Effect of Vibration and Non-Vibration Foam Rolling

Immediate Effects of Vibration and Non-vibration Foam Rolling on the Biomechanical and Viscoelastic Properties of Knee Flexor and Extensor Muscles in Young Male Recreational Athletes: a Randomized, Controlled, Cross-over Study

This study aims to compare the immediate effects of vibration and non-vibration foam rolling on the biomechanical and viscoelastic properties of knee flexor and extensor muscles in young male recreational athletes. Fourteen athletes will be included in this study, planned as a randomized controlled cross-over study. All athletes will complete three interventions: 1) vibration foam rolling (VFR), 2) non-vibration foam rolling (FR), and 3) rest control. Pre- and post-test assessment will include the biomechanical and viscoelastic properties of knee flexor and extensor muscles, assessed with the MyotonPro.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Self-Myofascial Release
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: VFR; Other: FR

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 14
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Manisa, Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Manisa Celal Bayar University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• To volunteer to participate in the study
• To engage in sports activities at least 2-3 days a week

Exclusion Criteria:

• Players with a history of major sports injury or time-loss injury that required surgery
• Musculoskeletal problems that compromised their performance in the study
• A history of lower extremity pathology in the 3 months before the study

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Control Group; No intervention will be applied to the control group.
Active Comparator: VFR Group; Athletes will be performed three sets of VFR for 30 s, with a 30 s break between each set and exercise. The rolling frequency will be standardized using a metronome set at 60 beats per minute. Athletes will be instructed to roll at a velocity of two metronome beats for each rolling direction. Intensity of pressure will be controlled with a target rating of 7 of 10 on a Numerical Rating Scale (0 = no discomfort and 10 = maximum discomfort) during VFR intervention. The target muscle groups will be the anterior and posterior thigh. During VFR, the vibrator booster will be set to a frequency of 48 hz, which is within the optimal frequency range (12 to 90 hz) to influence the musculoskeletal system, and an amplitude of 1.95 mm.	Other: VFR; Athletes will be performed three sets of VFR for 30 s, with a 30 s break between each set and exercise. The rolling frequency will be standardized using a metronome set at 60 beats per minute. Athletes will be instructed to roll at a velocity of two metronome beats for each rolling direction. Intensity of pressure will be controlled with a target rating of 7 of 10 on a Numerical Rating Scale (0 = no discomfort and 10 = maximum discomfort) during VFR intervention. The target muscle groups will be the anterior and posterior thigh. During VFR, the vibrator booster will be set to a frequency of 48 hz, which is within the optimal frequency range (12 to 90 hz) to influence the musculoskeletal system, and an amplitude of 1.95 mm.
Active Comparator: FR Group; Athletes will be performed three sets of FR for 30 s, with a 30 s break between each set and exercise. The rolling frequency will be standardized using a metronome set at 60 beats per minute. Athletes will be instructed to roll at a velocity of two metronome beats for each rolling direction. Intensity of pressure will be controlled with a target rating of 7 of 10 on a Numerical Rating Scale (0 = no discomfort and 10 = maximum discomfort) during FR intervention. The target muscle groups will be the anterior and posterior thigh. The FR will be conducted using the same vibration foam rolling device, but with the vibration mode deactivated. This ensures that the physical dimensions and material properties of the roller remain constant across conditions, with the only variable being the presence or absence of mechanical vibration.	Other: FR; Athletes will be performed three sets of FR for 30 s, with a 30 s break between each set and exercise. The rolling frequency will be standardized using a metronome set at 60 beats per minute. Athletes will be instructed to roll at a velocity of two metronome beats for each rolling direction. Intensity of pressure will be controlled with a target rating of 7 of 10 on a Numerical Rating Scale (0 = no discomfort and 10 = maximum discomfort) during FR intervention. The target muscle groups will be the anterior and posterior thigh. The FR will be conducted using the same vibration foam rolling device, but with the vibration mode deactivated. This ensures that the physical dimensions and material properties of the roller remain constant across conditions, with the only variable being the presence or absence of mechanical vibration.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Muscle tone	The muscle tone (Hz), as a biomechanical property of the knee flexors and extensors, will be assessed using the MyotonPro (Myoton AS, Tallinn, Estonia). The rectus femoris will be preferred as the primary extensor and the biceps femoris as the principal flexor for the assessment, due to their anatomical and functional centrality. To ensure accuracy, the probe will be applied perpendicularly in three successive increments, with automatic alerts for any deviation. The rectus femoris measurement will be taken at the midpoint between the anterior superior iliac spine and the medial patellar border, with the subject supine and a 20 cm roller under the knees. For the biceps femoris, the subject will be prone with an ankle pillow for relaxation, with measurements taken at the midpoint of the long head's longitudinal axis to ensure consistency. Each muscle will be measured twice in immediate succession, using the mean for analysis.	one week
Stiffness	The stiffness (N/m), as a biomechanical property of the knee flexors and extensors, will be assessed using the MyotonPro (Myoton AS, Tallinn, Estonia). The rectus femoris will be preferred as the primary extensor and the biceps femoris as the principal flexor for the assessment, due to their anatomical and functional centrality. To ensure accuracy, the probe will be applied perpendicularly in three successive increments, with automatic alerts for any deviation. The rectus femoris measurement will be taken at the midpoint between the anterior superior iliac spine and the medial patellar border, with the subject supine and a 20 cm roller under the knees. For the biceps femoris, the subject will be prone with an ankle pillow for relaxation, with measurements taken at the midpoint of the long head's longitudinal axis to ensure consistency. Each muscle will be measured twice in immediate succession, using the mean for analysis.	one week
Elasticity	The elasticity (unitless), as a biomechanical property of the knee flexors and extensors, will be assessed using the MyotonPro (Myoton AS, Tallinn, Estonia). The rectus femoris will be preferred as the primary extensor and the biceps femoris as the principal flexor for the assessment, due to their anatomical and functional centrality. To ensure accuracy, the probe will be applied perpendicularly in three successive increments, with automatic alerts for any deviation. The rectus femoris measurement will be taken at the midpoint between the anterior superior iliac spine and the medial patellar border, with the subject supine and a 20 cm roller under the knees. For the biceps femoris, the subject will be prone with an ankle pillow for relaxation, with measurements taken at the midpoint of the long head's longitudinal axis to ensure consistency. Each muscle will be measured twice in immediate succession, using the mean for analysis.	one week

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The mechanical stress relaxation time	The mechanical stress relaxation time (ms), as a viscoelastic property of the knee flexors and extensors, will be assessed using the MyotonPro (Myoton AS, Tallinn, Estonia). The rectus femoris will be preferred as the primary extensor and the biceps femoris as the principal flexor for the assessment, due to their anatomical and functional centrality. To ensure accuracy, the probe will be applied perpendicularly in three successive increments, with automatic alerts for any deviation. The rectus femoris measurement will be taken at the midpoint between the anterior superior iliac spine and the medial patellar border, with the subject supine and a 20 cm roller under the knees. For the biceps femoris, the subject will be prone with an ankle pillow for relaxation, with measurements taken at the midpoint of the long head's longitudinal axis to ensure consistency. Each muscle will be measured twice in immediate succession, using the mean for analysis.	one week
The ratio of relaxation and deformation time	The ratio of deformation and relaxation time (unitless), as a viscoelastic property of the knee flexors and extensors, will be assessed using the MyotonPro (Myoton AS, Tallinn, Estonia). The rectus femoris will be preferred as the primary extensor and the biceps femoris as the principal flexor for the assessment, due to their anatomical and functional centrality. To ensure accuracy, the probe will be applied perpendicularly in three successive increments, with automatic alerts for any deviation. The rectus femoris measurement will be taken at the midpoint between the anterior superior iliac spine and the medial patellar border, with the subject supine and a 20 cm roller under the knees. For the biceps femoris, the subject will be prone with an ankle pillow for relaxation, with measurements taken at the midpoint of the long head's longitudinal axis to ensure consistency. Each muscle will be measured twice in immediate succession, using the mean for analysis.	one week

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Celal Bayar University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 10, 2026
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 25, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): February 25, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 4, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 10, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 17, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 13, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 12, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Athletes; Myofascial release; Rectus femoris; Biceps femoris
• Other Study ID Numbers: CBU-FTR-ES-O8

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