Lin F-Y1, Lai G-F2, Hsieh C-A3, Chai H-M4
1National Taiwan University Hospital, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Taipei, Taiwan, 2Endeavor Rehabilitation Clinic, Taipei, Taiwan, 3Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, 4National Taiwan University, School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
Background: Foam rolling is used for myofascial release in clinic. It was proven to have short-term benefit to the range of motion of the lower extremities joints, to enhance muscle recovery, but not to affect muscle performance. It seen to influence the connective tissue. Ultrasonography is used to measure the stiffness of the soft tissue. It might be interesting to investigate the changes of the soft tissue using foam rolling.
Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effect of foam rolling in the stiffness of gastrocnemius muscle-tendon unit including tendon, aponeurosis and muscle.
Methods: There were 13 healthy participants (8 male and 5 female) included in this study. The stiffness of gastrocnemius muscle was measured before and after the foam rolling. The stiffness was measured by the ultrasonography at Achilles tendon、aponeurosis and muscle belly of gastrocnemius muscle. One trial was taken for each participant. The paired t-test was used to test the difference between the pre- and post- stiffness of the gastrocnemius muscle.
Results: The stiffness of the aponeurosis of gastrocnemius muscle significantly decreased after the foam rolling (p 0.05). There were no significant differences in the stiffness of Achilles tendon and muscle belly of gastrocnemius muscle between pre- and post the foam rolling.
Conclusion(s): The foam rolling could change the stiffness of the aponeurosis of the muscle. The long-term effect need to further studies.
Implications: The foam rolling is an effective massage to release the aponeurosis of the muscle.
Keywords: Foam roller massage, stiffness, muscle architecture, ultrasonography
Funding acknowledgements: None
Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effect of foam rolling in the stiffness of gastrocnemius muscle-tendon unit including tendon, aponeurosis and muscle.
Methods: There were 13 healthy participants (8 male and 5 female) included in this study. The stiffness of gastrocnemius muscle was measured before and after the foam rolling. The stiffness was measured by the ultrasonography at Achilles tendon、aponeurosis and muscle belly of gastrocnemius muscle. One trial was taken for each participant. The paired t-test was used to test the difference between the pre- and post- stiffness of the gastrocnemius muscle.
Results: The stiffness of the aponeurosis of gastrocnemius muscle significantly decreased after the foam rolling (p 0.05). There were no significant differences in the stiffness of Achilles tendon and muscle belly of gastrocnemius muscle between pre- and post the foam rolling.
Conclusion(s): The foam rolling could change the stiffness of the aponeurosis of the muscle. The long-term effect need to further studies.
Implications: The foam rolling is an effective massage to release the aponeurosis of the muscle.
Keywords: Foam roller massage, stiffness, muscle architecture, ultrasonography
Funding acknowledgements: None
Topic: Musculoskeletal: lower limb
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: National Taiwan University Hospital
Ethics committee: Research Ethics Committee
Ethics number: 201606092RINA
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
