Short-Term Therapeutic Benefits of Foam Rolling for Clinical Outcomes in Chronic Nonspecific Neck Pain Patients: A...

The purpose of this study was to investigate the short-term effects of foam rolling (FR) on the clinical parameters of individuals with chronic nonspecific neck pain (CNNP).

Fifty-eight CNNP participants were randomly equally allocated into FR and Swedish massage (SM) groups for 2 weeks. Resting pain intensity (RPI), pain pressure threshold (PPT), neck disability index (NDI), neck range of motion (NROM), and global perceived effect (GPE) were measured at baseline, immediately after the first intervention session, at the 2-week intervention visit, and at the 1-week follow-up visit.

There were no significant differences between the FR and SM groups in RPI and patient satisfaction (P > .05), although both groups showed greater improvement in these outcomes over time from baseline (P < .01). There were no significant interactions between time-points and groups, and the main effects of group for PPT, NDI, and NROM (P > .05). However, these outcomes improved significantly from baseline over the follow-up periods judging from the significant main effects of time when the data of both groups were pooled (P < .05).

Two weeks of FR treatment reduced resting neck pain, improved NROM and neck disability, and increased patient satisfaction with short-term recovery among young adults with CNNP. Because FR was as effective as massage, people with CNNP may benefit from home-based self-treatments if they are educated by therapists on how to practice FR themselves.

Thai Clinical Trial Registry (TCTR20230221006) https://www.thaiclinicaltrials.org/.