This Study Will Compare Force Production in Double-leg Squats of College Students Before and After a Standardized Foam Rolling Session

The Effects of Foam Rolling on Double-leg Squat Force Distribution

This study is a within-subject controlled trial . The investigators will compare unilateral force production in a bodyweight double-leg squat before and after a standardized foam rolling session with the use of Vald ForceDecks. TheForceDecks use sensors embedded within separate plates to record the forces exerted. Participants will have their weight, height, and dorsiflexion range of motion measured prior to performing 3 double-leg squats. Participants will then be instructed on the foam rolling technique. They will perform the technique on each quadriceps group and will state their pain level at 30 seconds and at 2 minutes using the VAS pain scale.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Force Production; Pain Intensity Assessment
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: foam roller

Detailed Description

The invetigators will compare independent bilateral double-leg squat force productions before and after a structured foam rolling routine. Participants will first be measured for height, weight, and dorsiflexion ROM (SADS; standing ankle dorsiflexion screen). Quadriceps muscle belly length will be determined by measuring from the ASIS to the superior pole of the patella and marking the middle 2/3 of the region. Participants will then stand on VALD ForceDecks for normalization. (The ForceDecks use sensors embedded within separate plates to record the forces exerted by each leg.) With hands on hips, participants will perform three body weight double leg squats (squatting above 90 degrees of knee flexion). Participants will then watch a demonstration of single leg quadriceps foam rolling which will consist of 3-point contact in a plank position with the targeted leg not having contact with the ground. Participants will be cued for continuous motion on a count of 3 seconds in each direction without pausing. Participants will be asked to respond to a visual analog scale for pain at 30 seconds and at 2 minutes (end of session). Participants will be given a 30-second rest between sides. Upon completion, participants will return to the ForceDecks and perform 3 additional body weight double-leg squats with hands on hips (approximate same depth of squat as the initial set).

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 21
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • Redlands, California, United States, 92373
      • University of Redlands

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria: university student; 18-22 years of age -

Exclusion Criteria: unable to get up from the ground without assistance; current lower extremity injury; prior lower extremity surgery in the past 10 years

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Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Foam Rolling Regime; 2-minute quadriceps foam rolling regime	Device: foam roller; foam rollers with grids, knobs, and spikes

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Force Production	Unilateral lower extremity force production during a single-leg squat.	30 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Redlands

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Healey KC, Hatfield DL, Blanpied P, Dorfman LR, Riebe D. The effects of myofascial release with foam rolling on performance. J Strength Cond Res. 2014 Jan;28(1):61-8. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3182956569.
• Pardo E, El Behi H, Boizeau P, Verdonk F, Alberti C, Lescot T. Reliability of ultrasound measurements of quadriceps muscle thickness in critically ill patients. BMC Anesthesiol. 2018 Dec 27;18(1):205. doi: 10.1186/s12871-018-0647-9.
• Hendricks S, Hill H, Hollander SD, Lombard W, Parker R. Effects of foam rolling on performance and recovery: A systematic review of the literature to guide practitioners on the use of foam rolling. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2020 Apr;24(2):151-174. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2019.10.019. Epub 2019 Nov 2.
• Plisky PJ, Bullock GS, Garner MB, Ricard R, Hayden J, Huebner B, Schwartzkopf-Phifer K, Kiesel K. The Dorsiflexion Range of Motion Screen: A Validation Study. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2021 Apr 1;16(2):306-311. doi: 10.26603/001c.21253.
• Michalak B, Kopiczko A, Gajda R, Adamczyk JG. Recovery effect of self-myofascial release treatment using different type of a foam rollers. Sci Rep. 2024 Jul 9;14(1):15762. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-66577-x.
• Junker D, Stoggl T. The Training Effects of Foam Rolling on Core Strength Endurance, Balance, Muscle Performance and Range of Motion: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Sports Sci Med. 2019 Jun 1;18(2):229-238. eCollection 2019 Jun.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 11, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 18, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): September 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 7, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 14, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): May 15, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): January 12, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 8, 2026
• Last Verified: January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neurologic Manifestations; Pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: Protocol #2025-003-Redlands

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: IPD will only be used for this particular study.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No