Differences In Effects Of Two Foam Rolling Techniques On Delayed Onset Of Muscle Soreness

Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je usporediti postoje li razlike u učincima između dviju tehnika mehaničkoga podraživanja mišićne fascije pjenastim valjkom (roling) na redukciju simptoma sindroma odgođenog mišićnog bola (DOMS). Istraživanje je provedeno na prigodnom uzorku od 56 muških ispitanika, studenata druge godine Kineziološkog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, slučajnim odabirom podijeljenim u dvije skupine. U prvom dijelu istraživanja provedena su predtestna mjerenja te je učinjen protokol za oštećenje mišića inducirano vježbom (EIMD), koji se sastojao od tri serije maksimalnih sunožnih skokova s pripremom do otkaza. Odmah nakon EIMD-protokola provedeno je mehaničko podraživanje mišićne fascije pjenastim valjkom tako da je prva skupina provodila kontinuirane kretnje uzdužno po tretiranoj mišićnoj skupini (skupina RK), dok je druga skupina provodila kratke undulirajuće kretnje niz mišićnu skupinu uz brzu kontinuiranu kretnju natrag (skupina RU). Drugi dio istraživanja proveden je 48 sati nakon provođenja EIMD-protokola te su učinjena završna mjerenja opsega natkoljenice, intenziteta bola na vizualno-analognoj ljestvici, aktivnosti kreatin-kinaze, jakosti kvadricepsa, visine maksimalnog sunožnog skoka s pripremom, fleksibilnosti te bola prilikom provođenja rolinga. Nije uočena statistički značajna razlika u promatranim parametrima između dviju tehnika rolinga. Na temelju dobivenih rezultata možemo zaključiti da nema razlike u učincima dviju promatranih tehnika mehaničkoga podraživanja mišićne fascije pjenastim valjkom na redukciju pojave simptoma DOMS-a te da se tehnika rolinga u oporavku nakon intenzivne tjelesne aktivnosti može izabrati prema vlastitoj preferenciji, dok su potrebna daljnja istraživanja koja bi razjasnila moguću povezanost odnosa tehnike rolinga i vrste mišićne kontrakcije. The aim of this study was to compare whether there are differences in the effects between the two techniques of selfmyofascial release with a foam roller (rolling) on reducing the symptoms of delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS). The research was conducted on a convenience sample of 56 male subjects, second-year students at the Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, who were randomly divided into two groups. In the first part of the study, pre-test measurements and exercise induced muscle damage (EIMD) protocol were performed, which consisted of three sets of countermovement jumps with preparation for exhaustion. Immediately after the EIMD protocol, selfmyofascial release was performed with a foam roller in such a way that the first group performed continuous movements in the longitudinal direction of the treated muscle group (group RK), while the second group performed short undulating movements downward into the muscle group with a rapid continuous movement back (group RU). The second part of the study was conducted 48 hours after the EIMD protocol. This included final measurements of thigh circumference, pain intensity, creatine kinase activity, quadriceps strength, maximal countermovement jump, flexibility, and pain sensation during foam rolling. No statistically significant difference was found in the observed parameters between the two foam rolling techniques. Based on the obtained results, we can conclude that there are no differences in the effects of the two observed techniques of selfmyolfascial release with a foam roller on the reduction of DOMS symptoms, and that the rolling technique can be chosen according to personal preference during recovery from intense physical activity, while further research is needed to elucidate the possible relationship between the rolling technique and the type of muscle contraction.