Effect of Different Foam Rolling Sensitivities on the Amount of Change in Range of Motion: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Foam rolling (FR) is an easy-to-perform self-care activity to improve the range of motion in patients with injuries. However, even if FR is performed at the same intensity, the feeling differs depending on the patient. In addition, FR affects the contralateral side. This phenomenon is called cross education. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between FR sensitivities and FR efficacy. The secondary purpose was to determine how FR intensity perception influences cross education. In this study, FR sensitivity was calculated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The difference in the effect of FR sensitivity was evaluated using the correlation between the amount of change in PRE-test to POST- test ROM and VAS. The experimental procedure in this study first measures ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM) on the left and right leg. Immediately after measurement, 3sets of FR were performed on one random leg. Participants wrote the VAS of FR for each set during the rest period of each FR intervention set. Immediately after 3 sets of FR, the ROM was measured in the left and right legs. Statistical analysis performed Two-way repeated measures ANOVA in group comparison. As a result, two-way ANOVA did not show a significant effect of group (F = 0.003, P = 0.95) or interaction effect (F = 2.28, P = 0.14). In contract, time had a significant effect (F = 39.65, P = 0.001). Post hoc result in [Dominant leg] PRE: 19.7 ± 7.6° POST: 22.2 ± 7.3° P = 0.001 Δ = 0.33. [Non-dominant leg] PRE: 20.0 ± 7.8° POST: 21.6 ± 7.8° P = 0.01, Δ = 0.21). On the other hand, Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used for the correlation between the amount of change in ROM and VAS. As a result, a dominant leg significant negative correlation was observed between the 3dr set of FR VAS score and the amount of change in ROM (r = -0.38, P = 0.04). Non-dominant leg significant correlations were observed third set of FR VAS score and amount of change in ROM (r = 0.41, P = 0.03). The result of this study suggested that it is necessary to perform FR with a comfortable stimulus on the dominant leg to maximize the effect of FR.