Acute Effects of Foam Rolling and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Stretching

Athletes Clinical Trial

Official title:

Acute Effects of Foam Rolling and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Stretching During Warm-Up on Muscle Flexibility, Strength and Pain Threshold in Amateur Athletes

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT06240013
• Other study ID #: 2023-20-683
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: April 16, 2024
• Est. completion date: August 2024

Study information

• Verified date: April 2024
• Source: Acibadem University
• Contact: Elif E Safran, asst. prof.
• Phone: 500 4047
• Email: elifesmabayraktar[@]hotmail.com
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The hamstring muscle is one of the key elements in rehabilitation programs and sports activities that enable the restoration of optimal muscle length. Decreased flexibility in the hamstring muscle may disrupt the biomechanics of the waist and pelvis, leading to low back pain or musculoskeletal disorders.

This study aims to investigate the acute effects of foam rolling and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching during warm-up on muscle flexibility, strength, and pain threshold in amateur athletes. According to our research, there is no study in this field in the literature.

H1: There is a difference between the acute effects of foam rolling exercise and PNF stretching exercise on muscle flexibility during warm-up in amateur athletes.

H2: There is a difference between the effects of foam rolling and PNF stretching exercises used as warm-up exercises on muscle strength.

H3: Foam rolling and PNF stretching exercises applied to the Hamstring muscle as a warm-up exercise make a difference in the pain threshold of the lumbar region and Hamstring muscle.

Description:

Stretching techniques used in athletes are frequently and widely used due to many effects such as changing range of motion, comfortable movement maintenance, and removal. There is no consensus in the literature on which of the static, dynamic, and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching techniques is most effective, as opposed to the types of stretching for flexibility. There is no clear benefit of different stretching techniques to muscle performance. Accordingly, in the literature, it is seen that proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching techniques show a greater increase in joint range of motion compared to other stretching techniques.

Recently, the use of foam rolling has become widely used in sports applications due to similar effects seen in stretching and the hypothesized presence of a curative effect on muscle performance. There is not enough research on the extent of foam rolling during warm-up exercises to increase flexibility and muscle strength.

The hamstring muscle is one of the key elements in harmonious programs and sports activities that ensure the restoration of optimal muscle length. The emergence of the output in the hamstring muscle may disrupt the biomechanics of the waist and pelvis, causing low back pain or musculoskeletal disorders.

This study aims to investigate the acute effects of foam rolling and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching on muscle input, strength, and pain intensity during nutrition in amateur athletes.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Enrollment: 80
• Est. completion date: August 2024
• Est. primary completion date: July 2024
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 30 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being between the ages of 18-30

• Being an amateur athlete

Exclusion Criteria:

• Hypermobility

• History of hamstring injury in the last 6 months

• Diagnosed orthopedic problems

• Surgery in the lower extremity or spine

• Back pain

• Presence of systemic or neurological disorders

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Athletes

Intervention

Other:
• Foam Rolling
Participants will take a long sitting position on a solid and flat surface, positioning their arms back and transferring their body weight to their palms. The foam roller to be applied to the dominant side will be placed under the hamstrings and slowly moved back and forth from the ischial tuberosity to the popliteal fossa, applying pressure for 2 minutes.
• Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Stretching
A PNF stretching protocol will be implemented with each participant assuming a tall sitting position on a solid, flat surface with their knees extended as much as possible. At this moment, the participant will be asked to perform maximum isometric hamstring muscle contraction for 5 seconds, followed by 5 seconds of relaxation and 20 seconds of stretching.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Turkey	Acibadem University	Istanbul	None Selected

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Acibadem University	The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Turkey, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Hamstring Flexibility	Hamstring flexibility (mm) will be evaluated with the sit-reach test. Baseline® Sit and Reach Flexibility Measurement device will be used for testing. Participants will sit on the floor with their lower extremities extended and together; Their backs and hips will be supported against the wall, and the soles of their feet will be placed on the edge of the device. Participants will then extend their arms forward, with both hands facing down and one hand on top of the other (always the same hand on top). Participants will then be asked to lie forward and slide their hands as far as possible on the measurement scale without bending their knees. Measurements will be repeated three times and the average value will be recorded.	Pre-intervention and immediately after the intervention
Primary	Hamstring Muscle Strength	Strength measurement of the participants' Hamstring muscles will be made using a digital hand dynamometer (J Tech Commender Muscle Tester). Participants will be instructed to sit in a fairly upright position in a chair, with their arms crossed in front of their chest and their legs hanging over the edge, with their knees and hips flexed at 90°. For isometric knee flexion muscle measurement evaluation, the dynamometer will be placed in the sural triceps region (5 cm proximal to the lateral malleolus). Participants press the dynamometer as hard as possible for three seconds, while the assessor will provide resistance, preventing any movement to achieve an isometric contraction.	Pre-intervention and immediately after the intervention
Primary	Pain Threshold	An algometer (Dolorimeter) will be used to objectively measure pain threshold and pain tolerance. The pain threshold value due to the pressure to be applied to the hamstring muscle and waist area will be measured using an electronic algometer (Algometer, Baseline FDK 10) while the athlete is in a prone position on the bed. The algometer will be applied vertically to the most painful point, increasing the pressure by 1kg/cm2 every three seconds until the patient feels pain. The pressure value that causes the feeling of pain will be determined as the pain threshold.	Pre-intervention and immediately after the intervention
Secondary	Lower Extremity Muscle Strength	A vertical jump test will be performed to evaluate the participants' lower extremity muscle strength. The measurement has two stages; measuring reach height, measuring jump height.; Measuring reach height: The athlete stands with his feet flat on the ground. He/she is asked to raise his/her arms up from the side of the body. The point his fingers reach is recorded.; Measuring the jump height: The athlete is asked to move away from the wall. The starting position is with feet shoulder-width apart and knees extended. After the hips and knees are bent, the athlete is asked to jump. The athlete reaches the highest point he can reach with his hands. The length of this point is recorded.	Pre-intervention and immediately after the intervention