Superficial heat administration and foam rolling increase hamstring flexibility acutely; with amplifying effects

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Rehabilitation Science
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Limited research compares objective and subjective efficacy of treatments for acute hip-flexion range of motion (ROM).
• Understanding treatment effectiveness is crucial for optimizing athletic performance and injury prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the objective and subjective efficacy of superficial heating (SH), foam rolling (FR), and a combination of SH + FR on acute hip-flexion ROM.
• To evaluate the correlation between objective and subjective measures of hamstring flexibility.

Main Methods:

• Assessor-blind, randomized within-subject cross-over design.
• Twenty-two female collegiate athletes participated.
• Passive straight-leg-raise (PSLR) measured hip-flexion ROM; a Likert scale assessed perceived treatment effectiveness.

Main Results:

• All treatments (SH, FR, SH + FR) significantly improved hip ROM compared to control (p < 0.001).
• SH + FR yielded the greatest objective improvement in hip ROM (12.9%) and was perceived as more effective than FR (p = 0.033).
• A moderate positive correlation (r = 0.508) was found between objective and subjective flexibility measures.

Conclusions:

• Superficial heating combined with foam rolling (SH + FR) is the most effective treatment for improving hamstring flexibility.
• Rehabilitation professionals should exercise caution relying solely on athlete perception and tailor treatments to individual needs.