Author:
Konrad Andreas,Reiner Marina,Manieu Josefina,Fischer Josef,Schöpflin Adrian,Tilp Markus,Behm David G.
Abstract
Static stretching and foam rolling can increase the range of motion (ROM) of a joint acutely as well as chronically. Although studies have reported ROM increases of a non-stretched heterologous muscle (non-local) following an acute static stretching or foam rolling session, these effects have not been studied for long-term training interventions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a comprehensive 7-week static stretching and foam rolling training program of the foot sole on shoulder extension ROM. A total of 33 healthy, physically active participants (20 male) were assigned to either the intervention (n = 19) or control (n = 14) group. The intervention group performed a 7-week combined static stretching and foam rolling intervention comprising three sessions a week, including three exercises of the foot sole for 5 min each. Before and after the intervention period, the shoulder extension ROM was tested with three-dimensional (3D) motion caption. The level of significance for all statistical analyses was set to ρ ≤ 0.05. There was no significant time (p = 0.70, F1, 31 = 0.157; η2 = 0.005) or time×group effect (p = 0.38, F1, 31 = 0.785; η2 = 0.025) in shoulder extension ROM, indicating no ROM changes in the intervention or the control group. Although previous studies on the acute effects of stretching and foam rolling reported non-local increases in ROM in heterologous muscles, this study could show that such effects do not occur after chronic SS and foam rolling training for 7 weeks. Consequently, if the goal is to chronically increase the ROM of a specific joint, it is recommended to directly treat the muscles of interest.
Subject
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health,Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Management,Anthropology,Orthopedics and Sports Medicine,Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation,Physiology
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