Acute Effects of Foam Rolling on Viscoelastic Tissue Properties and Fascial Sliding

Flexibility Clinical Trial

Official title:

Acute Effects of Foam Rolling on Viscoelastic Tissue Properties and Fascial Sliding: A Randomized, Controlled Crossover Trial

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT02919527
• Other study ID #: SpM2016-005
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: September 27, 2016
• Last updated: November 28, 2017
• Start date: September 2016
• Est. completion date: June 2017

Study information

• Verified date: November 2017
• Source: Goethe University
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Treatment or training of fascial tissues has moved into the focus of medical research in the last decade. In this context, the use of foam rollers or roller massagers for self-myofascial-release (SMR) techniques has become increasingly popular in health and fitness professionals. The primary objective of these techniques is to mimic manual massage or myofascial-release therapy with a self-usable tool. Recent studies suggest that SMR improves, inter alia, range of motion (ROM) without a decrease in neuromuscular performance (Cheatham et al. 2015).

Concurrent effects on the muscle and especially the surrounding connective tissue network have been proposed as underlying mechanisms for these observed changes in ROM after SMR. Several authors assume a positive effect of SMR on sliding properties of different independent fascial layers. Also, changes in passive tissue stiffness is suggested. Passive stiffness is thereby characterized by passive resistance in the tissues' (muscles') functional direction, the passive resistive torque (PRT).

In conclusion, for many of the proclaimed effects of SMR, such as improvements of sliding of fascial layers or decreases of passive stiffness, there is a lack of evidence in the literature. Therefore, the aim of the study is to evaluate acute effects of SMR on the viscoelastic properties of the muscles on the anterior thigh and the corresponding fascia.

In a cross over design, 16 subjects receive all of the following interventions after a familiarization session: a) 2x60 seconds of SMR at the anterior thigh, b) 2x60 seconds of static stretching at the anterior thigh, c) no intervention in a balanced permutated randomization sequence. Before and directly after each intervention, outcome parameters are collected.

Passive Resistive Torque is evaluated using a computerized isokinetic dynamometer. In passive mode, the lower leg is moved from full knee extension (0°) to the point of maximal knee flexion with a velocity of 5°/s. Torque and angle are recorded at 100 Hertz (Hz). Sliding of fascial layers is quantified with a frame-by-frame cross correlation algorithm of high-resolution ultrasound images (Dilley et al. 2001).

First stretch sensation is quantified using the passive mode in the isokinetic dynamometer.

Maximal ROM is detected using a an ultrasonographic movement analysis system in a prone position.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 16
• Est. completion date: June 2017
• Est. primary completion date: June 2017
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 20 Years to 40 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age between 20-40 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of orthopedic injuries in the lower extremity in the last 12 months

• Any history of psychiatric, cardiovascular, endocrine, neurological, or metabolic disorders

• Any current medication that might affect pain perception or proprioception

• Muscle soreness

• Pregnancy/nursing period

• Nonspecific musculoskeletal disorders

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Fascia
• Fascial Sliding
• Flexibility
• Passive Stiffness
• Self-Myofascial-Release

Intervention

Other:
• Self-Myofascial-Release
Self-Myofascial-Release performed at the anterior thigh
• Stretching
Static Stretching performed at the anterior thigh

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Germany	Department of Sports Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt/Main	Frankfurt am Main	Hessen

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Goethe University

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Germany, 

References & Publications (2)

Cheatham SW, Kolber MJ, Cain M, Lee M. THE EFFECTS OF SELF-MYOFASCIAL RELEASE USING A FOAM ROLL OR ROLLER MASSAGER ON JOINT RANGE OF MOTION, MUSCLE RECOVERY, AND PERFORMANCE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2015 Nov;10(6):827-38. — View Citation

Dilley A, Greening J, Lynn B, Leary R, Morris V. The use of cross-correlation analysis between high-frequency ultrasound images to measure longitudinal median nerve movement. Ultrasound Med Biol. 2001 Sep;27(9):1211-8. — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Passive-Resistive-Torque, Biodex System 3 Professional	In passive mode, the lower leg is moved from full knee extension (0°) to the point of maximal knee flexion with a velocity of 5°/s. Torque and angle are recorded at 100 Hz, and passive stiffness can be calculated from the torque-angle relationship.	1 minute
Primary	Fascial-Sliding, Siemens Acuson X300, Cross correlation	Sliding of fascial layers is quantified with a frame-by-frame cross correlation algorithm of high-resolution ultrasound images. The cross-correlation method calculates the correlation coefficient between the pixel grey levels for selected rectangle-shaped regions of interest (ROIs) in two adjacent images. The pixel shift that gives the maximum correlation coefficient corresponds to the relative movement between two frames.	1 minute
Secondary	Maximal Range of Motion, Zebris CMS20	A triplet of ultrasonographic markers is placed on the lower leg, a second triplet is placed as a reference on the thigh. Participants are placed on a physio table including a pre-stretch of the hip (210° in total) using a bed wedge (30°). In this position, participants are instructed to perform three consecutive active knee flexion-extension cycles at a self-selected velocity. Subsequently, the investigator performs three passive knee flexion-extension cycles. Movements are recorded in three dimensions at 20 Hz, and maximal active as well as passive ROM can be calculated as the maximal displacement relative to the starting position recorded by the US markers.	1 minute
Secondary	First stretch sensation, Biodex System 3 Professional	Position of the first stretch sensation is quantified using the isokinetic dynamometer in the above-described position. In passive mode, the knee is flexed from full extension to flexion at 5°/s. The subject uses a switch to stop the passive movement at the position of first stretch sensation.	1 minute