Selective Effect of Foam Rolling and Manual Massage

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The present double-blinded randomized controlled design aims at comparing the effects of a full-body manual massage and foam rolling intervention. Sixty-five healthy individuals were randomly allocated to foam rolling, manual massage or a control intervention consisting in an autogenic relaxation routine.

Detailed Description
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Self-report ratings of perceived anxiety, muscle pain and relaxation were the psychometric outcome variables. Sit-and-reach, toes-touch and mental calculation performances were the behavioral variables. Resting-state alpha and beta power recorded using electroencephalography and galvanic skin resistance measures were the neurophysiological outcome variables.

Official Title
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Effects of Self-myofascial Release and Manual Massage on Psychometric, Behavioural and Neurophysiological Indexes of Performance and Well-being: a Randomized Control Trial

Conditions
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Health, Subjective, Health Behavior, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Psychometric ratings (Likert-scale)
* Behavioral: Range of motion measures
* Behavioral: Mental calculation task
* Device: Resting-state electroencephalography
* Device: Resting-state galvanic skin resistance measures


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Regular practice of foam rolling (10 min routines, 2-3 times per week over the past 6 months) Exclusion Criteria: Chronic medical conditions including functional limitations that might affect proprioception and/or pain perception

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 35 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Three independent groups, two measurement points
Masking: Triple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Foam rolling<br>The foam rolling routine consisted in unilateral exercises alternatively performed on both legs and bilateral exercises on lower and back muscles. All participants started with the feet in a standing up position with a lacrosse ball. Then, participants performed on the ground the foam rolling exercises with the foam roller targeting leg and back muscles. | Other: Psychometric ratings (Likert-scale)<br>* Self-report of perceived anxiety and physical sensations (muscle pain, relaxation and warmth)<br>Behavioral: Range of motion measures<br>* Sit-and-reach and toe touch tests<br>Behavioral: Mental calculation task<br>* Iterated substractions (for 2 minutes)<br>Device: Resting-state electroencephalography<br>* Alpha and beta oscillation power (4 minutes recordings)<br>Device: Resting-state galvanic skin resistance measures<br>* Skin conductance during the resting state period<br>|
| Experimental: Manual massage<br>Participants in the manual massage group received manual massage by a professional physiotherapist who was blinded to the purpose of the experiment (20 years of registered practice). Participants were lying in the prone position on a massage table. To facilitate the physiotherapist's maneuvers, massage oil was used. The manual massage protocol reproduced several features of the foam rolling intervention, i.e., order of the areas massaged, massage time per muscles and total duration of the session. | Other: Psychometric ratings (Likert-scale)<br>* Self-report of perceived anxiety and physical sensations (muscle pain, relaxation and warmth)<br>Behavioral: Range of motion measures<br>* Sit-and-reach and toe touch tests<br>Behavioral: Mental calculation task<br>* Iterated substractions (for 2 minutes)<br>Device: Resting-state electroencephalography<br>* Alpha and beta oscillation power (4 minutes recordings)<br>Device: Resting-state galvanic skin resistance measures<br>* Skin conductance during the resting state period<br>|
| Active Comparator: Autogenic relaxation<br>Participants in the relaxation group listened to a 16 min relaxation audio tape, based on the autogenic training method. Participants were lying on the massage table in supine position, wearing headphones. During this desensitization-relaxation technique, they were guided to visualize bodily perceptions of heaviness and warmth in their arms, thorax and legs. To facilitate concentration, participants were left alone in a dark room. | Other: Psychometric ratings (Likert-scale)<br>* Self-report of perceived anxiety and physical sensations (muscle pain, relaxation and warmth)<br>Behavioral: Range of motion measures<br>* Sit-and-reach and toe touch tests<br>Behavioral: Mental calculation task<br>* Iterated substractions (for 2 minutes)<br>Device: Resting-state electroencephalography<br>* Alpha and beta oscillation power (4 minutes recordings)<br>Device: Resting-state galvanic skin resistance measures<br>* Skin conductance during the resting state period<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in range of motion measures from standardized flexibility tests | Lower back and hamstring flexibility index from sit-and-reach and toe touch tests | Pretest and an immediate posttest after the intervention | 
| Resting-state electroencephalography | Power of alpha and beta neural oscillations | Pretest and an immediate posttest after the intervention | 
| Changes in subjective scores (self-reports on numeric rating scales) | Perceived anxiety and physical sensations (muscle pain, warmth and relaxation) on a numeric rating scale of 10 cm (0: Complete absence of anxiety/muscle pain/muscle warmth/muscle relaxation; 10: Maximal possible levels of anxiety/muscle pain/muscle warmth/muscle relaxation) | Pretest and an immediate posttest after the intervention | 
| Changes in mental calculation performances | Iterated substractions for 2 minutes | Pretest and an immediate posttest after the intervention | 
| Changes in physiological arousal | Skin conductance during resting state periods | Pretest and an immediate posttest after the intervention | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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flexibility, electroencephalography, electrodermal activity, alertness