Effectiveness of Foam Rolling vs. Manual Therapy in Postexercise Recovery Interventions for Athletes: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

ABSTRACT: Espí-López, GV, Ruescas-Nicolau, MA, Castellet-García, M, Suso-Martí, L, Cuenca-Martínez, F, and Marques-Sule, E. Effectiveness of foam rolling vs. manual therapy in postexercise recovery interventions for athletes: A randomized controlled trial. J Strength Cond Res 37(6): e361-e368, 2023-Self-massage using foam rolling (FR) has been posited to have similar benefits as those traditionally associated with manual therapy (MT) but more economical, easy, and efficient. Despite the widespread use of this technique for the recovery of athletes, there is no evidence supporting the effectiveness of FR vs. MT. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of FR self-massage in athletes after a high-intensity exercise session compared with a MT protocol. A randomized controlled trial was performed. Forty-seven volunteer amateur athletes (22.2 ± 2.5 years, 53.2% men) were divided into 3 groups: a FR group ( n = 18, performed FR self-massage), a MT group ( n = 15, received a MT protocol), and a control group ( n = 14, passive recovery). After an intense exercise session, dynamic balance, lumbar and hip flexibility, and leg dynamic force were assessed before and after the intervention and 1 week later. Results showed that, in the FR group, dynamic balance scores increased for both limbs at postintervention ( p = 0.001) and at follow-up ( p = 0.001). These scores were higher for the FR group vs. the MT group at postintervention (right limb, p = 0.048) and at follow-up (right limb: p = 0.049; left limb: p = 0.048), although this variable differed at baseline. In all the groups, lumbar flexion increased at postintervention ( p < 0.05), although it was only maintained in the FR group at follow-up ( p = 0.048). In conclusion, self-massage with FR may be more effective than MT for the recovery of dynamic balance in athletes after intense exercise, although this result should be interpreted with caution. Foam rolling could have a relevant role in postexercise recovery to prevent injuries in athletes.

Effect of Soft Tissue Techniques on Headache Impact, Disability, and Quality of Life in Migraine Sufferers: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of suboccipital inhibitory techniques in people with migraine compared with a control treatment based on myofascial trigger point (MTrP) therapy and stretching. DESIGN: A randomized, double-blind controlled pilot trial was conducted. SETTINGS/LOCATION: University research laboratory. SUBJECTS: Forty-six adults diagnosed with migraine with over 6 months duration. INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomized to receive either combined MTrP therapy and stretching (control group) or the control treatment plus suboccipital soft tissue inhibition (experimental group). Treatment was applied on four occasions over 8 weeks (one every 15 days), with a duration of 30 minutes per session in the experimental group and 20 min in the control group. OUTCOME MEASURES: The impact of headache was assessed with the Headache Impact Test (HIT-6), disability by the migraine disability assessment (MIDAS), and quality of life by the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Both groups were assessed at baseline and 1 week immediately after the end of treatment. RESULTS: The amount of change of the HIT-6 score and MIDAS scores were significantly different between groups (p < 0.05), although the SF-36 scores were not. The change in the HIT-6 score and MIDAS scores was greater in the experimental group. Both groups showed a reduction on the HIT-6 score (p < 0.001), MIDAS scores (p < 0.05), and SF-36 physical subscale, whereas the SF-36 mental subscale improved only in the experimental group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Soft tissue techniques based on MTrP therapy and stretching were helpful for improving certain aspects of migraine, such as the impact and disability caused by the headache, and the frequency and intensity of headache; however, when combined with suboccipital soft tissue inhibition, the treatment effect was larger.

Immediate Changes After Manual Therapy in Patients With Persistent, Nonspecific Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

CONTEXT: Thoracic manipulation decreases pain and disability. However, when such manipulation is contraindicated, the use of other manual techniques based on the regional interdependence of the thoracic spine, upper ribs, and shoulders is an alternative approach. OBJECTIVE: The study intended to investigate the immediate changes resulting from 3 manual therapy treatments on spinal mobility, flexibility, comfort, and pain perception in patients with persistent, nonspecific back pain as well as changes in their sense of physical well-being and their perception of change after treatment. DESIGN: The study was a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. SETTING: The study took place in the Department of Physiotherapy of the Faculty of Physiotherapy at the University of Valencia (Valencia, Spain). PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 112 individuals from the community-56.6% female, with a mean age of 21.8 ± 0.2 y-who had persistent, nonspecific back pain. INTERVENTION: Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups, receiving (1) neurolymphatic therapy (NL group), (2) articulatory spinal manual therapy (AS group), or (3) articulatory costal manual therapy (AC group). OUTCOME MEASURES: Cervical mobility, lumbar flexibility, comfort, pain perception, and physical well-being were assessed at baseline and immediately postintervention. Perception of change was evaluated postintervention. RESULTS: Between baseline and postintervention, the AC group showed a significant increase in cervical flexion (P = .010), whereas the NL and AS groups improved in lumbar flexibility, P = .047 and P = .012, respectively. For that period, significant changes were found in lumbar comfort for the AS group (P < .001) and the NL group (P < .026) and in thoracic comfort (P < .001) for the AC group. All groups improved in physical well-being and pain perception (P < .05). Changes in thoracic comfort, lumbar comfort, and physical well-being differed among the groups, with some differences being statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: All treatments improved pain perception and increased physical well-being. The NL and AS treatments were more effective in lumbar flexibility, the AC treatment in cervical flexion and thoracic comfort, and the NL treatment in lumbar comfort.

Effect of low-impact aerobic exercise combined with music therapy on patients with fibromyalgia. A pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: Fibromyalgia is a pathological entity characterized by chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain and the presence of "tender points". It constitutes a significant health problem because of its prevalence and economic impact. The aim of the present study was to determine the therapeutic benefits of low impact aerobic exercise alone or in combination with music therapy in patients with fibromyalgia. METHODS: A single-blind randomized controlled pilot trial was performed. Thirty-five individuals with fibromyalgia were divided into three groups: (G1) therapeutic aerobic exercise with music therapy (n=13); (G2) therapeutic aerobic exercise at any rhythm (n=13) and (CG) control (n=9). The intervention period lasted eight weeks. Depression, quality of life, general discomfort and balance were assessed before and after intervention. RESULTS: At post-intervention, group G1 improved in all variables (depression (p=0.002), quality of life (p=0.017), general discomfort (p=0.001), and balance (p=0.000)), while group G2 improved in general discomfort (p=0.002). The change observed in balance was statistically different between groups (p=0.01). CONCLUSION: Therapeutic aerobic exercise is effective in improving depression and general discomfort in individuals with fibromyalgia. However, effectiveness is higher when combined with music therapy, which brings about further improvements in quality of life and balance.