Acute effects of foam rolling pressure and gender on range of motion (ROM)

This study investigated the influence of pressure and sex on acute range of motion (ROM) changes during foam rolling (FR) using soccer balls. Twenty collegiate athletes of both sexes (n=10 each) performed a controlled trial of FR on the hamstring muscles with a soccer ball on a force plate for 2 min. Pressure during FR was monitored to maintain a low or high body weight level (15–25% or 45–55%, respectively). Passive straight leg raise (PSLR) and passive knee extension (PKE) tests were performed before (Pre), immediately after (Post), and 10 min post-intervention (Post10). Pain during FR, ROM tests, and the following morning, and the tightness felt during ROM tests, were also measured. PSLR at Post (90.9°±3.3 for Low, 95.4°±3.5 for High) and Post10 (92.6°±2.5, 94.8°±3.0, respectively) were larger than at Pre (84.1°±3.1, 84.0°±2.9, respectively) in females (p<0.05). A similar trend was observed in males, and PKE showed the same trend. However, no pressure-dependent difference exists in either PSLR or PKE at Post and Post10. No interaction was observed between pain and tightness. FR on the hamstring muscles improved acute knee and hip ROM regardless of sex, even with a soccer ball. Moreover, the pressure and pain levels during FR did not strongly affect acute ROM change.

Methods
Range of motion in the joints was assessed through the passive straight leg raise test and the passive knee extension test using a goniometer. Additionally, pressure applied to the ankle joint during measurement was quantified using a manual muscle strength measuring device. Pain experienced during the form rolling intervention, as well as pain and muscle tightness during range of motion measurements, were documented at each time point.