The comparison between foam rolling either combined with static or dynamic stretching on knee extensors' function and...

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Rehabilitation

Background:

• Static stretching (SS) and dynamic stretching (DS) are common warm-up methods.
• Foam rolling (FR) is increasingly used to enhance flexibility and recovery.
• The combined and order-dependent effects of SS/DS with FR on performance are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effects of different intervention orders (SS + FR, DS + FR, FR + SS, FR + DS) on knee extensor function.
• To evaluate the impact on flexibility, muscle strength, and jump performance.

Main Methods:

• A crossover randomized design with 17 male university students.
• Measurements included knee flexion range of motion (ROM), tissue hardness, and maximal voluntary contractions (MVC).
• Single-leg countermovement jump (CMJ) height was also assessed.

Main Results:

• All interventions significantly increased knee flexion ROM and decreased tissue hardness (p < 0.01).
• No significant changes were observed in MVC or CMJ height across all conditions.
• The SS + FR combination demonstrated the largest improvements in ROM and reductions in tissue stiffness.

Conclusions:

• Combining SS or DS with FR is effective for improving flexibility and reducing tissue hardness.
• These combined interventions do not compromise muscle strength or jump performance.
• The SS + FR sequence appears most effective for enhancing ROM and reducing tissue stiffness.