Effects of Long-term Foam Rolling Compared to Static Stretching on Hamstring Muscle Flexibility

Creighton University

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Muscle Hypertonia

Treatments: Other: Foam Rolling; Other: Static Stretching

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02808923

908292-1

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study to to compare the long-term effects of foam rolling in comparison to static stretching and a control group on hamstring flexibility. The investigators hypothesize that participants in the foam rolling and static stretching group will demonstrate increased flexibility to the control group, but will a difference will not be observed between the foam rolling and static stretching groups.

Enrollment: 45 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 19 to 40 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Active 90/90 hamstring length goniometric measurement of greater than 10 degrees at baseline
• Active straight leg raise of less than 90 degrees

Exclusion criteria

• History of lower extremity injury including but not limited to sprain, strain, fracture, or any surgical intervention that lead to a decrease in activity greater than two weeks within the last six months
• Current involvement in a lower extremity flexibility program outside of their regular activity

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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45 participants in 3 patient groups

Foam rolling

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in the foam rolling group will perform unilateral rolling of the hamstring musculature from ischial tuberosity to posterior knee in supine for 2 repetitions of 1 minute with 15 second rest between repetitions at a consistent cadence of 1 second superiorly and 1 second inferiorly. Subjects will be asked to adjust pressure as needed to maintain a consistent moderate pressure on the treatment area. Participants will use new and individually issued high density foam rollers that are 6" diameter x 36" length.

Treatment:

Other: Foam Rolling

Static stretching

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in the static stretching group will perform sustained static hamstring stretching for 2 repetitions of 1 minute bouts for the same leg before switching sides using moderate pressure in supine against the wall. Subjects will rest for 15 seconds between repetitions and adjust distance from the wall to perceive moderate intensity.

Treatment:

Other: Static Stretching

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

The control group will perform their regular baseline activities without the addition of a specific lower extremity flexibility program. If the subjects are currently performing stretching of any mode at baseline, they will be allowed to continue with that activity.