Foam Rolling, Blood Pressure and Range of Motion

Plain-language summary

Foam rolling (FR) is a technique involving the application of external pressure to muscles and connective tissues using different devices (e.g. foam rollers, massage rollers, balls, etc.) , with the aim of reducing muscle tension, soreness, and stiffness, and improving circulation, and flexibility. Emerging evidence suggests that FR may also enhance tissue perfusion and blood flow and could induce a relaxation response, potentially modulating autonomic balance toward increased parasympathetic activity. The cervical region is of particular interest due to the presence of clinically relevant vascular structures, such as the carotid arteries, whose mechanical stimulation may elicit cardiovascular responses. Accordingly, the present study was designed to investigate the acute effects of cervical foam rolling on blood pressure, while simultaneously examining tissue hardness and heart rate variability as potential underlying mediators, and to explore a possible dose-response relationship between foam rolling volume and blood pressure through an inter-set analysis. Additionally, the acute effects of cervical foam rolling on local range of movement were also investigated.

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