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Wirth SU1, Stucki N1, Blasimann A2
1BSc Physiotherapy, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Department of Health Professions, Division of Physiotherapy, Bern, Switzerland, 2MSc Physiotherapy, Applied Research and Development in Physiotherapy, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Department of Health Professions, Division of Physiotherapy, Bern, Switzerland
Background: Self-myofascial release“ (SMFR) is a popular intervention to improve myofascial mobility. The foam roll is the most common tool for a short-term improvement of mobility. Recently, numerous clinical studies on this topic have been published. However, these studies show a broad variety of different application durations and speeds, and the results of the individual studies were not discussed regarding the selected application parameters.
Purpose: The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the effect of duration and speed applied on mobility by a foam roll.
Methods: The literature search was carried out in February 2018 in the databases Medline (PubMed), PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database) and The Cochrane Library. PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) served as methodological guideline. Studies were included when the foam roll had been applied as an intervention on adults without specific complaints. Furthermore, no limits had been set for the control group. As an outcome, a clear measurement of mobility was a prerequisite for inclusion. Finally, only clinical studies in English could be selected for this review. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the PEDro scale and the Risk-of-Bias tool of the Cochrane Collaboration. Studies with at least 7/11 points on the PEDro scale were included.
Results: Out of 243 studies found, eleven studies with a total of 300 subjects could be included. In seven studies, a short-term, statistically significant improvement in mobility of the quadriceps femoris, triceps surae and the hamstrings muscles was achieved after the intervention with the foam roll. This improvement in mobility was obtained with a single application of three repetitions during 30 seconds to four minutes per muscle group. The application speed ranged from one inch (= 2.54 cm) to one muscle length per second. The improvements in mobility in the different studies were given in different dimensions: ranges from 5° to 11.2° and from 1.1 cm to 3.9 cm.
Conclusion(s): Most of the included studies showed a statistically significant short-term improvement in mobility. No correlation between the application parameters and the effect on mobility could be determined. Moreover, no statements can be made about possible long-term effects of the application of the foam roll. Therefore, further high-quality clinical studies - dealing specifically with the various application parameters or long-term effects - would be required in future.
Implications: The foam roll might be a tool to improve mobility for a short period of time and can be used for SMFR after a short instruction. Even a single application of a few minutes (e.g. three times 30 seconds per muscle group with a 30 seconds break between series and a speed of one to two seconds per muscle length) can locally improve mobility for a short time. Nevertheless, the question arises whether the obtained, small improvements in mobility are clinically relevant.
Keywords: Foam rolling, mobility, application parameters
Funding acknowledgements: This work was partly funded by the Bern University of Applied Sciences by providing working hours for A. Blasimann.
Purpose: The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the effect of duration and speed applied on mobility by a foam roll.
Methods: The literature search was carried out in February 2018 in the databases Medline (PubMed), PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database) and The Cochrane Library. PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) served as methodological guideline. Studies were included when the foam roll had been applied as an intervention on adults without specific complaints. Furthermore, no limits had been set for the control group. As an outcome, a clear measurement of mobility was a prerequisite for inclusion. Finally, only clinical studies in English could be selected for this review. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the PEDro scale and the Risk-of-Bias tool of the Cochrane Collaboration. Studies with at least 7/11 points on the PEDro scale were included.
Results: Out of 243 studies found, eleven studies with a total of 300 subjects could be included. In seven studies, a short-term, statistically significant improvement in mobility of the quadriceps femoris, triceps surae and the hamstrings muscles was achieved after the intervention with the foam roll. This improvement in mobility was obtained with a single application of three repetitions during 30 seconds to four minutes per muscle group. The application speed ranged from one inch (= 2.54 cm) to one muscle length per second. The improvements in mobility in the different studies were given in different dimensions: ranges from 5° to 11.2° and from 1.1 cm to 3.9 cm.
Conclusion(s): Most of the included studies showed a statistically significant short-term improvement in mobility. No correlation between the application parameters and the effect on mobility could be determined. Moreover, no statements can be made about possible long-term effects of the application of the foam roll. Therefore, further high-quality clinical studies - dealing specifically with the various application parameters or long-term effects - would be required in future.
Implications: The foam roll might be a tool to improve mobility for a short period of time and can be used for SMFR after a short instruction. Even a single application of a few minutes (e.g. three times 30 seconds per muscle group with a 30 seconds break between series and a speed of one to two seconds per muscle length) can locally improve mobility for a short time. Nevertheless, the question arises whether the obtained, small improvements in mobility are clinically relevant.
Keywords: Foam rolling, mobility, application parameters
Funding acknowledgements: This work was partly funded by the Bern University of Applied Sciences by providing working hours for A. Blasimann.
Topic: Sport & sports injuries
Ethics approval required: No
Institution: Bern University of Applied Sciences
Ethics committee: Bern University of Applied Sciences
Reason not required: Ethics approval was not necessary for this type of scientific work (systematic review).
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
