Roller-Massager Application to the Quadriceps and Knee-Joint Range of Motion and Neuromuscular Efficiency During a Lunge

Abstract

Context: Roller massagers are used as a recovery and rehabilitative tool to initiate muscle relaxation and improve range of motion (ROM) and muscular performance. However, research demonstrating such effects is lacking.Objective: To determine the effects of applying a roller massager for 20 and 60 seconds on knee-joint ROM and dynamic muscular performance.Design: Randomized controlled clinical trial. Setting: University laboratory.Patients or Other Participants: Ten recreationally active men (age ¼ 26.6 6 5.2 years, height ¼ 175.3 6 4.3 cm, mass ¼ 84.4 6 8.8 kg).Intervention(s): Participants performed 3 randomized experimental conditions separated by 24 to 48 hours. In condition 1 (5 repetitions of 20 seconds) and condition 2 (5 repetitions of 60 seconds), they applied a roller massager to the quadriceps muscles. Condition 3 served as a control condition in which participants sat quietly.Main Outcome Measure(s): Visual analog pain scale, electromyography (EMG) of the vastus lateralis (VL) and biceps femoris during roller massage and lunge, and kneejoint ROM.Results: We found no differences in pain between the 20-second and 60-second roller-massager conditions. During 60 seconds of roller massage, pain was 13.5% (5.7 6 0.70) and 20.6% (6.2 6 0.70) greater at 40 seconds and 60 seconds, respectively, than at 20 seconds (P , .05). During roller massage, VL and biceps femoris root mean square (RMS) EMG was 8% and 7%, respectively, of RMS EMG recorded during maximal voluntary isometric contraction. Knee-joint ROM was 10% and 16% greater in the 20-second and 60-second roller-massager conditions, respectively, than the control condition (P , .05). Finally, average lunge VL RMS EMG decreased as roller-massage time increased (P , .05).Conclusions: Roller massage was painful and induced muscle activity, but it increased knee-joint ROM and neuromuscular efficiency during a lunge.Key Words: electromyography, pain, muscle activation, flexibility, stretch Key PointsA roller massager applied to the quadriceps at a load equal to 25% of body mass was moderately painful and induced minor contractions. The combination of active contractions and 20 to 60 seconds of roller massage improved knee-joint range of motion and reduced vastus lateralis electromyographic activity during a lunge. Roller massage could be used to increase range of motion during a warm-up or as a complement to stretching during flexibility training sessions. M any researchers have studied how stretching affects range of motion (ROM) and performance; in general, their results showed increased ROM and impairments in subsequent performance.1,2 Recently introduced alternative devices to stretching include the foam roller and roller massager. The use of these devices has produced increases in ROM.3,4 Authors of 2 studies examined how a foam roller affects flexibility.3,5 MacDonald et al 3 reported 12.7% and 10.3% increases in knee-joint ROM at 2 minutes and 10 minutes, respectively, after two 1-minute bouts of foam rolling. MacDonald et al 5 found that quadriceps ROM ...

Acute Effects of Different Anterior Thigh Self-Massage on Hip Range-of-Motion in Trained Men

“…Self-massage has been found to have wide range of effects. 1 It is particularly known for increasing flexibility acutely, [2][3][4][5] although not always. 6,7 Importantly, selfmassage has been found to increase range of motion (ROM) without impeding neuromuscular performance, 1 4 While not fully elucidated, many possible mechanisms have been proposed for the aforementioned effects, including both mechanical and neurophysiological ones.…”

“…10 The two most commonly-employed tools for self-massage are the foam roller 2,6,11 and roller massager. [3][4][5] Roller massagers are similar to foam rollers in that they consist of a solid plastic cylinder enclosed by a small layer of dense foam, but differ from foam rollers insofar as they have a central axle that is grasped by hands, and that way applied to different parts of the body.…”

“…3 While the difference between the studies may be explained by different pressures applied, as the participants of the former were instructed to apply as much of their body mass as possible onto the foam roller 2 and the pressure in the latter study was controlled by a custom-made device, 3 the influence of the type of tool used on the observed effect cannot be discounted. Furthermore, while the differences between the aforementioned studies are small and it is unclear whether the outcomes are real or meaningful, the results cannot be extrapolated to other modalities or body parts.…”

Self-myofascial vibro-shearing: A randomized controlled trial of biomechanical and related changes in male breakdancers

“…Self-myofascial release (SMR) is becoming increasingly popular both in the amateur and professional sports field. SMR is a type of myofascial release that is performed by individuals themselves, most often using a foam roller [1][2][3] or a roller massager [4][5][6]. SMR appears to have a wide range of effects, most typically increasing flexibility acutely [4][5][6] and chronically [7,8] with respect to changes in joint range of motion (ROM), although it has also been utilized to reduce delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) [2,6,9], affect arterial and vascular endothelial function [3], and modulate autonomic nervous system activity [10].…”

Immediate effect of self-myofascial release on hamstring flexibility

“…Self-MFR is an affordable and easily available method to help patients ease their muscular and fascia pain and maintain flexibility [4]. One of the most common instruments for self-MFR is foam roller [5][6][7][8] and roller massage [9][10][11][12][13]. Self-MFR increases flexibility, reduces delayed onset muscle soreness [14], adjusts arterial function and hemangioendothelial function [15], and adjusts autonomic nervous system [16] on the continuous basis.…”