Acute Effects of Foam Rolling and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Stretching

Summary

The hamstring muscle is one of the key elements in rehabilitation programs and sports activities that enable the restoration of optimal muscle length. Decreased flexibility in the hamstring muscle may disrupt the biomechanics of the waist and pelvis, leading to low back pain or musculoskeletal disorders.

This study aims to investigate the acute effects of foam rolling and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching during warm-up on muscle flexibility, strength, and pain threshold in amateur athletes. According to our research, there is no study in this field in the literature.

H1: There is a difference between the acute effects of foam rolling exercise and PNF stretching exercise on muscle flexibility during warm-up in amateur athletes.

H2: There is a difference between the effects of foam rolling and PNF stretching exercises used as warm-up exercises on muscle strength.

H3: Foam rolling and PNF stretching exercises applied to the Hamstring muscle as a warm-up exercise make a difference in the pain threshold of the lumbar region and Hamstring muscle.

Conditions

• Athletes

Interventions

OTHER

Foam Rolling

Participants will take a long sitting position on a solid and flat surface, positioning their arms back and transferring their body weight to their palms. The foam roller to be applied to the dominant side will be placed under the hamstrings and slowly moved back and forth from the ischial tuberosity to the popliteal fossa, applying pressure for 2 minutes.

OTHER

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Stretching

A PNF stretching protocol will be implemented with each participant assuming a tall sitting position on a solid, flat surface with their knees extended as much as possible. At this moment, the participant will be asked to perform maximum isometric hamstring muscle contraction for 5 seconds, followed by 5 seconds of relaxation and 20 seconds of stretching.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey

  collaborator OTHER

• Acibadem University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Elif E Safran, asst. prof. · Acibadem University

• Hayri E Yılmaz · Acibadem University

• Birce B Çelik · Acibadem University

• Mahmut E Bükülmez · Acibadem University

• Eren Çekiç · Acibadem University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

30 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-04-16

Primary Completion

2024-12-31

Completion

2025-02-28

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations