Local and Non-local Effects of Foam Rolling on Passive Soft Tissue Properties and Spinal Excitability

Abstract

In sports and clinical settings, roller massage (RM) interventions are used to acutely increase range of motion (ROM); however, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Apart from changes in soft tissue properties (i.e., reduced passive stiffness), neurophysiological alterations such as decreased spinal excitability have been described. However, to date, no study has investigated both jointly. The purpose of this trial was to examine RM’s effects on neurophysiological markers and passive tissue properties of the plantar flexors in the treated (ROLL) and non-treated (NO-ROLL) leg. Fifteen healthy individuals (23 ± 3 years, eight females) performed three unilateral 60-s bouts of calf RM. This procedure was repeated four times on separate days to allow independent assessments of the following outcomes without reciprocal interactions: dorsiflexion ROM, passive torque during passive dorsiflexion, shear elastic modulus of the medial gastrocnemius muscle, and spinal excitability. Following RM, dorsiflexion ROM increased in both ROLL (+19.7%) and NO-ROLL (+13.9%). Similarly, also passive torque at dorsiflexion ROM increased in ROLL (+15.0%) and NO-ROLL (+15.2%). However, there were no significant changes in shear elastic modulus and spinal excitability (p > 0.05). Moreover, significant correlations were observed between the changes in DF ROM and passive torque at DF ROM in both ROLL and NO-ROLL. Changes in ROM after RM appear to be the result of sensory changes (e.g., passive torque at DF ROM), affecting both rolled and non-rolled body regions. Thus, therapists and exercise professionals may consider applying remote treatments if local loading is contraindicated.

Relationship between Eccentric-Exercise-Induced Loss in Muscle Function to Muscle Soreness and Tissue Hardness

“…Specifically, static stretching and hold–relax stretching decrease passive stiffness [ 25 ]. Additionally, foam rolling intervention decreases muscle pain, including pain threshold [ 12 , 13 ]. Thus, a stretching intervention might effectively counteract the ROM decrease caused by ECC exercise.…”

“…Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the factors related to the loss of muscle strength and ROM caused by eccentrically damaged muscle. If muscle soreness is associated with ECC-exercise-induced loss in muscle function, thermal agent intervention [ 10 ] and/or foam rolling intervention might be effective for improvements [ 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Moreover, stretching intervention could be an effective approach if tissue-hardness increase is associated with ECC-exercise-induced loss in muscle function [ 14 ].…”

Acute Effect of Vibration Roller With and Without Rolling on Various Parts of the Plantar Flexor Muscle

“…Thus, if the goal is to increase ROM, static compression of vibration could sufficiently increase ROM since FR intervention with rolling is difficult to perform. However, previous studies showed the cross-transfer effect of FR and vibration FR (García-Gutiérrez et al, 2018 ; Nakamura et al, 2021a ), and it was the possibility that the familiarization trial on the non-intervention side could increase the DF ROM on the intervention side. Further study is needed to investigate the cross-education effect of vibration with and without rolling, i.e., static compression of the muscle belly or MTJ on ROM.…”

“…Akazawa et al ( 2016 ) suggested that massage intervention near the MTJ might affect neighboring neural pathways and decrease stress on the peripheral nerves, which may contribute to the change in stretch tolerance. Also, our previous studies showed that the increase in ROM after FR intervention could be related to a change in stretch tolerance, not to a change in muscle stiffness (Nakamura et al, 2021a , b ). Therefore, static compression caused by vibration is possibly more effective for an increase in ROM (but likely not for a decrease in muscle stiffness) at MTJ than at the muscle belly.…”

“…With regard to the effect of FR intervention on muscle stiffness, it could decrease muscle stiffness in the hamstring (Morales-Artacho et al, 2017 ) or anterior thigh (Baumgart et al, 2019 ) and no changes in muscle stiffness (Baumgart et al, 2019 ; Nakamura et al, 2021a , b ) or hardness (Yoshimura et al, 2020 ) in medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscle. However, Reiner et al ( 2021 ) showed that vibration FR intervention could decrease muscle stiffness rather than FR intervention without vibration (Reiner et al, 2021 ).…”