle pain on the day of assessment;
  • Performing some type of high-intensity physical activity for up to 72 hours before assessments;
  • Ingestion of some type of analgesic medication, alcohol or caffeine in the last 48 hours before the evaluations;
  • Have respiratory or cardiovascular conditions considered a risk factor or limiting to maximum tests;
  • Use of anabolic steroid supplements.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Foam rolling (longer volume)
Participants will perform a single session with a longer foam rolling volume. The protocol will be 3 sets of 60 seconds, with between-sets intervals of 30 seconds and a standardized command to the participant to perform the highest pressure possible. The speed will be controlled through metronome (30 bpm). The foam rolling will be performed with the foam roller placed under the plantar flexors and Achilles tendon in a sitting position, with hands supported to the ground, keeping the body out of contact with the ground, with the unassessed leg crossed above the leg of interest. A standard device (smooth foam roller) with dimensions of 30 cm x 15 cm will be used.
Device: Foam rolling (longer volume)
A single intervention will be performed (3 sets of 60 seconds, with between-sets intervals of 30 seconds).
Active Comparator: Foam rolling (shorter volume)
Participants will perform a single session with a shorter foam rolling volume. The protocol will be 3 sets of 30 seconds, with between-sets intervals of 30 seconds and a standardized command to the participant to perform the highest pressure possible. The speed will be controlled through metronome (30 bpm). The foam rolling will be performed with the foam roller placed under the plantar flexors and Achilles tendon in a sitting position, with hands supported to the ground, keeping the body out of contact with the ground, with the unassessed leg crossed above the leg of interest. A standard device (smooth foam roller) with dimensions of 30 cm x 15 cm will be used.
Device: Foam rolling (shorter volume)
A single intervention will be performed (3 sets of 30 seconds, with between-sets intervals of 30 seconds).
No Intervention: Control condition
Participants will remain in the intervention position (in a sitting position, with hands supported to the ground, with the unassessed leg crossed above the leg of interest) for 180 seconds (longer volume time), without the application of any intervention

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Changes in Achilles tendon stiffness
Time Frame: Change from baseline at immediately after intervention
Tendon stiffness will be obtained by calculating the slope in the last 10% of the linear region of the force-deformation curve.
Change from baseline at immediately after intervention
Changes in medial gastrocnemius passive muscular stiffness
Time Frame: Change from baseline at immediately after intervention
The medial gastrocnemius stiffness will be calculated by the variation in passive torque (dorsiflexion) divided by the variation in muscle length (assessed by ultrasound).
Change from baseline at immediately after intervention
Changes in unilateral countermovement jump height
Time Frame: Change from baseline at immediately after intervention
The unilateral countermovement jump height will be measured using video camera and Tracker software.
Change from baseline at immediately after intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Changes in tendon Young's modulus
Time Frame: Change from baseline at immediately after intervention
Tendon elastic modulus (Young's modulus) will be obtained by calculating the slope in the last 10% of the linear region of the stress-strain curve.
Change from baseline at immediately after intervention
Changes in Achilles tendon cross-sectional area
Time Frame: Change from baseline at immediately after intervention
To obtain the Achilles tendon cross-sectional area (CSA), the ultrasound probe will be placed perpendicular to the tendon (in the transverse plane), and 3 images will be obtained with reference to the distances of 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 cm of the muscle insertion in the calcaneus bone. Area values will be obtained for each image, and the final value of the area will be calculated by the average of these five values.
Change from baseline at immediately after intervention
Changes in Achilles tendon length
Time Frame: Change from baseline at immediately after intervention
To obtain Achilles tendon length, the ultrasound probe will be placed longitudinally to the tendon (in the sagittal plane). The most distal portion of the Achilles tendon, inserted into the calcaneus bone, will be determined by ultrasound, and the respective point will be marked on the skin. After this, the probe will be moved to a proximal position until the visualization of the medial gastrocnemius myotendinous junction (MTJ), which is also marked on the skin. The distance between the two marked points on the skin will be measured with a measuring tape, this distance being considered representative of the tendon length.
Change from baseline at immediately after intervention
Changes in muscle Architecture
Time Frame: Change from baseline at immediately after intervention
Muscular architecture will be evaluated with an ultrasound. Muscle architecture parameters will involve fascicle length, pennation angle, muscle thickness, and the adipose tissue's thickness. The images will be obtained with the subjects in the ventral decubitus position on a stretcher, with the knees extended and the ankle in neutral position (heel line at a 90° angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the leg, 0° of plantarflexion). A custom system will be used to secure the ankle in the neutral position. The probe will be positioned longitudinally to the muscle fibers at 30% proximal for medial and lateral gastrocnemius, and 50% for soleus, of the distance between the popliteal fold and the lateral malleolus center.
Change from baseline at immediately after intervention
Changes in skin temperature
Time Frame: Change from baseline at immediately after intervention
The skin temperature (plantar flexors and Achilles tendon region) will be evaluated using a thermographic camera.
Change from baseline at immediately after intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Director: Jeam Geremia, Dr, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
March 1, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
May 20, 2023

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
June 3, 2023

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
March 10, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 23, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
April 6, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 16, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 14, 2024

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 4436122

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings