Hadamus A1, Kos K2, Białoszewski D1
1Medical University of Warsaw, Department of Rehabilitation, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Warsaw, Poland, 2Medical University of Warsaw, Student Research Society of Physiotherapy at Division of Rehabilitation, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
Background: Foam rolling is a physiotherapeutic method that has been gaining the attention of athletes and patients in recent years. Its methodology is based on fascial theories. Self-administration (independence from the therapist) is an advantage and this method is mostly used in orthopedic and sports physiotherapy and in training as a form of warm-up or regeneration activity.
Purpose: The aim of the work was to assess the impact of foot rolling on static and dynamic load distribution.
Methods: The study involved 68 healthy individuals aged 19-33 years. Subjects were randomly divided into two parallel groups (test and control). We performed a static test with eyes open and closed, and a gait test using the h/p/Cosmos pressure mapping treadmill. We analyzed the Center of Pressure (COP) movement and the pressure distribution. The test group performed rolling using the Blackroll MINI roller. The treadmill test was performed before and after rolling. The control group did not use any therapeutic intervention - between the two tests on the treadmill, the subjects had a 4-minute break.
Results: There was a decrease in the value of COP elevations in the sagittal plane and a decrease in the COP velocity under static conditions with eyes closed in the test group (p 0.05). The maximum pressure of the left foot within the forefoot and midfoot and under the right foot within the hindfoot decreased significantly under dynamic conditions. There was also a significant increase in the time of maximum pressure in both limbs, concerning all three areas in the left limb, and the forefoot and metatarsus in the right. The time of contact with the metatarsus and the hindfoot of both limbs also increased significantly (p 0.05). There were no changes in the control group.
Conclusion(s): Foam rolling can have an effect on maintaining balance under static conditions without visual control, as well as prolonging the time of maximum foot pressure on the ground, reducing the maximum pressure of the feet and increasing the contact time with the midfoot and heel during gait.
Implications: Foam rolling can be a valuable element of warm-up before training and before any recreational or physiotherapy exercises.
Keywords: Foam roller, foot pressure mapping, gait
Funding acknowledgements: The study was partly financed from the NCBiR fund as part of the VB-Clinic project Strategmed III program.
Purpose: The aim of the work was to assess the impact of foot rolling on static and dynamic load distribution.
Methods: The study involved 68 healthy individuals aged 19-33 years. Subjects were randomly divided into two parallel groups (test and control). We performed a static test with eyes open and closed, and a gait test using the h/p/Cosmos pressure mapping treadmill. We analyzed the Center of Pressure (COP) movement and the pressure distribution. The test group performed rolling using the Blackroll MINI roller. The treadmill test was performed before and after rolling. The control group did not use any therapeutic intervention - between the two tests on the treadmill, the subjects had a 4-minute break.
Results: There was a decrease in the value of COP elevations in the sagittal plane and a decrease in the COP velocity under static conditions with eyes closed in the test group (p 0.05). The maximum pressure of the left foot within the forefoot and midfoot and under the right foot within the hindfoot decreased significantly under dynamic conditions. There was also a significant increase in the time of maximum pressure in both limbs, concerning all three areas in the left limb, and the forefoot and metatarsus in the right. The time of contact with the metatarsus and the hindfoot of both limbs also increased significantly (p 0.05). There were no changes in the control group.
Conclusion(s): Foam rolling can have an effect on maintaining balance under static conditions without visual control, as well as prolonging the time of maximum foot pressure on the ground, reducing the maximum pressure of the feet and increasing the contact time with the midfoot and heel during gait.
Implications: Foam rolling can be a valuable element of warm-up before training and before any recreational or physiotherapy exercises.
Keywords: Foam roller, foot pressure mapping, gait
Funding acknowledgements: The study was partly financed from the NCBiR fund as part of the VB-Clinic project Strategmed III program.
Topic: Human movement analysis; Musculoskeletal: lower limb
Ethics approval required: No
Institution: Medical University of Warsaw
Ethics committee: MUW Ethics Committee
Reason not required: Non-invasive research in healthy individuals performed by Physiotherapists does not require approval
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
