A 1-Week Comprehensive Foam Rolling Intervention Program Can Improve Knee Pain but Not Muscle Function and Range of Motion in Patients with Total Knee Arthroplasty

Abstract

We investigate the effect of a 1-week comprehensive foam rolling (FR) intervention program on knee pain, range of motion (ROM), and muscle function in patients with TKA.Thirty patients with TKA were randomly allocated to FR (n = 15) or control (n = 15) groups. The control group received only regular physical therapy. Patients in the FR group performed the FR intervention in addition to their regular physical therapy twice daily from postoperative weeks two to three (60 s × 3 repetitions × 2 times/day × 6 days: total = 2160 s). Pain score, knee flexion and extension ROM, muscle strength, walking function, and balance function were measured before and after the FR intervention. From the second to third postoperative weeks, there were significant improvements in all variables, and the reduction in pain score at stretching was significantly greater in the FR group (−26.0 ± 1.4; p < 0.05) than in the control group (−12.5 ± 1.9). However, there was no significant difference in changes in the other variables except for the pain score at stretching between FR and control groups. A 1-week comprehensive FR intervention program in patients with TKA could reduce pain scores at stretching without a synergistic effect on physical function, i.e., walking speed, balance function, and muscle strength of the knee extensors muscles.

Effects of foam roller on pain intensity in individuals with chronic and acute musculoskeletal pain: a systematic review of randomized trials

“…Using the previously de ned search strategy, 656 manuscripts were obtained. However, after checking duplicates, titles, abstracts, complete reading, and implementation of eligibility criteria, only six manuscripts 18,19,20,21,22,23 were eligible for data analysis (Fig. 1).…”

“…Five used FR associated with other types of therapeutic exercise. Three randomized clinical trials estimated the effect of FR associated with a therapeutic exercise protocol 18,22,23 . Ozsoy et al 20 , used a multimodal therapeutic intervention protocol.…”

“…23 20 , Chronic neck pain 22 , Plantar fasciitis 19,21 . In only one of the manuscripts 23 , the individuals had a condition characterized as acute pain established by total knee arthroplasty resulting from osteoarthritis.…”

“…short-term follow-up, three studies 18, 22, 23 compared the use of FR associated with a therapeutic exercise program versus a therapeutic exercise program 18, 23 and versus therapeutic guidelines 22 . The following scales were used: VAS (10 cm) 18, 22, and VAS (0-100 mm) 23 . Kumar et al 18 and Cabrera-Martos et al 22 showed a statistically signi cant reduction in pain intensity when using FR associated with a therapeutic exercise program.…”

Comparison of the effects of different foam rolling durations on knee extensors function

“…In addition, previous studies showed FR interventions could decrease pain associated with delayed onset muscle soreness [ 4 – 6 ]. Moreover, FR interventions could decrease pain in post-operative patients [ 7 , 8 ]. Therefore, FR is applied in both sports and rehabilitation.…”