Acute Effect of a Foam Roller on the Mechanical Properties of the Rectus Femoris Based on Tensiomyography in Soccer Players

Francisco Ignacio Martínez-Cabrera,Francisco Javier Núñez-Sánchez

doi:10.13189/saj.2016.040203

Francisco Ignacio Martínez-Cabrera, Francisco Javier Núñez-Sánchez

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.13189/saj.2016.040203

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Abstract

Tensiomyography (TMG) is a relatively new technique to assess the muscles mechanical properties in response to a single electrical stimulus. The purpose of the present study was to assess the acute effect of a foam roller (FR) in the rectus femoris muscle using TMG. Seventeen male professional soccer players (age 21.4 ± 3.8 years, height 180.5 ± 7.7 cm, and mass 73.6 ± 10.7 kg) performed 4 sets of with a duration of 15s using the foam roller (FR) on the dominant leg with 2 min of rest at 30 beats per minute. TMG measurements were performed at rest after the second and fourth sets for both the dominant and non-dominant leg (control). The TMG parameters analysed included stiffness (Dm), and contraction time (Tc). Substantial differences were not found between the legs at rest. For the non-dominant leg, substantial differences in Dm were found after the second and the fourth sets. For the dominant leg, substantial differences in Dm were not observed after the FR was applied. No differences in Tc were found for any of the measurements. Our results suggest that the use of a foam roller in slowly executed small sets maintains the muscle stiffness and the contraction time of the RF.

Highlights

Foam rolling has become a popular technique for professional and non-professional athletes as a self-massager and for self-myofascial release
The objective of this study was to determine the acute effects of the use of a foam roller (FR) on the maximum radial displacement and the time of contraction of the rectus femoris (RF) muscle, which were assessed via tensiomyography in Chinese soccer players
Our results showed that 1) that FR use for 15 s maintained the stiffness of the RF muscle, whereas stiffness decreased in the RF of the control leg on which the FR was not applied, and 2) the time of contraction was not affected by FR use on any of the legs during the series of treatment sets

Summary

Introduction

Foam rolling has become a popular technique for professional and non-professional athletes as a self-massager and for self-myofascial release. Soft-tissue dysfunction can be initiated in various ways, such as trauma, overuse, or muscle imbalances, etc., which can induce injury in athletes These injuries stimulate the development of inelastic, fibrous adhesions between the layers of the myofascial system that prevent normal muscle mechanics and decrease soft-tissue extensibility [2,3,4,5]. The subjects use FRs to exert pressure on the soft tissue, using their own body mass with a constant and fluid movement throughout the muscle belly. This technique massages the muscle to break up the myofascial trigger points and restores the soft-tissue extensibility [3,4,5,6,7]. Despite the increase in the number of recent investigations of the use of FRs, there are not specific guidelines regarding their specific benefits, forms, mechanisms and recommended duration of use [7,9]

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