TY - JOUR

T1 - Remote effects of a 7-week combined stretching and foam rolling training intervention of the plantar foot sole on the function and structure of the triceps surae

AU - Konrad, Andreas

AU - Reiner, Marina Maren

AU - Gabriel, Anna

AU - Warneke, Konstantin

AU - Nakamura, Masatoshi

AU - Tilp, Markus

N1 - This study was supported by a grant (Project P 32078-B) from the Austrian Science Fund FWF. Open access funding provided by Austrian Science Fund (FWF). Publisher Copyright: © 2023, The Author(s).

PY - 2023/8

Y1 - 2023/8

N2 - It is known that a single bout of foam rolling (FR) or stretching can induce changes in range of motion (ROM) and performance in non-directly adjoining areas of the dorsal chain (i.e., remote effects). However, to date, it is not known if such effects exist following long-term interventions. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the remote effects of a 7-week combined stretching and FR training intervention of the plantar foot sole. Thirty-eight recreational athletes were randomly assigned to either an intervention (n = 20) or control (n = 18) group. The intervention group performed stretching and FR exercises of the plantar foot sole for 7 weeks. Before and after the intervention, the dorsiflexion ankle ROM, passive resistive torque at maximum angle (PRTmax) and at a fixed angle, as well as maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) torque, were measured with a dynamometer. Gastrocnemius medialis and lateralis stiffness was assessed with shear wave elastography. The results showed no interaction effect for any of the parameters. There was a time effect indicating an increase in MVIC and PRTmax, which was more pronounced in the intervention group (+ 7.4 (95% CI 2.5–12.4), + 4.5 (95% CI − 0.2–9.2)) than the control group (+ 3.6 (95% CI − 1.4–8.6), + 4.0 (95% CI − 2.2 to 10.2)). The results indicate no or minor remote effects of combined stretching and FR of the foot sole in the ankle joint. Potential non-significant changes in ROM were accompanied with an increase in stretch tolerance, but not with changes in muscle structure.

AB - It is known that a single bout of foam rolling (FR) or stretching can induce changes in range of motion (ROM) and performance in non-directly adjoining areas of the dorsal chain (i.e., remote effects). However, to date, it is not known if such effects exist following long-term interventions. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the remote effects of a 7-week combined stretching and FR training intervention of the plantar foot sole. Thirty-eight recreational athletes were randomly assigned to either an intervention (n = 20) or control (n = 18) group. The intervention group performed stretching and FR exercises of the plantar foot sole for 7 weeks. Before and after the intervention, the dorsiflexion ankle ROM, passive resistive torque at maximum angle (PRTmax) and at a fixed angle, as well as maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) torque, were measured with a dynamometer. Gastrocnemius medialis and lateralis stiffness was assessed with shear wave elastography. The results showed no interaction effect for any of the parameters. There was a time effect indicating an increase in MVIC and PRTmax, which was more pronounced in the intervention group (+ 7.4 (95% CI 2.5–12.4), + 4.5 (95% CI − 0.2–9.2)) than the control group (+ 3.6 (95% CI − 1.4–8.6), + 4.0 (95% CI − 2.2 to 10.2)). The results indicate no or minor remote effects of combined stretching and FR of the foot sole in the ankle joint. Potential non-significant changes in ROM were accompanied with an increase in stretch tolerance, but not with changes in muscle structure.

KW - Foam rolling

KW - Non-local effects

KW - Remote effects

KW - Stretching

KW - Superficial back line

KW - Physical education and sports

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85150984996&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/3b3d273b-ff96-30a8-83ce-566055a73d42/

U2 - 10.1007/s00421-023-05185-5

DO - 10.1007/s00421-023-05185-5

M3 - Journal articles

C2 - 36973555

AN - SCOPUS:85150984996

VL - 123

SP - 1645

EP - 1653

JO - European Journal of Applied Physiology

JF - European Journal of Applied Physiology

SN - 1439-6319

IS - 8

ER -